This intense, hands-on program teaches students to simplify parts of our complex world and focus on results. Driving problem-solving and analytical skills, the Bachelor in Applied Mathematics serves as a key for young professionals ready to gain the skills necessary to take on roles in the world of economics, technology, finance, automation and more.
Beyond the classroom
Mathematics affects every part of our lives, which allows this program to open the door to a world of opportunity. The challenging curriculum does more than just provide excellent skills. As IE University works relentlessly to bring the real world into the classroom, the program also features events and conferences students can attend to dip their toes even further into the water of their future.
One such event featured insights from Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and mathematics professor at the University of Oxford. His event at IE Tower titled, “Thinking Better: The Art of the Shortcut” took a deep dive into his book with the same title. During the event, Marcus celebrated the elegance and efficiency of mathematical shortcuts in understanding and solving complex problems.
Shortcutting as a positive solution
As a way of explaining that shortcutting can be an art, Marcus’ first point of discussion covered the young prodigy Carl Friedrich Gauss, who found an ingenious shortcut to summing all the integer numbers from 1 to 100. While his classmates added numbers sequentially, Carl arrived at the correct answer of 5050 by pairing the first and last number, which summed to 101, and multiplying it by 50, the number of pairs.
Marcus later went on to discuss Florence Nightingale’s use of the rose diagram, as well as dive into the mathematical constant represented by the letter “e.” He joked about using “e” to find a partner, and then shifted to the reality of nature intuitively finding efficient solutions. “The minimal surface area principle in bubbles has provided solutions for architectural designs like the Munich Olympics stadium.”
If it hasn’t been made clear yet, this is a simple reminder that math is everywhere. Marcus concluded his event with the idea that “mathematics is intertwined with the natural world and our daily lives,” and his broader perspective helped students and faculty alike open their eyes to new shortcuts and exciting concepts.
Joining other experts
Marcus du Sautoy’s passion for mathematics is undeniable, which is partly why he decided to join the panel of a second event titled, “Mathematics in the Era of AI: A Conversation with Marcus du Sautoy, Eva Gallardo and Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón.” The roundtable was co-organized by IE School of Science and Technology and the Royal Spanish Mathematical Society (RSME), and moderated by Irene Alda, academic director of the Bachelor in Applied Mathematics.
In 2022, Eva Gallardo was the second woman to lead the Real Sociedad Matemática Española. She’s a mathematics professor and a chair member of the ICMAT research institute, focused on Complex Analysis and Operator Theory. Her prominence in mathematics was highlighted by her naming as President at the Biennial Congress of the Real Sociedad Matemática Española.
Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón is most well-known for his YouTube channel “Derivando.” His dedication to teaching mathematics in a fun and approachable way shines through in his channel, as well as his work as a professor and in his research. His work includes a number of articles and collaborations with Spanish and European mathematicians.
Marcus, Eva and Eduardo, three esteemed mathematicians, took the stage at IE Tower in front of Bachelor in Applied Mathematics students, IE University faculty members, high school students and guests from relevant industries to share their insights. With an audience of more than 60 people, the mathematicians engaged in a compelling discussion on the role of education methodologies when learning and teaching mathematics.
The future of mathematics
The panel kicked off their discussion by addressing a common experience among university students: believing that mathematics will focus on calculations, but discovering that it’s more about concepts. Eduardo spoke about the gap between high school and college mathematics, encouraging high school teachers to “better prepare students with the way of thinking required at university.”
Eva went on to add how today’s technologies, specifically artificial intelligence, can make learning mathematics less centered on calculations and more on understanding concepts—ultimately helping students solve unique problems. Marcus highlighted that passion is the common factor in an education in mathematics, describing it as “an essential ingredient for tackling complex mathematical problems.”
The panelists acknowledged that mathematical education has changed in recent years, and went on to share their ideas of where it’s heading in the future. They came to a unanimous conclusion that “constant learning is key,” encouraging attendees to “learn from their mistakes in a similar way that a neural network trains and improves its predictions by making errors.”
The main piece of advice that the panelists wanted to share was that “curiosity, passion, humility, acceptance of errors, and hard work are all essential for delving deeper into the study of mathematics.”
Summing it all up
As the two events closed and students went back to their regular scheduled courses, it remains clear that IE University is pushing boundaries to offer an incredible education. Students are given the opportunity to meet and learn from powerhouses in the industry, all while gaining hands-on experience in their day-to-day studies.
As both events further proved, mathematics is an essential part of the world of work and will continue to make waves in the market.