STEM

Pi Day 2018: Bite-Sized Pieces of Nerd Culture Highlight Larger Trend

Monday, March 5, 2018, By Daryl Lovell

Pi Day will be celebrated on March 14, 2018. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.

Graham Leuschke is a mathematics professor at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He says Pi Day continues to grow in popularity because of the growth and flowering of “nerd culture.”

Leuschke says:

“I think people have realized more and more that math can be fun, and even slightly silly sometimes. Pi Day is a great time to goof around with math.

“The growing popularity of Pi Day probably also has to do with the growth and flowering of ‘nerd culture’. As it becomes culturally acceptable to be smart, showing that you’re smart has more and more appeal. References to π and Pi day can be bite-sized pieces of nerdery that fit in a tweet and advertise to everyone around you that you’re a smarty-pants too.

“Plus everybody loves pie, of course.”

 

 

 

 

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing

T 315.443.1184   M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell

820 Comstock Avenue, Suite 308, Syracuse, NY 13244
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu

Syracuse University