The University of Notre Dame Australia recently welcomed Dr Maura Mast, Professor of Mathematics at Fordham University, to its Sydney campuses, where she shared thought-provoking insights on the role of mathematics in advancing social justice.
Visiting from the United States, Dr Mast toured the Broadway and Darlinghurst campuses and engaged with students and staff.
She delivered a talk titled ‘Mathematics and Social Justice’, which challenged students, academics and professional staff to think about mathematics in a different light.
Dr Mast underlined the importance of not simply studying mathematics, but harnessing a passion for mathematics and appreciating it for its value in helping individuals flourish.
Taking it one step further, Dr Mast argued that mathematics addresses issues of social justice by translating and applying the sense derived from numbers to real life settings, shaping and sharpening the individual’s ability to think critically, and identifying and dismantling ways in which cultural biases manifest in social constructs.
Dr Mast is currently undertaking a research project on Catholic universities around the globe and she also took the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with colleagues.
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