Math and its infinite connections - Scientists & Engineers on Sofas (and other furnishings)

Two parts math and one part writer make Jordan Ellenberg a very readable mathematician. Yes, Ellenberg is a professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard that allows him to ponder number theory and algebraic geometry by day.  However, he also holds an MFA in creative writing from Johns Hopkins. So when he penned his book, How Not to be Wrong, it became a popular read as he pondered math’s impact on day-to-day life. In fact, Bill Gates included it in his summer reading list, summarizing, “Ellenberg explains how math plays into our daily lives without our even knowing it.” After a lecture at the National Science Foundation on geometries and lotteries, Ivy Kupec from the NSF sat down with this enthusiastic researcher/writer to learn more.