Mathematics and creativity are at the core of all STEAM fields and are more necessary than ever
Today is International Day of Mathematics, and the City Council has launched the city's celebration under the theme "Mathematics, Art, and Creativity" in an event organized yesterday in collaboration with the Catalan Society of Mathematics.
Yesterday at 5.00 h in the Saló de Cent of Barcelona, the celebration of International Day of Mathematics was inaugurated under the theme “Mathematics, Art, and Creativity” in an event organized jointly by the City Council of Barcelona and the Catalan Society of Mathematics (SCM), with the distinguished mathematician Meike Akveld as a guest.
The institutional event was presented by the fourth deputy mayor, Jordi Valls, and the president of the SCM, Montserrat Alsina, and featured Meike Akveld, professor and researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and president of the Association Kangourou Sans Frontières (AKSF). Akveld delivered the lecture “Why do we need to celebrate mathematics?“, highlighting the potential of large-scale mathematics competitions like the Kangaroo test to popularize the subject worldwide while also identifying scientific and technological young talent. She emphasized the importance of presenting mathematics to children as a source of fun, a stimulating challenge, and an opportunity for teamwork, encouraging the ability to approach problems from different angles—in other words, creativity.
‘Mathematics, Art, and Creativity’ is the theme for March 14th , 2025
The theme of the outreach campaign for this international day, established by UNESCO in 2019, refers to the mathematics behind art that our brains recognize and appreciate, often without realizing it, and that has inspired artists throughout history. It also highlights the creativity required to use mathematics to tackle problems, serving as a foundation for seeing things from different perspectives and exploring unconventional approaches. In a way, mathematics could be defined as the art of problem-solving, and many of the most pressing challenges facing society today could be addressed through STEAM-based solutions, which ultimately rely on mathematics.
Jordi Valls referenced the famous phrase “mathematics is everywhere,” adding that “never in the history of humanity have Galileo’s words been more true.” He was referring to the impact that generative AI has had on society over the past two years, as well as the risks associated with the concentration of “mathematical power” in the hands of a few multinational corporations, which poses a threat to technological sovereignty. “If we want Barcelona to remain the scientific and technological capital of Spain and one of the leading cities in Europe, we must embrace mathematics more,” he concluded.
Starting today, Barcelona’s libraries, the civic centers of Guinardó and Vil·la Urània, and other institutions like the Cosmocaixa Museum will offer a program of activities related to mathematics that will run until the end of the month. Additionally, until March 21, the nameplate of Plaça del Pi will temporarily read “Plaça del π,” and the science podcast Molècules from Barcelona Libraries (Radio Maconda) will dedicate its fifth episode to “The infinite pleasure of mathematics,” hosted by physicist Alessandro Maccarrone from University of Barcelona.
30 years of the Kangaroo test place Catalonia third in global participation rankings
AKSF data ranks Catalonia as one of the most active regions in the world in terms of participation, placing third after the Czech Republic and Slovenia. The AKSF president praised Catalonia’s commitment to popularizing mathematics, calling the City Council’s active role in the international day’s celebration exceptional. “We need to promote a positive perception of mathematics, not only among children but also among their parents and educators, so that society as a whole can experience and enjoy it.”
2025 promotes inclusive mathematics and highlights female talent
In a year marked by the centenary of the birth of Maria Assumpció Català Poch, the first woman to earn a PhD in mathematics from the University of Barcelona, Montserrat Alsina addressed the entire mathematical community, emphasizing its work and commitment at all educational and social levels. She highlighted that this year, “we must celebrate the recent recognitions received by the mathematical community, such as the four mathematicians awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi, three of whom were women.”
The City Council’s commitment to highlighting female talent in this field is also reflected in its selection of internationally renowned women mathematicians for the Mathematics Day celebrations since they began last year, featuring Ariadna Farrés and Meike Akveld.
