Mathematical Beauty in Rome - UCSD
 
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Math In Rome Begins!

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Inside the Colosseum
Math in Rome Class of 2008

Mathematical Beauty in Rome - Math in Rome for short - is an exciting and unique five-week summer program for undergrads (part of the UCSD Global Seminar series) where we go to Rome, Italy to explore mathematics and engineering of classical Roman architecture. We study geometries and structural principles of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Michelangelo's dome of St. Peter's, the Aqua Claudia aqueduct, and much more. There are excursions to Florence to study Brunelleschi's dome, to Pisa to study the Leaning Tower, and finally to Venice to study the Byzantine architecture of San Marco's basilica. If you want to live in Rome for five glorious weeks to study mathematical beauty in the Eternal City and other great cities of Italy, this program is for you!

If you are interested, feel free to send me an email.

Professor
 Scenes from Math in Rome 2008

News and Announcements

Math in Rome 09 has begun!

Math in Rome 09 is now officially underway.  Everyone got in safe and sound on Sunday, and we had a nice Welcome Dinner hosted by ISA at a very characteristic trattoria in Trastevere.

On Monday, we toured the city a bit, seeing the Colosseum, Pantheon, Castel Sant' Angelo, St. Peter's, and a few other sites along the way. Didn't go in to any of these yet (we will, all in good time), but everyone got a taste for the grandeur of Rome.  We ended the day with another group dinner at a restaurant that served authentic Roman pastas: Caccio e Pepe, Carbonara, and Amatriciana.

Tomorrow: first day of class!
Schedule

Here is a broad outline of the schedule of activities. We will be doing many additional things, but these are some of the highlights:

Week 1
  • Welcome dinner on Sunday evening
  • City Tour, Roman History: Welcome to Roma!
  • Orientation
  • Classes on Tuesday and Thursday
  • Castel Sant' Angelo
  • Lots of homework first week - get an early start (now)!
Week 2
  • Classes on Monday and Thursday
  • 3D Rewind Roma
  • Focused study of the Colosseum
  • Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
  • Capitoline Museum
Week 3
  • Classes on Monday and Thursday
  • Focused study of the Pantheon
  • Museum of Roman Civilization
  • Sant' Ignazio
Week 4
  • Venice: St. Mark's Basilica, Campanile
  • Florence: Duomo, Accademia, Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio
  • Pisa: Leaning Tower, Baptistry, Duomo
  • Special lectures
Week 5
  • Classes on Monday and Thursday
  • Aqua Claudia Aqueduct
  • Focused study of St. Peter's
  • Vatican Museum
  • Opera at Caracalla
  • Final Exam
  • Farewell dinner
  • Goodbye visit to Trevi Fountain: Arrivederci Roma!
Textbook and Software

Textbook: Squaring the Circle: Geometry in Art and Architecture, by Paul Calter, 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-41212-1.

Software: GeoGebra, download at http://www.geogebra.org.
Where Will Classes Be Held?

We are fortunate to be hosted in Rome by the International Studies Abroad (ISA) Rome office, and we will be using the excellent classroom and computer facilities at the American University of Rome (AUR). ISA is also arranging for our apartments and excursions.
Did You Know ...

that this program is open to all UCSD students, and students at other UC campuses and even other universities (in the USA)?  Tell your friends about it!