Wolfgang Christian (left) in the physics lab with students (from left) Daniel Bernstein, Ruel Neupane, and Ree Lightsey. (Davidson College photo)

Davidson College professors Wolfgang Christian and Tim Chartier are in the news this week because of recognition in their fields. Dr. Christian, the college’s Brown Professor of Physics, recently received a physics teaching award. Dr. Chartier, who is both a mathematician and a mime, has an article in a journal about using the performing arts to capture mathematical concepts.

WOLFGANG CHRISTIAN

Dr. Christian has written 11 books and developed what he calls “Physlets” – interactive computer simulations that can be used to illustrate numerous physical phenomena. The Southeast Section of the the American Physical Society recently recognized him with its George B. Pegram Award, presented to someone who has made outstanding contributions to physics education.

Read more about Dr. Christian on the Davidson College website, in Emily Matras’s  article “Wolfgang Christian’s Professional Peers Honor His Commitment to Teaching Physics.”

TIM CHARTIER – Mathematics and Mime

January 2010 issue of the online journal Notices of the American Mathematical Society is titled “Mathematics and the Arts,” and includes an article by Davidson College professor Tim Chartier.

Chartier cuts a "mime rope" of infinite length.

In “Envisioning the Invisible,” Dr. Chartier describes how the performing arts can be used to capture mathematical concepts in a visceral way that audiences can really connect with.

Dr. Chartier is a mathematician and also a mime; he trained with the legendary Marcel Marceau. In one of his mime sketches, he gets the audience to visualize the one-dimensional number line as a rope of infinite length. The sketch begins with the lone mime walking toward the audience and suddenly stumbling. Peering down, he sees an (invisible) object on the floor and proceeds to slowly pick it up. Examining it, he discovers a rope of infinite length in both directions. He then engages in a tug-of-war with the rope and eventually cuts it into two, prompting the audience to ponder questions about the nature of infinity.

In addition to describing several such mime pieces he performs (some of them together with his wife, Tanya, who is also a trained mime), Dr. Chartier discusses the work of other mathematicians who work in such performing arts as dance, theater, juggling, and magic.

Read his article “Envisioning the Invisible.”