Francis Su
@mathyawp.bsky.social
I post mainly about math, and what it means to be human. Professor, writer, truth & grace seeker. Former MAA president. Opinions my own. Book: Mathematics for Human Flourishing (2020) https://amzn.to/3CLGCA5
I enjoyed this thoughtful conversation with English professor Wesley Beal. Asking big questions doesn’t have to be limited to the humanities.
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
Liberal Arts Experience | A Pod-series
www.lyon.edu
November 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I enjoyed this thoughtful conversation with English professor Wesley Beal. Asking big questions doesn’t have to be limited to the humanities.
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
Tell your Italian friends: I'm speaking at two events in Italy a week from now:
A public event in Rome Sep 27 related to the Italian edition of my book: www.associazionetokalon.com/matematica-p...
Then at the Global Math Summit in Cagliari on Oct 1: www.globalmathsummit.com
Excited about both!
A public event in Rome Sep 27 related to the Italian edition of my book: www.associazionetokalon.com/matematica-p...
Then at the Global Math Summit in Cagliari on Oct 1: www.globalmathsummit.com
Excited about both!
September 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Tell your Italian friends: I'm speaking at two events in Italy a week from now:
A public event in Rome Sep 27 related to the Italian edition of my book: www.associazionetokalon.com/matematica-p...
Then at the Global Math Summit in Cagliari on Oct 1: www.globalmathsummit.com
Excited about both!
A public event in Rome Sep 27 related to the Italian edition of my book: www.associazionetokalon.com/matematica-p...
Then at the Global Math Summit in Cagliari on Oct 1: www.globalmathsummit.com
Excited about both!
Come work with my fantastic colleagues! We have a job opening for someone in any area of operations research with a broad teaching porfolio.
See the ad:
math.hmc.edu/tenure-track...
See the ad:
math.hmc.edu/tenure-track...
Tenure Track (Operations Research) – Harvey Mudd College Mathematics
math.hmc.edu
August 22, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Come work with my fantastic colleagues! We have a job opening for someone in any area of operations research with a broad teaching porfolio.
See the ad:
math.hmc.edu/tenure-track...
See the ad:
math.hmc.edu/tenure-track...
Look what arrived in the mail! Five years ago, I got a call from @profnoahgian.bsky.social to discuss my experiences writing a book for the general public. Since then, he’s written TWO… this one out today, and he was just recognized with JPBM award for mathematics communication. Congrats, Noah!
August 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Look what arrived in the mail! Five years ago, I got a call from @profnoahgian.bsky.social to discuss my experiences writing a book for the general public. Since then, he’s written TWO… this one out today, and he was just recognized with JPBM award for mathematics communication. Congrats, Noah!
Giving this lecture this Friday in San Francisco, also live-streamed on Zoom. The Ross Lectures highlight recent research in a way accessible to high school students. I’ll speak on work combining a lot of different types of math, but also offers some larger lessons about how math often gets done.
The 2025 Arnold Ross lecture, "Randomness, Geometry, and Privacy,” will be delivered by Dr. Francis Su, hosted by Proof School on August 1, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. PDT (2:00 p.m. EDT).
This event is free, but you must register by July 31 to access the Zoom link.
Link in comments.
This event is free, but you must register by July 31 to access the Zoom link.
Link in comments.
July 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Giving this lecture this Friday in San Francisco, also live-streamed on Zoom. The Ross Lectures highlight recent research in a way accessible to high school students. I’ll speak on work combining a lot of different types of math, but also offers some larger lessons about how math often gets done.
N4yo is into jokes, and is now improvising his own. He recently learned this one: “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Cow.” “Cow who?” “No, cows moo!”
Here’s his new joke, which I thought was clever:
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Toilet.”
“Toilet who?”
“No, toilet poo!”
🤣
Here’s his new joke, which I thought was clever:
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Toilet.”
“Toilet who?”
“No, toilet poo!”
🤣
July 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
N4yo is into jokes, and is now improvising his own. He recently learned this one: “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Cow.” “Cow who?” “No, cows moo!”
Here’s his new joke, which I thought was clever:
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Toilet.”
“Toilet who?”
“No, toilet poo!”
🤣
Here’s his new joke, which I thought was clever:
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Toilet.”
“Toilet who?”
“No, toilet poo!”
🤣
Reposted by Francis Su
Anyway, you should read Francis Su on this: www.amazon.com/Mathematics-...
This book really influenced me to see math as a kind of pump for all sorts of virtues-- patience, thoughtfulness, humility, etc.
This book really influenced me to see math as a kind of pump for all sorts of virtues-- patience, thoughtfulness, humility, etc.
Mathematics for Human Flourishing
Amazon.com: Mathematics for Human Flourishing: 9780300237139: Su, Francis, Jackson, Christopher: Books
www.amazon.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Anyway, you should read Francis Su on this: www.amazon.com/Mathematics-...
This book really influenced me to see math as a kind of pump for all sorts of virtues-- patience, thoughtfulness, humility, etc.
This book really influenced me to see math as a kind of pump for all sorts of virtues-- patience, thoughtfulness, humility, etc.
Reposted by Francis Su
The new Pope (or a name twin, but I think it's actually him) wrote a book that features Bayes's Theorem. 👀
academic.oup.com/book/50039/c...
academic.oup.com/book/50039/c...
Evaluative Criteria And Bayes’S Theorem
Abstract. MY analysis to this point has suggested that Bayes’s theorem cannot account, in one way or the other, for the evidence of evil or for the explana
academic.oup.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:17 AM
The new Pope (or a name twin, but I think it's actually him) wrote a book that features Bayes's Theorem. 👀
academic.oup.com/book/50039/c...
academic.oup.com/book/50039/c...
The new pope was an undergraduate mathematics major.
May 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The new pope was an undergraduate mathematics major.
For anyone interested in taking a summer math course, I'm teaching Discrete Mathematics (Math 55) online this summer.
It's a 6-week course meeting online 3 days/week (MWF 8am-10:30am Pacific Time, May 28-July 2). More info:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
Apply here:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
It's a 6-week course meeting online 3 days/week (MWF 8am-10:30am Pacific Time, May 28-July 2). More info:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
Apply here:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
2025 Summer Session Course Offerings | Summer Session at Mudd | Harvey Mudd College
www.hmc.edu
April 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
For anyone interested in taking a summer math course, I'm teaching Discrete Mathematics (Math 55) online this summer.
It's a 6-week course meeting online 3 days/week (MWF 8am-10:30am Pacific Time, May 28-July 2). More info:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
Apply here:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
It's a 6-week course meeting online 3 days/week (MWF 8am-10:30am Pacific Time, May 28-July 2). More info:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
Apply here:
www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
Everyone should see “Counted Out”, a film by Vicki Abeles. This Pi Day (3/14), I'm moderating a panel after the screening at UCLA.
Register for the UCLA event here:
curtiscenter.math.ucla.edu/news/13050/
More about the film, and other screenings around the US: www.countedoutfilm.com/screenings
Register for the UCLA event here:
curtiscenter.math.ucla.edu/news/13050/
More about the film, and other screenings around the US: www.countedoutfilm.com/screenings
March 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Everyone should see “Counted Out”, a film by Vicki Abeles. This Pi Day (3/14), I'm moderating a panel after the screening at UCLA.
Register for the UCLA event here:
curtiscenter.math.ucla.edu/news/13050/
More about the film, and other screenings around the US: www.countedoutfilm.com/screenings
Register for the UCLA event here:
curtiscenter.math.ucla.edu/news/13050/
More about the film, and other screenings around the US: www.countedoutfilm.com/screenings
For all of us wanting advice about how to mitigate toxic ash/dust from the fires, this Caltech webinar is really excellent—very informative & practical. One takeaway: dust that they wiped off surfaces on campus had high levels of lead, but wet wipes are effective at cleaning.
youtu.be/VBg7wBCoSW8
youtu.be/VBg7wBCoSW8
Environmental Impacts of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface
YouTube video by caltech
youtu.be
February 5, 2025 at 3:44 AM
For all of us wanting advice about how to mitigate toxic ash/dust from the fires, this Caltech webinar is really excellent—very informative & practical. One takeaway: dust that they wiped off surfaces on campus had high levels of lead, but wet wipes are effective at cleaning.
youtu.be/VBg7wBCoSW8
youtu.be/VBg7wBCoSW8
First day of class. Wasn't ready, honestly. Coming back from two weeks of being in disaster mode---worrying about smoke, house-less friends, son's asthma, air quality, closed schools, toxic ash with lead and asbestos in it---how do I teach math? And yet... /1
January 23, 2025 at 1:01 AM
First day of class. Wasn't ready, honestly. Coming back from two weeks of being in disaster mode---worrying about smoke, house-less friends, son's asthma, air quality, closed schools, toxic ash with lead and asbestos in it---how do I teach math? And yet... /1
Second round of hoping for a commutation for Christopher Jackson. Behind the scenes over the holidays we had a big push to get his case noticed by the right folks, with major help from Karen Saxe in the AMS Office in Washington DC, and Paul Boyer. Not sure if it will be enough, but hoping.
January 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Second round of hoping for a commutation for Christopher Jackson. Behind the scenes over the holidays we had a big push to get his case noticed by the right folks, with major help from Karen Saxe in the AMS Office in Washington DC, and Paul Boyer. Not sure if it will be enough, but hoping.
I left #JMM2025 early to take care of fire-related stuff. Sorry to miss some of you. Our house in Pasadena is okay but lots to deal with. I’ll leave you with a beautiful piece of math art (by Peter Kagey) that can be found at the exhibit halls.
January 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I left #JMM2025 early to take care of fire-related stuff. Sorry to miss some of you. Our house in Pasadena is okay but lots to deal with. I’ll leave you with a beautiful piece of math art (by Peter Kagey) that can be found at the exhibit halls.
Two justice oriented panels at #JMM2025 happening Wednesday (I’m moderating one of them):
The Mathematics of Mass Incarceration
How Can the Mathematical Community Mitigate Bias and Other EDI Issues in Al
Unfortunately they’re at the same time but right next to each other.
The Mathematics of Mass Incarceration
How Can the Mathematical Community Mitigate Bias and Other EDI Issues in Al
Unfortunately they’re at the same time but right next to each other.
January 8, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Two justice oriented panels at #JMM2025 happening Wednesday (I’m moderating one of them):
The Mathematics of Mass Incarceration
How Can the Mathematical Community Mitigate Bias and Other EDI Issues in Al
Unfortunately they’re at the same time but right next to each other.
The Mathematics of Mass Incarceration
How Can the Mathematical Community Mitigate Bias and Other EDI Issues in Al
Unfortunately they’re at the same time but right next to each other.
Reposted by Francis Su
Let math (and python) help you make art. Mona Lisa with concentric circles. Try your own at: lifeislinear.davidson.edu/circleArt.html
January 5, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Let math (and python) help you make art. Mona Lisa with concentric circles. Try your own at: lifeislinear.davidson.edu/circleArt.html
Happy New Year 6^4 + 3^6! Thanks to my nephew, we had a last minute opportunity to view Rose Parade floats from seats right over Colorado Blvd. N4yo gave and received a lot of waves 👋
January 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Happy New Year 6^4 + 3^6! Thanks to my nephew, we had a last minute opportunity to view Rose Parade floats from seats right over Colorado Blvd. N4yo gave and received a lot of waves 👋
Reposted by Francis Su
I love this from Ben Orlin.
“Mathematical truth may be black and white, but mathematical thinking is not.”
Also that maths class can be both welcoming and challenging.
hechingerreport.org/teacher-voic...
“Mathematical truth may be black and white, but mathematical thinking is not.”
Also that maths class can be both welcoming and challenging.
hechingerreport.org/teacher-voic...
TEACHER VOICE: Instead of worrying about whether math is easy or difficult, let’s make it welcoming - The Hechinger Report
There’s an assumption that teaching math should move students from “easy” to “difficult.” But easy and difficult are only proxies for two higher virtues, the actual qualities of successful instruction...
hechingerreport.org
December 27, 2024 at 6:50 AM
I love this from Ben Orlin.
“Mathematical truth may be black and white, but mathematical thinking is not.”
Also that maths class can be both welcoming and challenging.
hechingerreport.org/teacher-voic...
“Mathematical truth may be black and white, but mathematical thinking is not.”
Also that maths class can be both welcoming and challenging.
hechingerreport.org/teacher-voic...
Reposted by Francis Su
HMC professor Francis Su (@mathyawp.bsky.social) has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. Su's outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication & utilization of mathematics has placed him among a select group who share this title. uqr.to/su-ams.
December 16, 2024 at 7:01 PM
HMC professor Francis Su (@mathyawp.bsky.social) has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. Su's outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication & utilization of mathematics has placed him among a select group who share this title. uqr.to/su-ams.
Mathematics for Human Flourishing is now in Turkish!
yayinlar.tubitak.gov.tr/ana-sayfa/14...
And if you're looking for other languages that it's appeared in--Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Korean--here are links:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
yayinlar.tubitak.gov.tr/ana-sayfa/14...
And if you're looking for other languages that it's appeared in--Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Korean--here are links:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
December 13, 2024 at 11:51 PM
Mathematics for Human Flourishing is now in Turkish!
yayinlar.tubitak.gov.tr/ana-sayfa/14...
And if you're looking for other languages that it's appeared in--Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Korean--here are links:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
yayinlar.tubitak.gov.tr/ana-sayfa/14...
And if you're looking for other languages that it's appeared in--Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Korean--here are links:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Looking for the list of Biden’s pardons. It’s not yet at the Pardon Attorney website. I helped Christopher Jackson assemble an application for clemency, and I’m hoping he’s on that list, as he would certainly be deserving. His application is still labeled “pending”.
December 12, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Looking for the list of Biden’s pardons. It’s not yet at the Pardon Attorney website. I helped Christopher Jackson assemble an application for clemency, and I’m hoping he’s on that list, as he would certainly be deserving. His application is still labeled “pending”.
Looking for ideas: what’s a non typical variant of the white elephant gift exchange game?
December 7, 2024 at 8:32 PM
Looking for ideas: what’s a non typical variant of the white elephant gift exchange game?