8 - 10 January 2018, Mathematics & Culture II, Kolkata, India

Call for Papers
Workshop: Mathematics and Culture II
Sponsored by: ISSTac, HSS
Place: IIEST campus, Kolkata
Dates: 8-- 10 January 2018

Mihir Chakrborty, Subhasis Banerjee and Michele Friend invite abstracts (300--800 words) on the topic of mathematical culture. The deadline for abstracts is: 15 November. But we shall consider late abstracts if they can be fit into the programme. If, for reasons of making travel arrangements, securing funds etc.., you need to hear from us early whether or not your paper has been accepted, please indicate this with your submission. Please submit your abstracts to: Mihir Chakraborty mihirc4 at gmail.com Subhasis Banerjee subhasisban at gmail.com or Michele Friend: Michele at gwu.edu.

We are interested in papers on:

1. the culture of mathematics within the professional discipline, of mathematics,
2. the culture of mathematics in other disciples or practices,
3. the interaction of mathematics on the wider culture,
4. the influence of culture on professional mathematics
5. the non-professional use, and practice, of mathematics and
6. mathematics education.

We invite papers from mathematicians, philosophers, teachers, anthropologists, psychologists, artists, all with a mathematical bent.

Example questions include:

• Is there just one body of knowledge called 'mathematics' that every culture participates in, albeit with different emphasis and interests, or are there really different mathematics, culturally defined, and how can we tell either way?
• Do animals perform mathematical acts? If we think so, are we anthropomorphizing?
• Is there one mathematics that governs Nature?
• Is there one mathematics for science?
• When is it appropriate to give a mathematical explanation?
• Is it possible for a person to survive without mathematics?
• What influence has religion on mathematics?
• What influence has technology and science on mathematics?
• Is there a mathematics of communication, and does this differ from language to language?
• In light of pluralism in mathematics, what makes it objective?
• What part does mathematics play in art, especially music?
• Is mathematics necessary for us to experience and make sense of the world around us?