Jürgen Richter-Gebert, professor at the Technical University of Munich, wants to take away people’s fear of mathematics. What his subject has to do with music – and why there is a million dollar prize money for the solution of some mathematical problems.
School has started again and with it the struggle of many children, teachers and parents with mathematics. It’s the ultimate fear subject. Jürgen Richter-Gebert, 59, Professor of Geometry and Visualization at the Technical University of Munich, has made it his life’s work to change that. With exhibitions, an app and lectures, he wants to arouse curiosity about science and show how beautiful mathematics can be. In 2021 he was awarded the Communicator Prize of the German Research Foundation for his services. As part of the nationwide series of events “The Seven Greatest Adventures in Mathematics” he will be speaking about the Millennium Problems this Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Munich Residence. In an interview with the SZ, he tells what they have to do with our everyday life, why mathematicians around the world bit their teeth off and how math can be fun.