Is maths better than
sex?
This French mathematician likens
the thrill of finding new maths problems to that of having multiple
affairs
PICTURE COURTESY OF CEDRIC VILLANI
REPORT: JENNIFER DHANARAJ
Is maths sexy? This celebrated
French mathematician thinks so.
Mr Cedric Villani has even likened the discovery of
new matbs problelll$ to having multiple love affairs - from the
initial thrill to the joy of understanding, before familiarity and
boredom sets in.
Then it's time "for another mathematical
romance".
Mr Villani, 39, has gained international acclaim
for making mathematical thinking "cool".
In 2010, he won the Fields Medal, which is often
called the Nobel Prize for mathematics.
Awarded every four years, it recognises the
outstanding work of mathematicians under the age of 40.
"My inspiration comes from the world around us and
it is full of problems waiting to be solved," he tells The New
Paper on Sunday.
Winning the Fields Medal has made him a spokesman
for mathematics, and has seen him travel to over 30 countries to
give talks.
Mr Villani is a showman in the world of
mathematical thinking, and his talks see him enthusiastically
descnbing his approach to maths concepts and equations.
Tall, gangly and dressed in a three-piece suit with
his signature floppy bow tie (in honour of his 19th-century science
hero Ludwig Boltzmann), he has the aura
of a typical eccentric.
His unconventional appearance and approach have
even earned him the label of the Lady Gaga of mathematics. His
resume even includes a stint in modelling.
He says: "I agreed to appear in a French fashion
magazine, although it was my first and last time!"
Mr Villanl. is in town for the Global Young
Scientists [email protected], which begins today and. ends on
Friday·
The inaugural summit, organised by the National
Research Foundation, seeks to highlight Singapore's vibrant
research landscape. Its theme is "Advancing Science, Creating
Technologies for a Better World", and it aims to inspire young
scientists to address global challenges and future needs of
mankind.
Young scientists will be encouraged to engage the
many international leaders of science and technology that will be
present at the event.
Mr Villani is a strong advocate of making
scientific thinking more attractive to all.
He says: "Maths makes you feel like an adventurer
in that you explore people's minds during encounters
worldwide."
He insists that it is a universal language, saying:
"It appears everywhere. Every movie with special effects and every
animated cartoon uses many mathematical concepts and
simulations.
"It is also used to predict the weather, ease
traffic, draw architectural plans and detect cancers."
He adds: "Maths is the language by which the laws
of physics are written, so it explains our world
"Just as one is interested in history to understand
where the world we live in came from, you can be interested in
mathematics to understand how the world works."
Mathematics has been crucial in some of the most
important events in history, he maintains.
Mr Villani argues that without it, we might be
living in a frighteningly different world today.
"Without the work of the English mathematician Alan
Turing, who deciphered German military codes during the Second
World War... The war could have been won by Germany!"
As a maths advocate, Mr Villani has inspired many
who thought they had left the subject behind at school.
"I wrote a popular book called Optimal Transport:
Old and New, which sold more than 40,000 copies, and received
hundreds of comments by non-mathematicians," says the father of
two.
And true enough, he has been approached by fans of
his work, many Of whom are not familiar with the subject.
He has met singers, heads of state, writers and
even rugby players in the course of his travels.
His fans include acclaimed film directors Takeshi
Kitano and David Lynch, whom he maintains is the coolest person he
has met.
"I enjoyed every minute in his company. He was very
fascinated by mathematics and the birth of the Universe."
There are, however, some misconceptions about what
Mr Villani does.
For instance, he does not see the world in terms of
equations magically appearing before him -like in the film A
Beautiful Mind.
Mr Villani is quick to
dispel these misconceptions and points out that being a
mathematician is not simply about complex
calculations.
"Like many mathematicians, I do not calculate at
all! It's not just about figures. My work is to understand
problems."
While others may be inspired by Mr Villani to
explore maths later in life, it has always been a passion for
him.
"I always found maths a fun way to train your mind.
I always loved it, but didn't imagine it would be my job until I
was 25."
There is still the question of the discipline being
sexy.
Mr Villani says he agrees with legendary French
mathematician Andre Weil, who said that the rush from finding
mathematics solutions was similar to that of an orgasm, but lasts
longer.
So could maths be used in attracting the opposite
sex?
"I'm afraid not. Mathematicians are human beings.
We think in terms of emotions, not logic."
Mr Villani also says he's never tried a
mathematical pick-up line, but shares one which one of his students
came up with: "If you were a function, I would be your derivative,
so I would always be tangent to your curves."
He admits: "I'm not sure it would be efficient. One
should test"
People, The New Paper On Sunday, 20 January 2013, Pg 19
