Dr. Po-Shen Loh, professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University and the national coach of the United States International Math Olympiad team, entertained Upper and Middle School students with interactive presentations in the Berry Performing Arts Center.
He focused his talk on proving that math is useful and can solve real world problems. He shared the story of his invention of a way to fight pandemics using smartphones and how simple math was at the root of his success with the NOVID app.
“You can use math to come up with ways to solve problems where everyone wins,” Dr. Loh said.
Dr. Loh also has revolutionized teaching with online video classes that inspire Middle School students. This initiative also was necessitated by the pandemic.
Impressed by his audiences and humble about anyone’s chances to find ways to solve problems using math, Dr. Loh left the students with a challenge:
“Who knows what you’ll come up with someday? There are always more and new trivial ideas to discover. Good luck!”