'A world from a sheet of paper' International Day of Mathematics Public Lecture by Tadashi Tokieda

Starting from just a sheet of paper, by folding, stacking, crumpling, tearing, we shall explore a rich variety of phenomena, from magic tricks and geometry through elasticity and the traditional Japanese art of origami to medical devices and ‘h-principle’. Much of the lecture consists of table-top demos.

This public lecture is hosted by the Sydney Mathematical Research Institute as part of our program for International Day of Mathematics/ Pi Day. The talk will be tailored to a general audience and suitable for individuals from Year 10 onward. This is a free event, however registration is essential.

About the speaker: Tadashi Tokieda is a professor of mathematics at Stanford. He grew up in Japan as a painter, became a classical philologist (not to be confused with philosopher) in France, and has been an applied mathematician in England and America. He is active in outreach, especially via the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences and the YouTube channel Numberphile.

The Sydney Mathematical Research Institute is hosting other events around International Day of Mathematics 2026. Have a look at Maths at the Museum, where Tadashi Tokieda will host a magic show across Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March (suitable for children).