The Seminar takes place on Wednesdays at 14:15 in Seminar Room A of the Mathematikon.
Schedule
21.05.2025
Speaker: Athina Thoma (University of Southampton).
Title: Teaching mathematics using Lean: Insights from students and lecturers.
Time: 14:15.
Abstract:
Interactive Theorem Provers (ITPs) like Lean are increasingly being used in university mathematics teaching, either as core components of courses or as optional enrichment opportunities. This talk presents findings from educational research exploring how students experience and engage with Lean when first introduced to it. Drawing on data from students’ pen-and-paper proof writing, questionnaire responses, and interviews, I will discuss challenges students encounter and the affordances Lean offers. Complementing the student perspective, I will also share insights from lecturers who integrated Lean into an introductory proof course, highlighting how they adapted their teaching approaches. Together, these perspectives provide insights on the pedagogical opportunities and limitations of using Lean to teach mathematics.
25.06.2025
Speaker: Pieter Belmans (Utrecht University).
Title: Computation and classification in algebraic geometry.
Time: 14:15.
Abstract:
Several classification problems in algebraic geometry exist for which useful online databases are available, describing the invariants and properties of the objects being classified. I will give a (biased) survey of some of these. To compute these invariants and extend the existing classifications, computational tools are often helpful. I will discuss how linear algebra and representation theory are two sources of handy and powerful computational tools that play a role in these classifications.
