Math lecturer Peter Blanchard discusses mathematics behind juggling

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Peter Blanchard
Peter Blanchard

​University of Iowa Mathematics lecturer Peter F. Blanchard gave an interactive lecture and demonstration, “The Mathematical Revolution of Juggling,” on July 25 at the Pomerantz Center.

The talk explored concepts on the interaction between mathematics and juggling. In the 1990s, a flurry of intellectual activity led to the discovery of mathematical models and notations for juggling. Rapid adoption by the juggling community resulted in changes to juggling knowledge and technique which spanned the globe.

The presentation was part of the Arts and Humanities Seminar for the Secondary Student Training Program of the Belin-Blank Center in the College of Education. 

Blanchard is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Graph of juggling rotation

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.