Math Across The Cannon – Monday, October 5th and Tuesday, October 6th, 2026
Guest Speaker: Dr. Po-Shen Loh is a social entrepreneur, inventor, and mathematics professor at Carnegie Mellon University
About the speaker: Professor Po-Shen Loh is a social entrepreneur, inventor, and math professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He combines math, science, and technology to address the impacts of AI on humanity, work, and education. Major newspapers have covered his work, and his latest initiative unites math stars and actors to transform education.
A former silver medalist for Team USA at the 1999 International Math Olympiad and decade-long National Coach, he is also a Hertz Fellow. He speaks in 100+ cities per year on education-after-AI, visiting classrooms, companies, and public forums while running his EdTech social enterprise.
Public Lecture: St. Olaf College, Monday, October 5, 2026, 7:00 pm, Tomson Hall 280, Reception to follow
Building a Thought Full World: Creativity + Love of Humanity
Abstract: As AI and technology pull society apart, how do we safeguard genuine human connection? The survival and thriving of our species relies on people loving people, supporting each other, thinking for themselves, and devising creative solutions to unprecedented challenges. Meanwhile, technology is advancing at breakneck speed, automating tasks once thought to be beyond the reach of machines. Mathematician and social entrepreneur Dr. Loh will share his experience building an ecosystem merging live-streaming, theater, and mathematics to simultaneously teach creativity and love for humanity. We will discuss how to build a future focused on AI-resilient critical thinking and human thriving.
Colloquium: Carleton College, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Olin 149, Reception at 3:30pm, Lecture at 4:00pm
Using Math to Invent Solutions to Large-Scale Human Problems
Abstract: How can mathematics help devise practical solutions to massive societal challenges? In this public lecture, we will discover how the mathematics of network theory and game theory inspired new tools for pandemic control and education. During the COVID pandemic, Dr. Loh created an app to address the misalignment problem intrinsic in contact tracing, shifting the incentives from individual isolation to protect others to instead helping protect ourselves from infection. At the intersection of education and technology, Dr. Loh is the creator of a novel tech ecosystem pairing math stars with professional actors and comedians to teach scalable problem-solving. This comes just in time, as the rise of AI underscores the need for human skills.
Everyone Welcome!
Sponsored by:
St. Olaf College Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science, and Computer Science, Carleton College Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the TLC Colloquium Series Fund, and the Michael Morill Fund
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