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Secrets of the Surface

When:
Venue: Online

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Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani, George Csicsery, 2020.
Plus Post-Screening Conversation

A link to the film and conversation will be sent a day before the event begins.

The conversation will begin at 19:30.

Synopsis:

Filmed in Canada, Iran, and the United States, Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani examines the life and mathematical work of Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian immigrant to the United States who became a superstar in her field. In 2014, she was both the first woman and the first Iranian to be honored by mathematics’ highest prize, the Fields Medal.

Mirzakhani’s contributions are explained in the film by leading mathematicians and illustrated by animated sequences. Her mathematical colleagues from around the world, as well as former teachers, classmates, and students in Iran today, convey the deep impact of her achievements. The path of her education, success on Iran’s Math Olympiad team, and her brilliant work, make Mirzakhani an ideal role model for girls looking toward careers in science and mathematics.

We have the pleasure to be joined in the post film discussion by the documentary’s director, George Csicsery, a writer and independent filmmaker who has directed 35 films, many about the lives and work of mathematicians, and by Jayadev Athreya, Professor of Mathematics and the Comparative History of Ideas at the University of Washington who was a colleague of Maryam and consultant on the documentary. The discussion will be hosted by Tim Smith, Professor of Cognitive Psychology (Birkbeck).

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