But in nature, as well as in music and art, we see mathematical connections all the time. And we should see those connections in order to have a healthy life,' said Reza Sarhangi, a Phillips professor of mathematics and Southwestern College mathematics department chairman who directed the conference. Internationally renowned musicians, mathematicians and artists gathered at Southwestern College on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to explore their common ground and to speak to area teachers. In lectures on Thursday, conference attendees explored the mind and where memory comes from. Participants were encouraged to 'hyper-see things from many different viewpoints', and to not limit themselves to traditional thinking in mathematics.
Speakers come from as far away as England, Italy and Germany to take part in the conference.
They lectured on topics including tessellations, fractals, computer-generated art, mathematics in music, hyperstructures and space curves. Some of the presenters are the considered to be the top mathematical and artistic minds in their disciplines. Michael Leyton, who is on the faculty of the psychology department at Rutgers University, spoke Thursday on the connections between symmetry, asymmetry and the mind. Corey Cerovsek, a violinist and mathematician who appeared with the Wichita Symphony this spring, talked about the connections he has experienced in math and music. Cerovsek completed the course work for doctorates in both music and math by the time he was 18 years old.