It’s Not Just Numbers

By: Marcello Seri Anna de Bruijn
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  • Summary

  • A podcast on mathematics and its human side. In a conversation with mathematicians, we address some common stereotypes and misconceptions, giving space to the people of mathematics. Each episode will start by getting to know the guests, their research, their drive and what they do outside mathematics. In the second half of the episode we will discuss together some theme related to mathematics and mathematicians. Opinions are our own.
    Marcello Seri, Anna de Bruijn
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Episodes
  • S2E04 - What does it mean to do research with Pinar Kilicer and Hildeberto Jardón Kojakhmetov

    S2E04 - What does it mean to do research with Pinar Kilicer and Hildeberto Jardón Kojakhmetov
    Feb 3 2025

    What does it mean to do research? What does a researcher in mathematics do, effectively, to research? In this episode, we pick up a common question from our listeners, and try to give some partial answer with the help of Pinar Kilicer and Hildeberto Jardón Kojakhmetov. After taking the chance to know them better, we look back at their career and what were the most important moments to grow into research, putting this all in the perspective of the students thanks to the help of Anna.


    Episode links:

    • Pinar's website
    • Hildeberto's website
    • Terence Tao talking about his paper rejections on mastodon


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    Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn

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    Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld

    The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377

    We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • S2E03 - Illustrating mathematics, with Constanza Rojas-Molina and Martin Skrodzki

    S2E03 - Illustrating mathematics, with Constanza Rojas-Molina and Martin Skrodzki
    Jan 5 2025
    In this episode we talk with Constanza Rojas-Molina and Martin Skrodzki about illustrating mathematics. From pseudonyms and hobbies to careers where their illustrative work is indispensable, we talk about their development as artists and mathematicians and how to encourage others to use their creativity when it comes to mathematics. A special episode, exploring the relations between mathematics, art and how the two can empower each other and influence research, teaching and public engagement. There are lots of links for this episode: Coni's website (Coni777 on twitter and bluesky)Martin's website (he can be found as msmathcomp on most social media)Bridges conference and their open-access archive and open-access art galleryJournal of Mathematics and the ArtsIllustrating Maths (IM) website, it has an invitation to the IM Discord channel on the home pageAnnouncements for the upcoming Illustrating Maths seminarsTo attend the one-week IM program at ICERM in Summer 2025, look hereFor the ambitious that want to attend a longer event, here is the information for the trimester at IHP in Paris in 2026#Noethember on Coni's website, on The Aperiodical and on the EMS MagazineThe #MathYear challenge on Coni's website and on the EWM websiteThe Blackboard Whisperers, interviews with female mathematicians, by E.A. Casanova aka Coni (here the final interview with Susanna Terracini which is missing at the other link)The RAGE of the Blackboard blog, an illustration of the RAGE theorem, and an interview on the project on the AMS blog.Chladni patterns: on wikipedia (videos at the bottom of the page) and an illustrationLa misteriosa conjectura de Alicia (comic book's website)The MATRIX x Imaginary conference (2026 edition still to be announced)The Talking Maths In Public community page Feel free to leave a comment if you have questions for our guests :) = = = { 0 } = = = Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn = = = { 0 } = = = Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377 We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • S2E02 - What mathematicians really do, with Ekin Özman and Bart Besselink

    S2E02 - What mathematicians really do, with Ekin Özman and Bart Besselink
    Dec 1 2024

    In this episode we are joined by Ekin Özman and Bart Besselink to discuss what are the work days of a mathematician at a univerisity like. With their help we get a little panoramic on what a career in mathematics looks like and what are the expectations, the priorities and sometimes the compromises that it requires.

    As usual, the episode touches upon a great variety of topics, don't miss it!


    Episode links:

    • ​Website of Ekin Özman
    • ​Website of Bart Besselink


    If you liked this episode, please spread the voice sharing it with your friends or on your social media.


    = = = { 0 } = = =

    Produced by Marcello Seri and Anna de Bruijn

    = = = { 0 } = = =

    Illustrations by Henrieke Krijgsheld

    The podcast soundtrack is derived from the royalty free track Starving by OctoSound and used in agreement with pixabay license https://pixabay.com/music/funk-starving-170377

    We are grateful to the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen for allowing us to use their equipment for this recording.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 14 mins

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