Event Details

• Wednesday, November 13, 2024
  5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  Event Space (TSC 1.07)
  Building: Student Centre
  Cost: Free

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Please join us for The 2024 David Poole Lecture in Mathematics featuring speaker Dr. Gerda de Vries.

Lecture Abstract - Making Mathematics With Needle and Thread:

The connection between textiles and mathematics is intimate but not often explored, possibly because textiles and fibre arts have traditionally been the domain of women while mathematics was viewed as a male endeavour. How times have changed! Today, textiles and mathematics, like art and science, are recognized for their interwoven, complementary attributes. In this presentation, Dr. de Vries will examine the connection between quilts and mathematics. Come to be inspired, enlightened, and delighted by the mathematical stories behind a wide variety of traditional and contemporary quilts.

About Dr. Gerda de Vries:

Dr. Gerda de Vries is a Mathematical & Statistical Sciences professor and Associate Dean Undergraduate for the Faculty of Science at the University of Alberta. Dr. de Vries’ research lies at the interface of mathematics and biology, and encompasses applications to cell biology, neurophysiology, and the formation of animal groups. She is an advocate for interdisciplinary education and has been awarded many institutional and national awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching and graduate student mentorship. She is a sought-after public speaker, presenting on the importance and joy of mathematics. She is also a recognized quilt artist whose quilts reflect a structured approach to design.

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Community Speaker Series

Sharing knowledge is one of the ways Trent University gives back to our host communities and provides life long learning experiences to alumni. Each year, Trent offers open lectures featuring visiting faculty and experts, sharing ideas on subjects such as the Environment, Gender & Women's Studies, Business & Society, Chemistry, Cultural Studies, and Indigenous Studies. These talks are free and open to the Trent and broader communities. These lectures are made possible thanks to generous donor support.

Contact Info

Please reach out to alumni@trentu.ca with any questions