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Francis Su

@mathyawp.bsky.social
1.6K followers 202 following 71 posts

I post mainly about math, and what it means to be human. Professor, writer, truth & grace seeker. Former MAA president. Opinions my own. Book: Mathematics for Human Flourishing (2020) amzn.to/3CLGCA5

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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 1h
My piece "The Two Timelines" is in the most recent issue of the Notre Dame publication Virtues and Vocations. What does Star Trek have to say about our current moment with Large Language Models? socialconcerns.nd.edu/research/vir... @virtuevocations.bsky.social
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Tim Hsu @timhsu.net · 16/09/2026
Now *this* is the opinion I've been waiting to hear about The AI Thing - wise and humane as always
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
When science is turned into an exploitative spectacle: francissu.substack.com/p/love-of-hu...
francissu.substack.com
Love of Humanity Is Not Enough
The OpenAI race on Navier-Stokes exposes the gap between loving humanity and loving your neighbor
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Amie Albrecht @nomadpenguin.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A good starting point is @mathyawp.bsky.social’s Mathematics for Human Flourishing
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I was asked to give the Convocation address this year. Here's what I said to the first-year class at Harvey Mudd College. francissu.substack.com/p/science-in...
francissu.substack.com
Science, in Service of Love
My exhortation to the first-year class at Harvey Mudd College
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
With the start of the semester just a week away, here’s what I decided to say to my upper division math course about how AI will or won’t change what they’re learning… francissu.substack.com/p/the-enduri...
francissu.substack.com
The Enduring Value of Math, in an Age of AI
Thoughts I’ll share at the start of my upper division math course
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
A beautiful reflection on what math is about, and how human understanding is formed, even the an age of AI. I plan to assign it as reading in my advanced analysis course this Fall. From my colleague Jon Jacobsen in the Mathematical Intelligencer: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
In Praise of Acoustic Mathematics - The Mathematical Intelligencer
The Mathematical Intelligencer -
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Now that I'm blogging on Substack, I've moved my old posts too, including this blast from the past. I found it helpful for me to re-read as the new school year approaches. "Your accomplishments are not what make you a worthy human being."
francissu.substack.com
The Lesson of Grace in Teaching
from weakness to wholeness, the struggle and the hope
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John Golden @johngolden.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Ted Lasso is back and so is Teaching Like Ted Lasso. Starting the season with the sage Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social @deltadc.bsky.social and I were wowed. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUmS...
youtube.com
Defining Joy with Francis Su
YouTube video by Teaching Like Ted Lasso
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I've moved my blog to Substack, and plan to revive my writing. To try out the platform, I posted the Spring 2026 article that I wrote on mathematical joy. open.substack.com/pub/franciss...
open.substack.com
A Meditation on Mathematical Joy
What would a child's book about joy look like? Math might be on every page.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Awww, Father’s Day card, from N5yo. We do a daily math problem every day
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Didn’t expect to see my book mentioned by David Brooks in this Atlantic essay: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
theatlantic.com
Something Big Is Happening on Campus
There’s a lot going right at universities, if you’re only willing to see it.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Great meeting with all the good folks of the MAA Rocky Mountain Section. Travis Kowalski sketched this impressive doodle during my talk
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Virtues & Vocations @virtuevocations.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
What if asking “why” became second nature? In the latest Virtues & Vocations magazine, Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social reflects on the joy of contemplation—and the kind of thinking that deepens our humanity. Read more at bit.ly/4mw7U2U
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
My Flourishing book is on sale at Amazon today, lowest I've ever seen it, so I bought some too, to give away. amzn.to/47qhVZs
amzn.to
Mathematics for Human Flourishing
Amazon.com: Mathematics for Human Flourishing: 9780300258516: Su, Francis, Jackson, Christopher: Books
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Joel was a great host who, because he’d read my work closely, managed to unearth lots of things I’ve never said in an interview before. I think you can tell we both really enjoyed this conversation
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Happy Pi Day! Seems a fitting day to share my piece for Virtues & Vocations magazine, entitled "A Meditation on Mathematical Joy". In it, I riff on this idea: what would a children's book about joy look like? socialconcerns.nd.edu/research/vir...
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Terrific article describing how AI is changing what coders do.
nytimes.com
Coding After Coders: The End of Computer Programming as We Know It
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
This new book Math Decoded by James Tanton belongs in every math teacher’s book collection. It encourages deep thinking around many natural questions that kids ask about numbers. Book launches this week!
Book cover
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Up early Monday morning at #JMM2026? Come to this breakfast at 7:30-9:00am: The AMS Committee on Engagement, Participation, and Advancement on Fostering Representation in Mathematics: Community Strategies, Discussion, and Continental Breakfast. Marquis Salon 2, Marriott Marquis
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mathgrrl @mathgrrl.com · 02/01/2026
Hey #JMM2026 find me wandering around or at the Monday night Knitting Circle if you want to crochet a square based on a cellular automaton for a math/art/community exhibit www.grannylifecrochet.com
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Some events I’ll be speaking at #JMM2026: J. Sutherland Frame Lecture: “100 Years of Sperner’s Lemma: Proofs, Generalizations, and Applications”, Sunday 2:10pm - 3:00pm, Ballroom A. I promise it will be a fun talk. And…
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Joint Mathematics Meetings @jointmath.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Francis Su, Harvey Mudd College, will give the Pi Mu Epsilon (PME) J. Sutherland Frame Lecture at #JMM2026 on “100 Years of Sperner's Lemma: Proofs, Generalizations, and Applications." buff.ly/190QBLP
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Prison Math Project @prisonmathproject.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
We have a matching gift! With your help, we can #UnlockPotential and change the trajectory of a person's life. A $20 donation buys the first geometry set an incarcerated learner has ever had. Today, your gift is worth DOUBLE. prisonmathproject.org/donate
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
This Giving Tuesday, if you’re looking for an initiative that can really use your support, consider giving to this project that will help LA area math teachers and improve the math preparation of students, through the terrific work of the The UCLA Curtis Center: crowdfunding.ucla.edu/project/47891
crowdfunding.ucla.edu
The Modern Math Teacher Circle Initiative
Help UCLA raise $7,500 for the project: The Modern Math Teacher Circle Initiative. Your gift will make a difference!
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
I enjoyed this thoughtful conversation with English professor Wesley Beal. Asking big questions doesn’t have to be limited to the humanities. open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
lyon.edu
Liberal Arts Experience | A Pod-series
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Tell your Italian friends: I'm speaking at two events in Italy a week from now: A public event in Rome Sep 27 related to the Italian edition of my book: www.associazionetokalon.com/matematica-p... Then at the Global Math Summit in Cagliari on Oct 1: www.globalmathsummit.com Excited about both!
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Come work with my fantastic colleagues! We have a job opening for someone in any area of operations research with a broad teaching porfolio. See the ad: math.hmc.edu/tenure-track...
math.hmc.edu
Tenure Track (Operations Research) – Harvey Mudd College Mathematics
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Look what arrived in the mail! Five years ago, I got a call from @profnoahgian.bsky.social to discuss my experiences writing a book for the general public. Since then, he’s written TWO… this one out today, and he was just recognized with JPBM award for mathematics communication. Congrats, Noah!
Book cover
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Giving this lecture this Friday in San Francisco, also live-streamed on Zoom. The Ross Lectures highlight recent research in a way accessible to high school students. I’ll speak on work combining a lot of different types of math, but also offers some larger lessons about how math often gets done.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
N4yo is into jokes, and is now improvising his own. He recently learned this one: “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Cow.” “Cow who?” “No, cows moo!” Here’s his new joke, which I thought was clever: “Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Toilet.” “Toilet who?” “No, toilet poo!” 🤣
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Surprisingly funny, and touching. You’re welcome. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
The Subtle Art of the Dad Text (Gift Article)
When it comes to corny jokes, random photos and sincere pep talks, father knows best.
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Zach Weinersmith @zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Anyway, you should read Francis Su on this: www.amazon.com/Mathematics-... This book really influenced me to see math as a kind of pump for all sorts of virtues-- patience, thoughtfulness, humility, etc.
amazon.com
Mathematics for Human Flourishing
Amazon.com: Mathematics for Human Flourishing: 9780300237139: Su, Francis, Jackson, Christopher: Books
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Dr. Courtney Gibbons (she/her/xlookup) @courtneygibbons.phd · 09/05/2025
The new Pope (or a name twin, but I think it's actually him) wrote a book that features Bayes's Theorem. 👀 academic.oup.com/book/50039/c...
academic.oup.com
Evaluative Criteria And Bayes’S Theorem
Abstract. MY analysis to this point has suggested that Bayes’s theorem cannot account, in one way or the other, for the evidence of evil or for the explana
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
The new pope was an undergraduate mathematics major.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Some great interactive simulations here, thanks to math. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Can You Stop an Outbreak of a Contagious Disease? (Gift Article)
An interactive explanation of outbreaks, vaccines and herd immunity.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
For anyone interested in taking a summer math course, I'm teaching Discrete Mathematics (Math 55) online this summer. It's a 6-week course meeting online 3 days/week (MWF 8am-10:30am Pacific Time, May 28-July 2). More info: www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi... Apply here: www.hmc.edu/summer-sessi...
hmc.edu
2025 Summer Session Course Offerings | Summer Session at Mudd | Harvey Mudd College
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Everyone should see “Counted Out”, a film by Vicki Abeles. This Pi Day (3/14), I'm moderating a panel after the screening at UCLA. Register for the UCLA event here: curtiscenter.math.ucla.edu/news/13050/ More about the film, and other screenings around the US: www.countedoutfilm.com/screenings
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
For all of us wanting advice about how to mitigate toxic ash/dust from the fires, this Caltech webinar is really excellent—very informative & practical. One takeaway: dust that they wiped off surfaces on campus had high levels of lead, but wet wipes are effective at cleaning. youtu.be/VBg7wBCoSW8
youtu.be
Environmental Impacts of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface
YouTube video by caltech
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
First day of class. Wasn't ready, honestly. Coming back from two weeks of being in disaster mode---worrying about smoke, house-less friends, son's asthma, air quality, closed schools, toxic ash with lead and asbestos in it---how do I teach math? And yet... /1
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Second round of hoping for a commutation for Christopher Jackson. Behind the scenes over the holidays we had a big push to get his case noticed by the right folks, with major help from Karen Saxe in the AMS Office in Washington DC, and Paul Boyer. Not sure if it will be enough, but hoping.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
I left #JMM2025 early to take care of fire-related stuff. Sorry to miss some of you. Our house in Pasadena is okay but lots to deal with. I’ll leave you with a beautiful piece of math art (by Peter Kagey) that can be found at the exhibit halls.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Two justice oriented panels at #JMM2025 happening Wednesday (I’m moderating one of them): The Mathematics of Mass Incarceration How Can the Mathematical Community Mitigate Bias and Other EDI Issues in Al Unfortunately they’re at the same time but right next to each other.
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Tim Chartier @timchartier.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Let math (and python) help you make art. Mona Lisa with concentric circles. Try your own at: lifeislinear.davidson.edu/circleArt.html
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
Happy New Year 6^4 + 3^6! Thanks to my nephew, we had a last minute opportunity to view Rose Parade floats from seats right over Colorado Blvd. N4yo gave and received a lot of waves 👋
Waving at the floats
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Amie Albrecht @nomadpenguin.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
I love this from Ben Orlin. “Mathematical truth may be black and white, but mathematical thinking is not.” Also that maths class can be both welcoming and challenging. hechingerreport.org/teacher-voic...
hechingerreport.org
TEACHER VOICE: Instead of worrying about whether math is easy or difficult, let’s make it welcoming - The Hechinger Report
There’s an assumption that teaching math should move students from “easy” to “difficult.” But easy and difficult are only proxies for two higher virtues, the actual qualities of successful instruction...
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Harvey Mudd College @hmc.edu · 16/12/2024
HMC professor Francis Su (@mathyawp.bsky.social) has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. Su's outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication & utilization of mathematics has placed him among a select group who share this title. uqr.to/su-ams.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Mathematics for Human Flourishing is now in Turkish! yayinlar.tubitak.gov.tr/ana-sayfa/14... And if you're looking for other languages that it's appeared in--Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Korean--here are links: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
cover of book in Turkish
table of contents in Turkish
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Looking for the list of Biden’s pardons. It’s not yet at the Pardon Attorney website. I helped Christopher Jackson assemble an application for clemency, and I’m hoping he’s on that list, as he would certainly be deserving. His application is still labeled “pending”.
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Francis Su @mathyawp.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Looking for ideas: what’s a non typical variant of the white elephant gift exchange game?
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