Glen Whitney has an ambitious plan that involves changing the stigma of a classroom topic - math. He is the founder of the Museum of Mathematics, which will be the only mathematics museum in the United States. He plans for a grand opening in more than a year, but that hasn't diminished his enthusiasm. A former math professor turned hedge fund worker, he quit his job in late 2008 on a mission to inspire people about math.
So far, he has received twenty-two million dollars in funding, from sources ranging from his past hedge fund contacts to Google. At the moment, he works with about twenty others designing museum exhibits to fill his 19,000 square foot building in Manhattan. In his spare time, he leads tours around the city, pointing out interesting mathematical phenomenon such as the unusual use of pentagonal bolts on water hydrants.
If the museum succeeds in portraying math as a fun, interesting topic, it could do a world of good. It may inspire students in local schools to be more involved in math, and perhaps even challenge some pupils to compete in math. It could also cause more museums to be opened up across the country, in population centers such as San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago or Austin.
I would certainly mark it as a must-see in New York, and I look forward to visiting myself. I hope that it continues forward with the enthusiasm Glen Whitney currently has.
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