Imagine Math 6 Between Culture and Mathematics

Imagine mathematics, imagine with the help of mathematics, imagine new worlds, new geometries, new forms. Imagine building mathematical models that make it possible to manage our world better, imagine combining music, art, poetry, literature, architecture and cinema with mathematics. Imagine the unpredictable and sometimes counterintuitive applications of mathematics in all areas of human endeavour. Imagination and mathematics, imagination and culture, culture and mathematics.

This sixth volume in the series begins with a homage to the architect Zaha Hadid, who died on March 31st, 2016, a few weeks before the opening of a large exhibition of  her works in Palazzo Franchetti in Venice, where all the Mathematics and Culture conferences have taken place in the last years. A large section of the book is dedicated to literature, narrative and mathematics including a contribution from Simon Singh. It discusses the role of media in mathematics, including museums of science, journals and movies. Mathematics and applications, including blood circulation and preventing crimes using earthquakes, is also addressed, while a section on mathematics and art examines the role of math in design. A large selection presents photos of mathematicians and mathematical objects by Vincent Moncorge.

Discussing all topics in a way that is rigorous but captivating, detailed but full of evocations, it offers an all-embracing look at the world of mathematics and culture.

1 M. Emmer, Zaha Hadid: Fluid and Topological Architecture.- 2 G. Racana, Zaha Hadid Architects: the Mathematics of Fluidity.- 3 M. Andreatta, A Mathematician at the MUSE, the Science Museum of Trento.- 4 F. Morgan, To Bring Math to the World, Start with Mathematicians.- 5 O. Pekonen, My Life in the Shape of Maupertuis.- 6 M. Andreatta, From Music to Mathematics and Backwards: Introducing Algebra, Topology and Category Theory into Computational Musicology.- 7 S. Pagano, Mathematics and Labyrinths in Twentieth Century’s Music.- 8 M. Abate, How to prevent Crimes using Earthquakes.- 9 M. Codegone, A Negativer Number as the Sum of All Natural Numbers.- 10 C. Falcolini, The Arch of Titus at the Circus Maximus in Rome: from mathematical models to virtual reconstruction.- 11 F. Morgan, The Space of Planar Soap Bubble Clusters.- 12 P. Rossi, Mathematics as a Social Language: a (Past and Present) Phenomenology.- 13 G. Bruno and M. Ciafrei, Balance in... Forms: The Dance of Design.- 14 A. Quarteroni, C. Vergara and M. Landajuela, Mathematical and Numerical Description of the Heart Function.- 15 G. M. Todesco, Weird Gears.- 16 A. Brigaglia, N. Palladino and M. A. Vaccaro, Historical Notes on Star Geometries in Mathematics, Art and Nature.- 17 C. Leopold, Pentagonal Structures, Structures as Impulse for Art.- 18 V. Moncorge, Mathematics, a Closer Look.- 19 A. Mouchet, Drowning by Numbers: Topology and Physics in Fluid Dynamics.- 20 M. Emmer, Alain Badiou: Eloges des Mathématiques.- 21 P. Magnaghi-Delfino and T. Norando, Luca Pacioli: Letters from Venice.- 22 R. Schiavi, Dante’s Underworld: Geometrical Structure of the Three Kingdoms of the Divine Comedy.- 23 S. Singh, The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets.- 24 E. Strickland, From Algebra to the Secrets of the Universe: the Fascinating Life of Mary Somerville.

Michele Emmer is a member of the Istituto Veneto di Lettere, Scienze e Arti in Venice, founded by Napoleon. Former Professor of Mathematics at La Sapienza University in Rome (until 2015), since 1997 he has organized the Mathematics and Culture conferences in Venice. He has organized several exhibitions, cooperating with The Biennale of Art of Venice and the Prada Foundation among others. He is a member of the board of the Journal "Leonardo: art, science and technology", MIT Press, a filmmaker, including a film on M.C. Escher, and author of the series "Art and Math". He is also editor of the series "Mathematics and Culture" and “Imagine Math” by Springer-Verlag, as well as the series "The Visual Mind" by MIT Press. His most recent books include “Bolle di sapone tra arte e matematica”, 2010, which won the best Italian essay award at Viareggio 2010; “Numeri immaginari: cinema e matematica”, Bollati Boringhieri, 2012; “Il mio Harry’s bar”, Archinto ed., 2012;  “Imagine Math 3”, Springer 2013; “Flatlandia di E. Abbott, with DVD, music by Ennio Morricone, 2008, “Imagine Maths 4” 2015, “Imagine Maths 5”, 2016. “Racconto matematico: memorie impersonali”, to appear 2019, Bollati Boringhieri.

Marco Abate is a Full Professor of Geometry at the University of Pisa. He has written more than one hundred scientific papers and textbooks, as well as several papers on the popularization of mathematics. His interests include holomorphic dynamics, geometric function theory, differential geometry, writing (comic books and more), photography, origami, and travelling (having already visited Antarctica his next destination is the Moon).