National Public Radio’s “Math Guy” to Speak at Sunnyvale Public Library

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Dr. Keith Devlin, renowned mathematician and the “Math Guy” of National Public Radio, will speak at Sunnyvale Public Library on “How Mathematics Changed Us.” Devlin’s talk will be Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m., and is free and open to all. 

At three distinct stages in the development of modern society, a mathematical development changed – in a fundamental, dramatic and revolutionary way – how people understand the world and live their lives. Those advances occurred around 5,000 B.C., in the 16th century, and in the 17th century. A fourth such change may be taking place during our lifetime, but only history will say if this is really the case. Devlin will look at how human life and cognition changed on each of those three occasions, with the main focus being risk-management and a view of the future that is enabled through the use of effective risk-management techniques.

Devlin is the author of The Math Gene: How Mathematical Thinking Evolved and Why Numbers Are Like Gossip. His talk at the Library will be based on his most recent book, The Unfinished Game: Pascal, Fermat and the Seventeenth Century Letter that Made the World Modern. Devlin is a co-founder and executive director of Stanford University's H-STAR Institute, and a consulting professor in Stanford’s Department of Mathematics. He is a World Economic Forum Fellow and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has written 28 books and has published more than 80 research articles. Devlin has received the Pythagoras Prize, the Peano Prize, the Carl Sagan Award and the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award.

The Library is located at 665 W. Olive Ave., across from City Hall. Free parking is always available, and VTA line 54 serves the Library. For more information about Library services and activities, visit www.sunnyvalelibrary.org or call the Reference Desk at (408) 730-7300, TDD (408) 730-7501.