FSU to Host 11th Annual Math Fun Day
The Florida State University Department of Mathematics will host its 11th annual Math Fun Day on , inviting community members of all ages to explore the world of mathematics through engaging activities. The event will take place from to in the Love Building, located at 1017 Academic Way on FSU’s main campus.
Math Fun Day is free and open to the public, welcoming K-12 students and their families. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a series of hands-on games and activities designed to illustrate the wonders of math.
“Seeing so many people excited about math in a non-school setting really makes the event fun and enjoyable for the kids who attend,” said Monica Hurdal, professor of biomathematics and associate chair for academic affairs in the Department of Mathematics.
This year’s event is structured as an open house, featuring 10 rooms each dedicated to different activities. These activities include programming polygons on a computer, playing 3D tic-tac-toe, and cracking secret codes. Attendees will have up to four hours to explore the activity rooms and experience the joys of mathematics.
The event aims to demonstrate how math is applied in various fields, including industry, technology, science, and everyday tasks. Organizers hope to foster a new appreciation for mathematics and inspire the next generation of mathematicians.
“Sometimes, math can have a bit of a negative connotation,” Hurdal said. “If we help everybody realize that you can do cool things with math, we might inspire the next generation of mathematicians.”
This year’s Math Fun Day will feature a room dedicated to fractals – repeating patterns found in geometry and nature – hosted by the Math Honor Society Pi Mu Epsilon. Another room will discuss prominent female mathematicians, hosted by the FSU student chapter of the Association of Women in Mathematics.
“Math is for everyone, and everyone can participate in it,” said Kaylie Green, a biomathematics doctoral student, president of the FSU chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics, and president of FSU’s Graduate Women in STEM student organization. “Volunteering with Math Fun Day for the last two years has taught me how to adapt math for different levels and continually reminds me how fun math can be. Seeing attendees smile and laugh when they get a question right or suddenly understand something is really rewarding.”
The event is supported by more than 100 volunteers, comprised of both students, and faculty. While the majority of volunteers come from the Department of Mathematics, others conduct research in a variety of academic areas, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of math. Many student volunteers return to help year after year.
“All of our student volunteers make the event what it is,” Hurdal said. “They put in so much time to engage with the children, and their enthusiasm spreads and inspires others to get involved and enjoy math. It’s always worthwhile when we see kids who ask their parents if they can stay at Math Fun Day after the event is over.”
More information about the 2026 Math Fun Day can be found on the event website: https://www.math.fsu.edu/MathFunDay/
