Colgate University

First-Year Course Offerings — Fall 2022

FSEM 142   Hi(dden)story of Mathematics
Credits1
RestrictionsNo 2025 2024 2023 Instr perm req during Drop/Add
Pre-Requisites
Co-Requisites
Core Area Sciences
Area of Inquiry
Liberal Arts Practices

Faculty Profile for Professor Sosa Castillo

Students discuss the hidden history of mathematics: from the ancient past, admiring the way different civilizations approached mathematics, and the way they applied it, to more recent events. The class highlights mathematical contributions of underrepresented mathematicians and attempts to tear down the myth that western civilization is solely responsible for technological advances. The course requires both a willingness to discuss and engage with the history of mathematics and the desire to learn, and apply, actual mathematics. Students are expected to attend three film screenings throughout the semester. Students who successfully complete this seminar will satisfy the Scientific Perspective core requirement.

Gabriel Sosa Castillo was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. His interest in Mathematics was cemented during high school while participating in International Mathematical Olympiads. His research interests are Computational and Combinatorial Commutative Algebra, Graph Theory and Mathematical Education. He enjoys playing board games, karaoke, collecting comic books, spending time with his partner and petting his five cats.