This Math Monday, we’re celebrating Pride Month with profiles of three amazing LGBTQ+ mathematicians you can bring into your classroom.

Find these profiles - and 40+ more - in the Math in Action slide deck!

Dr. Manil Suri

Dr. Manil Suri is a famous author and math professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He wrote The Big Bang of Numbers: How to Build the Universe Using Only Math, as well as three internationally acclaimed novels. (from his website)

Read this interview with Dr. Suri to learn more! If you have time, watch Dr. Suri’s episode “Math Rules the World” on The Open Mind from PBS.

Possible Discussion Questions:

• What big ideas or themes does Dr. Suri explore in The Big Bang of Numbers?
• In what ways does Dr. Suri blend math and philosophy throughout his writing?
• At the end of the article, what similarity does Dr. Suri notice between his three fictional novels and The Big Bang of Numbers?
• In your experience, does math feel connected to other subjects, like writing and art?

Dr. Emmy Murphy

Dr. Murphy is a math professor at the University of Toronto. She won the New Horizons in Mathematics Prize in 2020 and the Math Council of the Americas Awards in 2021. 

Read this profile from Quanta magazine to learn more!

Possible Discussion Questions:

• Why does Dr. Murphy say she was drawn to symplectic and contact geometry?
• Dr. Murphy brings up an analogy to a bicycle chain and a rope. What important difference does she note between the two? What is the significance of this analogy?
• Dr. Murphy highlights how important collaboration is to her. Do you prefer to work independently or collaboratively? Why?
• How does Dr. Murphy describe her experience of representation and acceptance of trans people in math?

Kyne Santos 

Kyne Santos is a drag queen and mathematics communicator best known for her educational videos and participation in Canada’s Drag Race. She wrote the book Math In Drag and hosts the podcast Think Queen. Kyne has been named TikTok API trailblazer, Forbes’s 30 Under 30 in Toronto, and was nominated for a GLAAD award for TikTok Queer Advocate of the Year. (from her website)

Watch Kyne’s video Why I Love Math to learn more!

Possible Discussion Questions:

• How does Kyne compare science and math?
• Try it out! Recreate Kyne’s visual illustration of the proof of the Pythagorean Theorem
• According to Kyne, why do mathematicians find multiple proofs for the same theorem?
• Kyne says: “Math is like democracy”. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
• Why does Kyne say she loves math?

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.