Episode 102: The Intersection of Mathematics and Democracy
This discussion Autumn and Gabe delves into Ismar Volic's personal background and inspiration for writing the book, “Making Democracy Count” as well as the practical and theoretical aspects of voting systems. Additionally, the conversation explores the application of voting systems to everyday decision-making and the use of topological data analysis in understanding societal polarization. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including data visualization, gerrymandering, electoral systems, and the intersection of mathematics and democracy. Volic, shares insights on the practical implications of implementing mathematical improvements in electoral systems and the legal and constitutional hurdles that may arise. He also discusses the importance of educating oneself about the quantitative underpinnings of democracy and the need for interdisciplinary discussions that bridge mathematics and politics.
About Our Guest
Ismar Volic, Ph.D.
Ismar Volić is a professor of Mathematics at Wellesley College, where he has taught since 2006. He received a B.A. from Boston University and a Ph.D. from Brown University. His research is in algebraic topology. He is the author of over thirty articles and two books and has delivered more than two hundred lectures in over twenty countries. Prof. Volić was a visiting professor at MIT, Louvain-la-Neuve University, and the University of Virginia. His research is supported by the National Science Foundation and the Simons Foundation. He was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and a Fulbright Specialist and has held an endowed chair at Wellesley.
Prof. Volić was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and came to the U.S. in 1991 to attend his senior year of high school. Soon after he arrived, a war broke out in his country and he has lived in the U.S. ever since. Prof. Volić now travels to Bosnia-Herzegovina frequently through his involvement in various education and research activities, including advising Ph.D. students and working with various agencies to bring quality STEM education to the country.
Prof. Volić likes to teach across the math curriculum, advise student research, and advocate for mathematics as a relevant and vibrant discipline. Credit.
How to Support Us
Stay Connected: You can connect with Ismar for more opportunities and speaking engagements on LinkedIn, Twitter, and at the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy. Go check out his New Book “Making Democracy Count” on Amazon and everywhere books are sold! :)
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