ESP Biography

Just about everything is an art to somebody. All it takes is an open mind to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of a discipline. Mathematics is one such field that is rich in artistic qualities, but is often misrepresented and even butchered by the recipe oriented teaching in schools. In this class, we'll look at a number of problems whose solutions illuminate the underlying aesthetic appeal behind Mathematics, as well as some theorems which are widely considered to be the most beautiful. If you're already in love with Mathematics, or interested to see what it has to offer outside of the scope of high school (and possibly undergraduate study), you'll have a great time!

One of humanity's most notable accomplishments is the ability to compose and understand poetry. However, many give up the joys of poems by not reading them the way they deserve to be read. In this class, we will teach ourselves the ways of approaching poems written by a range of poets, from Auden to Duffy. By the end of the class session we will all leave with a better ability to appreciate the luxury of life that is poetry. It must be said that this class will not be like any traditional English Literature lesson. We will not be deluding ourselves into thinking that by identifying similes and onomatopoeias we can understand the message the poet is trying to convey.