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Martin Sternstein, professor of mathematics at Ithaca College, will speak on the African influence in mathematics 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 in Oechsle Hall, room 224.
His lecture will give a historical context to the development of mathematics and mathematical ideas in Africa.
According to Sternstein, mathematical ideas found in sub-Saharan Africa have a richness that challenges the usual Eurocentric discourses on the origins of mathematics. Since sophisticated mathematical concepts can be found imbedded in everyday cultural activities, as well as in academic mathematics texts, math should not be discussed in isolation from social studies, language arts, fine arts, and science.
“It is our hope that this will be an interesting and enlightening entrance to the trove of mathematical ideas that Africa has to offer,” says president of Lafayette African and Caribbean Students Association (LACSA) George Armah ’08 (Accra, Ghana), who is pursuing a B.S. mathematics and an A.B. with a major in computer science. “Through this talk, we intend to expose the Lafayette community to a facet of African culture that they would otherwise almost never come into contact with.”
Sternstein received his B.S. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He has been teaching at Ithaca College since 1970, except for one year as visiting professor and head of the mathematics department at the College of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix, and two years as Fulbright Professor and mathematics department chair at the University of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia.
At Ithaca, he was mathematics department chair for six years, received three Dana Teaching Awards, and was honored with the Ithaca College Excellence in Teaching Award for 2000.
He has developed new curricula, including “Math in Africa” and the first United States course for college credit in chess theory. He is the only mathematician to give a presentation at the annual Conference on African Linguistics.
His most recent publication is the Barron’s Educational Series: AP Statistics. Sternstein’s academic interests include national educational and social issues concerning equal access to mathematics education for all.
Cosponsoring the event with LACSA are the mathematics department, history department, Minority Scientists and Engineers, Africans Creating African Consciousness and Interest Abroad, and McKelvy Scholars program.