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Street Math: Exploring Mathematical Thinking in Everyday Life

Man sailing and holding a fish net

Transformative innovation lies at the intersection of disciplines. In this course, we will learn about cultural anthropology, which is the study of human ideas and practices in the past and presents them through math.

Even though mathematical thinking is actually a fundamental part of our everyday lives, math is commonly perceived as an abstract discipline: it is presented and regarded as being ahistorical, stripped of cultural and social context. This course aims to challenge this assumption by centralizing the abstract mathematical practices of Alexandrian fishermen.

The aim of this course is to re-think and expand our understanding of mathematics to accommodate fishermen’s practices as forms of mathematical activity. We do so by introducing students to the field of ethnomathematics, broadly defined as the study of the relationship between culture and mathematics. Through a selection of critical texts, field trips, and engaged lectures, this course will expose students to the multiplicity of ‘mathematical’ operations and help them appreciate the sociocultural context of math-making.

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The course consists of three main components:

  1. It starts with a series of engaged lectures and in-class reflection activities
  2. A four-day field trip in Alexandria
  3. Culminating in field reports

At the end of the first week, students will embark on an excursion to Alexandria. They will visit key research centers and libraries in Alexandria that produce research on the world of fishermen communities. Then, they will collect primary data on fishermen's knotting practices in Alexandria.

Upon completing the field trips, they will present a field report as a group in class to get feedback from their peers and professors. 

  • Understand the basic principles of cultural anthropology
  • Conduct observations with individuals and collectives in their natural environments
  • Extract basic mathematical concepts in stories and problems that aren’t traditionally seen as mathematical
  • Critique systems of power that deny access to mathematical knowledge to less-privileged individuals and collectives
  • Develop quantitative reasoning skills
  • Engage in an inquiry that integrates knowledge drawn from social sciences (i.e., cultural anthropology) and sciences (i.e., math)
  • Use responsible research and documentation practices when collecting data and presenting information
  • Create stories of an interdisciplinary nature, such as stories that provide context to mathematical problems and solutions
  • Practice storytelling
  • Present stories orally and in writing
  • July 28 - August 11, 2024
  • Sessions will run daily from 9 am to 3 pm
  • AUC New Cairo campus
  • Fridays and Saturdays off
  • $1,300 (price includes field trips) - lower price of the same course than for AUC undergraduates 
  • 10% discount offered for siblings, AUC faculty, staff, and alumni
  • Egyptian students can pay the equivalent amount in Egyptian pounds
Egyptian students can pay the tuition using 

This course is one of the core courses from among which students of all majors may select for students interested in Cultural Anthropology, Math, and their intersections in real life. 

Note that program requirements may change. Courses that are no longer required by programs at the time of students' admission to AUC will be transferred as electives.

  • Upon taking this course, you will receive a certificate of completion from AUC.
  • The course is equivalent to 3 credit hours. Only students who pass the course will be able to transfer these 3 credits when they enroll at AUC. In case of transferring the course to other universities, their transfer assessments will apply. 
  • An English writing sample (at least 750 words): essay or reflection
  • A copy of your report card for the past two years of school
  • A recommendation letter from a high-school teacher within the past academic year. The teacher must mention the student’s capacity for academic study in English

July 1, 2024

The AUC bus service is available for extra fees. Details on the schedule will be shared before the program’s start date.

Accommodation is offered at the University Residences in case needed. 

Youssef Abdel Aziz
youssef.abdelaziz@aucegypt.edu 

Youssef Abdel Aziz is an assistant professor at the Department of Physics, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University of Cairo. Abdel Aziz is a mathematical physicist and a historian of science. He has research interests in mathematical physics, the history of mathematics and ethnomathematics, and environmental studies.

Yasmine M. Ahmed
yasminemoataz@aucegypt.edu

Yasmine M. Ahmed is an assistant professor at the Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology at The American University of Cairo. Ahmed is a cultural anthropologist. Her research interests lie at the intersection of political anthropology, environmental studies and Middle Eastern studies.

A 100% refund of the program fees will be offered in the following cases. If reported at least three weeks before the program's start date.

  • Course cancellation 
  • Medical withdrawal
  • Visa denial