What\u2019s the probability of finding math and science on the performance stage at Montclair State University?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s actually quite high.<\/p>\n
In a duet between academia and arts and cultural programming by Peak Performances, geometry and patterns have been tossed around in a creative equation connecting mathematics, physics, the arts and this semester, juggling \u2013 the collaboration highlighted in December by the avant-garde performance of\u00a0Smashed<\/em>\u00a0by Gandini Juggling.<\/p>\n If the intersection of art and science on the Alexander Kasser Theater stage was unexpected, an exhibit by general mathematics students made clear many of the ways they overlap. Pre-performance exhibits featured student work on the connections discovered between math and history, psychology, exercise science, poetry and music. A discussion with juggler and artistic director Sean Gandini and University professors showcased the play and creativity in the sciences.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the goal of Creativity in Mathematics and Science, and research by University professors Mika Munakata and Ashwin Vaidya. With funding from the National Science Foundation, they have introduced innovative teaching that engages students with imaginative curriculum.<\/p>\n The work has benefitted by a partnership with Peak Performances, which brings professional music, theater and dance to Montclair State, and its artistic director Jedediah Wheeler. With the American premiere of\u00a0Smashed<\/em>\u00a0on the fall schedule, creating a general mathematics unit on juggling presented an off-beat opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did a lot of homework,\u201d Munakata says. \u201cThe research on mathematics and juggling actually goes deep. Of course, juggling becomes really complicated very fast, but there are researchers who study number patterns, geometric patterns, different notations for juggling. Just the fact that juggling could be represented through mathematical notation, that was enough to get us thinking about what we could do with the students.\u201d<\/p>\n Gandini, the world-renowned juggler, was supportive of the University\u2019s efforts. He has described juggling as \u201cdoing maths in the air,\u201d and lent his talents in guiding the professors as they developed lesson plans and spent time with the students as his troupe prepared for Peak Performances.<\/p>\n \u201cI think for me, the most interesting thing was the connections the students made in terms of understanding how the patterns and the rhythms and juggling itself impact brain scans,\u201d says doctoral student Ceire Monahan who taught the class,\u00a0Contemporary Applied Math for Everyone.<\/strong><\/p>\n Students who once found math and science \u2013 and juggling \u2013 intimidating are no longer shying away from it. \u201cEverything that we learned was able to be applied to real-life situations,\u201d says Danielle Vacca, a sophomore Television and Digital Media major. \u201cFor example, juggling, order of magnitude problems, architecture analysis, the mathematics of toys, and even having book club discussions based on mathematical novels. I was challenged to see how math is prevalent in nearly all those scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n For audiences at Peak Performances, the students showed off their new-found juggling skills and exhibited an interactive virtual reality system to track participants\u2019 juggling movements.<\/p>\n \u201cJuggling is all about rhythm and it\u2019s all about beats,\u201d says Vaidya. \u201cYou can understand it from a physics point of view, a mathematical point of view fairly easily. The trouble is of course, doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n On stage, nine skilled performers with 100 red apples made the juggling look easy. They also told a story, exploring such ideas as humiliation, romance, gender politics, relationship dynamics and even tea drinking.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the type of storytelling that inspired the Montclair State professors to add the art form to the study of mathematics and science.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know math is useful, but just telling students that it\u2019s useful and giving them good advice doesn\u2019t help,\u201d Vaidya says. \u201cWe have to get students to engage with the material and take ownership of it and come to the realization that this is beautiful stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n