Celebrating Pi Day

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Mathematics celebrated the International Day of Mathematics, also known as Pi Day, from March 14-15, 2023. The event was attended by enthusiastic math students and teachers alike from the Ateneo grade school and college. One of the highlights of this two-day event was a mini geometry exhibit featuring some of mathematical arts and toys designed and created by the Ateneo Mathematics, Arts, Culture, and Creativity (MACC) Laboratory under the Areté Sandbox Residency Grant. The exhibit featured interesting geometry objects such as polytopes, origamis, tessellations, dot patterns, and string arts. Most of the pieces were produced in Areté’s Makerspace Lab by using the laser cutting machine or the 3D printer.

A polyhedron is geometrically modeled as a three-dimensional solid of finite volume bounded by flat regions called its facets. The solid white models in the above with triangles, squares, or pentagons as facets are produced using a 3D printer. The colored ball-and-stick models, on the other hand, were assembled using Zometool.

To cap the celebration, the attendees were treated to a viewing of the documentary film"Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani". The film is about the first woman and Iranian mathematician to be awarded the Fields Medal, considered to be the highest prize in mathematics. After the screening, faculty members, staff, and students of the Department of Mathematics shared some light refreshments and several slices of pie, a perfect way to end Pi Day!

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Text and Photo: Mark Loyola