Irvine, Calif., Nov 1, 2016 WHAT: A VIP preview and ribbon cutting ceremony will kick off the 2016 Math Fair, a free, one-day “pop-up” math museum returning to Orange County on Saturday, November 5, 2016, via host and social impact nonprofit MIND Research Institute. Jeff Hittenberger, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer of the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) will be on hand to speak on the importance of math education for the county’s children as he and Matthew Peterson, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO of MIND Research Institute officially open the Math Fair.
Joining the ribbon cutting ceremony are real estate business owner Sandra Cervantes of Miniondas newspaper and community philanthropist Janet M. Ray, co-chairs for the Taste of Math fundraising event which is supporting the Math Fair. Chris Hosford, Executive Director, Corporate Communications of Hyundai Motor America, one of the lead corporate sponsors for the Math Fair, will also take part in the ribbon cutting.
“Math and problem-solving skills are key to driving innovation in the automotive industry,” said Mike O’Brien, VP Product and Corporate Planning at Hyundai Motor America. “We’ve partnered with MIND Research Institute because as a local Orange County company, we believe it’s essential to provide children with opportunities to experience math in and outside of the classroom. Math skills are a key enabler of overall learning and dramatically improve students’ abilities to learn in other areas, including language, music and the arts. We’ve partnered with MIND on the Math Fair in order to promote the foundational importance of math and to provide our employees with an avenue to engage with local families.”
“Our vision is that ‘Orange County students will lead the nation in College and Career Readiness and Success,’” said Dr. Al Mijares, Superintendent of OCDE. “The Math Fair helps make this vision a reality by empowering students to engage in critical mathematical learning activities alongside their parents, who are instrumental to a child’s growth.”
The Math Fair features exhibits for visitors of all ages over 52,000 square feet of fun. Activities include Math Mystery Theater performances that integrate audience participation and technology to problem-solve, 3D printed mathematical curiosities that kids love to touch and explore, a laser game that lets players use mirrors to discover symmetry and angles, a station for children to build their own games, the Lil’ Mathematician Zone designed to engage children 5 years old and under with stories and tactile games that parents can replicate at home, and much more.
This year best-selling author and mathematician, Dr. Eugenia Cheng, will entertain Math Fair visitors by introducing mathematics as powered by cooking. A University of Cambridge graduate, Dr. Cheng has been featured on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”. Additionally, chefs from Math Fair culinary partner Campbell Soup Company will be on hand to demonstrate cooking through the lens of food ratios.
"Beautiful mathematical concepts can be found in the culinary arts," said Dr. Matthew Peterson of MIND Research Institute. "We're thrilled to showcase some of these fascinating food and math connections at the Math Fair this year and provide engaging experiences that families can continue to explore even after the event."
Lead Math Fair sponsors and partners include Hyundai Motor America, James “Walkie” and Janet M. Ray, OC Fair & Event Center, OneWest and Microsemi. For a list of all sponsors, visit www.mindresearch.org/mathfair/sponsors/.
WHEN:
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Math Fair VIP Preview: 9:00 a.m.
Ribbon cutting & remarks: 9:50 a.m.
Math Fair open to the public: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE:
OC Fair & Event Center | Media RSVP to adaniels@mindresearch.org for press credentials.
WHO: Confirmed speakers at ribbon cutting include:
• Jeff Hittenberger, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer, OCDE
• Chris Hosford, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, Hyundai Motor America
• Sandra Cervantes, owner, Miniondas & Taste of Math co-chair
• Janet M. Ray, community philanthropist & Taste of Math co-chair
• Matthew Peterson, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of MIND Research Institute
About MIND Research Institute
MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education social impact organization, dedicated to ensuring that all students are mathematically equipped to solve the world’s most challenging problems. MIND's distinctive visual approach to math and problem-solving is the basis of its innovative, research-proven ST Math® programs for elementary and secondary schools. The visually-based ST Math program has been shown to double or triple schools’ growth rates in math proficiency. Through its MathMINDs movement, MIND engages the community in hands-on mathematical experiences outside of the classroom in an effort to shift the cultural perception of math from being scary and frustrating to exciting and essential. MIND's programs currently reach more than one million students and 44,000 teachers at 3,200 schools in 45 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.mindresearch.org.
For more information contact:
Abby Daniels
MIND Research Institute
949-345-8637
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