Seattle Universal Math Museum presents
Math Out Loud
Conversations That Bring Math to Life
Math Out Loud is a monthly lecture series designed for the curious, the creative, and the “I didn’t know math could do that” crowd. No prior math knowledge required—just bring your curiosity.
September 3 | Learning, Creating, Bonding, and Healing with Topological Crochet
Join us to discover how crochet can become a gateway to mathematics, creativity, and human connection. Shiying Dong will introduce an innovative approach to fiber art that transforms abstract mathematical ideas into beautiful sculptural forms, showing that anyone can explore advanced concepts through hands-on making.
Through striking examples of topological crochet, you'll see how algebraic topology can be made accessible without requiring an advanced mathematics background. Shiying will also share her personal journey of using this creative practice as a source of healing and community, demonstrating how art, mathematics, and making can inspire curiosity, connection, and joy.
Learn better through hands-on exploration? Join us at 5:30 PM for a 60-minute craft workshop, Going Beyond Paper Strips, before the lecture.
Seattle Central Library
Hands-on Workshop: 5:30-6:30 PM • $10
Lecture: 6:30-7:30 PM • Free (suggested donation $25/ticket)
VIP experience available
About the Speaker
Shiying Dong holds a PhD in theoretical physics and a master’s degree in mathematics. Growing up in rural China, her passion for mathematical craft was inspired by traditional bamboo weaving. A grand prize winner of the 2023 Einstein Mad Hat Awards and recipient of the Best Textile/Sculpture Award at the 2025 JMM Mathematical Art Exhibit, her work has been featured in The New York Times. She served as Innovator-in-Residence at the Greenwich Library Innovation Lab in 2025, has led over a hundred workshops on topological crochet and mathematical art across major venues like MoMath and Bridges, and is the coauthor of the forthcoming book Unraveling Topological Crochet (2026).
Voices from the Series
We kicked things off in April 2026 with Dan Finkel—educator, puzzle creator, and founder of Math for Love, whose work has reached millions through TED-Ed.
His talk, Billiard Balls and Laser Beams, explored a simple question: if you turned on a light in a room made entirely of mirrors, would the whole room light up… or could some parts remain in darkness?
From there, he took us into reflective geometry—connecting solar power, juggling, chaos, and even unsolved problems.
We kept the momentum going in May with Dr. Talithia Williams—statistician, Harvey Mudd College professor, and host of PBS’s NOVA Wonders.
Her talk, Numbers with a Narrative, explored how mathematics is a living language capable of shaping our world. She took us on a journey through data science and storytelling, showing how lived experiences can transform complex data into impactful narratives. By breaking down how data can challenge personal health assumptions, Dr. Williams inspired us to see how individual voices can completely redefine who does math.
We kept the inspiration flowing in June with Jacqueline Cordes—award-winning composer, digital artist, and polyglot whose work explores the immersive worlds of "musical chromesthesia."
Her talk, How to Create Colorful Music, took us on a fascinating journey into the phenomenon of synesthesia, where senses intertwine to create extraordinary perceptual experiences. From exploring colorful alphabets to analyzing the vivid hues of Radiohead and the melodic structure of the Fibonacci sequence, she showed us how elements like tempo and mode shape the music we see.
We continued our series in July with Satyan Devadoss—fellow of the American Mathematical Society, award-winning educator, and professor whose work blends mathematics, art, and design.
His talk, Exploring Shapes in the Fourth Dimension and Beyond, took us on a journey past the limits of ordinary space, inspired by the vision of artists like Marcel Duchamp and Salvador Dalí.
Through striking visual imagery and geometric exploration, he unraveled mysteries dating back to Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, showing us how the mathematics of folding, unfolding, and higher-dimensional shapes connects to modern innovations like airbag design and the James Webb Space Telescope.
We continued our series in August with Dr. Cecilia Aragon—data scientist, award-winning author, former aerobatic pilot, and director of the Human-Centered Data Science Lab at the University of Washington.
Her talk, How a Tech Visionary Overcame Fear to Soar, explored how structural thinking, mathematics, and logic can become powerful tools for personal transformation and conquering fear. She shared her inspiring journey from deep-seated phobias to the open skies—detailing how she used math to design software for NASA, teach astronauts to fly, and co-found Latinas in Computing.