Interviewer: What advice would you give lay persons who would
like to know more about mathematics—what it is,
what its role in our society has been and so on?
What should they read? How should they proceed?
Dr. Mirzakhani: This is a difficult question. I don’t think that everyone
should become a mathematician, but I do believe that
many students don’t give mathematics a real chance.
I did poorly in math for a couple of years in middle
school; I was just not interested in thinking about it.
I can see that without being excited mathematics can
look pointless and cold. The beauty of mathematics
only shows itself to more patient followers.
like to know more about mathematics—what it is,
what its role in our society has been and so on?
What should they read? How should they proceed?
Dr. Mirzakhani: This is a difficult question. I don’t think that everyone
should become a mathematician, but I do believe that
many students don’t give mathematics a real chance.
I did poorly in math for a couple of years in middle
school; I was just not interested in thinking about it.
I can see that without being excited mathematics can
look pointless and cold. The beauty of mathematics
only shows itself to more patient followers.