It’s Not Just Numbers

We continue our exploration of mathematicians outside mathematics departments, the AfterMath, joining our former students Bram Brongers and Majken Driessen-Roelfszema.

Their different work histories, personalities and experiences allow us to explore how mathematics helped or got in the way of them finding a job, what extra skills they found important to nurture and, most importantly, the challenges of figuring out what one likes.

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Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt

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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.

In this episode, Heleen van der Ree (NVvW – Dutch Association of Teachers in Mathematics) and Gerrit Roorda (Teacher Educator, University of Groningen) join us in a conversation around what it means to become a high school mathematics teacher.

Together, we discuss their personal transitions into math education and the day-to-day realities of their roles. We explore the rewards and challenges of standing in front of a classroom, the importance of fostering problem-solving skills, and the space for innovation and creativity.

Wether you are curious or you are interested in it for your future career, in this episode you will find plenty of information, including the various pathways students in the Netherlands can take to start a rewarding teaching career.

Episode links:

• Dutch Association of Teachers in Mathematics (NVvW)
• Gerrit Roorda's webpage
• Anne van Streun's work on Mathematical Thinking Activities (Ontwerpen van wiskundige denkactiviteiten), available via the SLO website
• Peter Liljedahl's Building Thinking Classrooms
• NRICH Cambridge maths
• European Women in Mathematics and European Women in Mathematics – The Netherlands
• Education Master and other informations on becoming teacher from the University of Groningen

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Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt

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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.

In this episode we sit down with Lara Vicino and Armin Pirastehzad to discuss what it is like to become a Postdoctoral Researcher. The life of a researcher is often romanticized, but what really happens the day after you defend your PhD? With the help of our guests, we explore the transition from PhD life to being an independent researcher, and what it takes to navigate that shift.

Episode links:

• ⁠Lara's webpage
• Armin's webpage
• Women in Numbers Europe 5
• John Cleese's speech on creativity (1991)
• S1E09 - Doing a PhD in Mathematics

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Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt

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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.

In this episode we get to know Remco de Jong and Ilinca Antonache, board members of the mathematics and physics study association FMF. Together we get to understand what are study associations at Dutch universities, how they differ from student associations, and what is like to run one.

Episode links:

• FMF website

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Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt

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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.

Welcome to the new year, and to a fresh season of It’s Not Just Numbers! We’re kicking things off with a special episode to meet your new hosts. What drives them inside and outside the classroom? How did they find their way to mathematics, and what brought them to where they are today? Join us as we explore their stories and their journey into mathematics.



Links from the episode:

• Freeman Dyson - Birds and Frogs

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Produced by Marcello Seri, Jamara Admiraal and Jard Nijholt

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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.

The last episode of this season, is also the first of a new sub-series that we would like to keep exploring in the future: teaching mathematics at school.

Maarten de Witte, a former student at our mathematics bachelor and school teacher since three years, shares his experience teaching in Dutch high school. With him we start exploring the rewards and the challenges of the job and the differences between teaching at school or at university.

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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.

We come back to the question of S2E05: you have studied mathematics... now what? We met our old friend (and former co-host) Marit van Straaten and our former student Josselin Kooij, to talk about the possibilities for mathematicians that don't pursue a career in academia.

After getting to know them, with their motivations to study math and their hobbies (mainly sports!), we focus on their careers. Their different seniority levels allow us to span across many topics, with both a fresh and an experienced eye, in an episode that we hope will clarify many of your doubts on what to do to look for a job as mathematicians, and plenty of useful tips for when you interview for a position!

We plan to do a few more of these, so if there is anything that you would like to discuss in the next episodes, let us know in the comments (or sending us a message).

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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.

In this special episode, we return to the topics of learning and teaching mathematics. We are joined by Brendan Kelly, Director of Introductory Mathematics at Harvard University, to discuss the opportunities that active learning has to offer.

Throughout the discussion, we get to know Brendan, exploring his journey into mathematics and what led him to focus on education. Both lecturers and students will find many useful tips and tricks scattered through the recording, and we are sure you will feel Brendan's infectious energy and passion for both subjects!

Links for the episode:

• Brendan Kelly's webpage

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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.

This is the first episode of another small spinoff of It's Not Just Numbers, were we discuss with researchers working on mathematical topics in different disciplines and departments.

In this episode, we talk to Jorge Perez (Computer Science department) and Davide Grossi (Artificial Intelligence department). As you will hear, both of them use a lot of mathematics in their research and work on topics that also have very theoretical angles.

Throughout the episode, we discuss intedisciplinary collaborations, reaching outside one’s own line of research and the key role ofof asking questions to facilitate the exchange. We also explore if and how common stereotypes on academics change in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from a societal point of view.

Links for the episode:

• Davide Grossi's website
• ⁠Jorge Perez' website
• ⁠Video: Fundamental computing: Mathematics and logic for software we can all rely on
• Video: Fundamental Computing: The Many Sides of Logic

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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.

What is a proof? And what is a proof assistant? Isn't writing proofs what mathematicians are supposed to do themselves? In this episode, Sander Dahmen and Jim Portegies, will help us explore these questions and introduce us to the fascinating world of fomralizing mathematics. Of course, after taking our time to get to know them better.

"I always wanted to turn this around and say there's nothing wrong with being not smart in mathematics and it should be okay if you work on a proof, to not understand it, to struggle with it. So if you do a computation, make three extra steps, it should be okay to give yourself that time." Wouldn't you agree? Listen to this episode to find out where this quote came from and let us know yuor first experiences with proofs.

Links for the episode:

• Sander Dahmen's website
• Jim Portegies' website
• ⁠Links to Lean, the mathlib library and the mathematics in lean book
• Link to the ⁠natural number game⁠ and more
• Link to waterproof, Jim's constrained natural language proof assistant
• Link to rocq and the math-comp library
• Terence Tao's talk on machine assisted proofs at Simons Fundation on February 19, 2025

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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.