World news – Math for a better world

by Md Shahidul Islam |

Published: 00:00, March 14, 2021

One of the most important and mysterious numbers in the world is pi (π), known for almost 4,000 years. The Welsh mathematician William Jones first introduced the Greek letter pi as a symbol in 1706 to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The symbol was later popularized by the Swiss mathematician and physicist Leonhard Euler in 1737. Since then, pi has been used extensively in various fields by engineers, physicists, architects, designers, etc.

In 1988, March 14th was chosen as the pi day by physicist Larry Shaw because the numeric date 3.14 was the first three digits of pi and it happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday, March 14, 1879. The first Pi Day celebrations took place in a San Francisco-based science museum (Shaw’s place of work) in 2009. However, it became an official national holiday, when the US House of Representatives passed legislation.

Mathematicians, scientists, and teachers hope the vacation will help spark interest in math and science around the world. The most accurate calculation of pi before computers was done in 1945 by DF Ferguson. He calculated up to 620 digits pi. In 2002, a supercomputer found 1.24 trillion jobs by spending 400 hours.

The 40th General Conference of UNESCO on November 26, 2019 approved the March 14 proclamation for International Mathematics Day. The primary goals of the IDM, with expected benefits for students, teachers, and society in general, are to improve people’s and decision-makers’ understanding of the importance of mathematics in education. Professor Adewale Solarin, a past president of the African Mathematical Union, said, « Mathematics makes our lives easier because there is mathematics in everything. » Nelson Mandela once said: « Education is the most powerful weapon that can change the world. » and mathematics is an integral part of it.

The International Mathematical Union, an international non-governmental and not-for-profit scientific organization promoting international cooperation in mathematics, has the theme of International Mathematics Day 2021, « Mathematics for a Better World » , set.

A new theme is announced every year to add flavor to the celebration, encourage creativity, and uncover the links between mathematics and all sorts of disciplines.

INTERNATIONAL Mathematics Day is one Opportunity to explain and celebrate the essential role math and math classes play in breakthroughs in science and technology, improving the quality of life, empowering women, and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. It enables a better understanding of mathematics as a development tool (SDG 9) in the public and among decision-makers. It helps build capacity in mathematics and science education, with a special focus on girls and children from developing countries (SDG 4). The celebration of the day also underscores the importance of basic research in the mathematical sciences as the nucleus for breakthroughs in technology and in the management of society (SDG 8). It also highlights the role of mathematics in organizing modern society, which includes aspects of economy, finance, health, transport systems and telecommunications in the search for human wellbeing (SDG 3).

International Day of Mathematics raises awareness of the role of mathematics in combating disasters, epidemics and emerging diseases (SDG 11). It sheds light on the role of mathematics on the way to a circular economy of sustainability that is compatible with the preservation of biological diversity (SDG 14 and 15). It strengthens international networking and cooperation in order to raise public awareness of mathematics.

Mathematics is everywhere in the fields of science and technology. For example, medical imaging techniques such as computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging produce images of numerical data using mathematical algorithms; The decoding of the human genome is a triumph of mathematics, statistics and computer science. and it’s math that gave us the first photo of a black hole and the solar system. The cryptography used for secure communication is based on number theory and group theory. Mathematics is behind the software in our cell phones; Artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing the world as we speak.

Mathematics is also ubiquitous in the organization of civilization. For example, mathematics is used to optimize transportation systems, communication networks, and the management of various health, economic, and social systems. It can be helpful to design an electoral system that better reflects the will of the people. It’s helpful in game strategy.

Math also helps understand and contain the spread of epidemics as statistics and optimizations are used for effective planning. The risks of natural disasters can be better understood with the help of mathematics and also prepared in advance. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, math has provided states and organizations with models and tools to understand, monitor and control the spread of the virus. It similarly warns us about climate change and helps anticipate and mitigate its consequences.

While mathematics is central to the efficient organization of societies for the benefit of all citizens, it is also important to the UN goals to achieve sustainable development. Hence, it is used to model various global changes and their consequences for the planet, its resources and biodiversity.

The math class empowers women to build a better future. It is useful in budgeting and makes pension systems sustainable. The accurate weather forecast is based on atmospheric models and powerful algorithms that incorporate mathematics.

The Bangladesh Mathematical Society is celebrating the second International Mathematics Day this year. However, it is being celebrated virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. A large number of national and international participants will take part in the program.

The day will be hosted by Dr. Helge Holden, Professor of Mathematics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Secretary General of the International Mathematical Union. France’s deputy head of mission in Bangladesh, Frank Grützmacher Técourt, will be present as the main guest, along with Dr. Michel Waldschmidt, professor emeritus at the Sorbonne Université in France and winner of the Bertrand Russell Prize 2021 and others.

Dr. Md Shahidul Islam is Vice President of the Bangladesh Mathematical Society. He is chairman of the Second IDM Festival Committee 2021.

Editor: Nurul Kabir, edited by Editor-in-Chief ASM Shahidullah Khan
on behalf of Media New Age Ltd. Hamid Plaza (4th floor), 300/5 / A / 1, Bir Uttam CR Datta Road, Hatirpool, Dhaka-1205. Telephone system: 8802-9632245-48. Fax: 8802-9632250, E-Mail: [E-Mail protected]

© 2021 Media New Age Limited or affiliates. All rights reserved. | Developed by HTG Solution Ltd.