NYU Mathematics Society Is More Than Just Numbers

Today, the NYU Mathematics Society is open to all students, regardless of their academic background. It’s become more of a social club where students can connect through a mix of academic events, faculty talks, and community outreach opportunities. Although the events are math-related, it doesn’t mean members need to have a passion for math. “As the club started to grow, you could tell that students were looking for an avenue to hang out,” says Dr. Majmudar. “Sometimes, people just like to see fun stuff that has to deal with math.”

So, creating a community through math became the club’s mission. And for the society’s copresident, Stephanie Leung, that community shaped the friendships she built during her first two years at NYU.

“Math Society gives me the chance to meet people from all backgrounds, people who are studying different levels of math,” she says. Stephanie is a junior concentrating in applied mathematics and political economy at NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. “Regardless of our different math levels, we connect through the club’s social events. Some of my closest friends came from Math Society. Being in this space means I have an endless source of inspiration simply by being with those around me.”

Creating a community through math means hosting various events that appeal to many different people. The Mathematics Society does this by offering a blend of social, academic, and community outreach events, including game nights, math holiday celebrations, internship networking sessions, and graduate student panels.

Then, there are the academic talks given by NYU faculty and graduate students—a favorite of the society’s treasurer, Hayden Davis. Hayden is a sophomore majoring in Mathematics at the College of Arts and Science. “These professors and students have very busy schedules, so when they can make time to give a talk, it’s the best,” he says.

Previous academic talks explored the mathematics of climate modeling and how math can be used to design nuclear fusion reactors. One of Hayden’s favorite talks occurred last year during cSplash, the club’s outreach event for local high school students.

“The keynote speaker was a graduate student who gave a talk about the basics of the Kakeya conjecture. It was just resolved by a team that included an NYU professor last spring,” says Hayden. “He did a very good job. Everybody had their eyes glued to him. He really made it understandable for all levels, including some of the more advanced high schoolers, and it incorporated a lot of real-world stuff, not just math. That talk really stuck with me.”

Every spring the Mathematics Society invites high school students from the New York City metropolitan area to campus so they can hear lectures from NYU faculty and PhD students. Last year, cSplash 2025 included talks on niche topics like Ramsey theory, the interplay between algebra and geometry, math modeling of gene expression, and the mathematics describing ocean surface waves.

“At cSplash we introduce high school students to higher level mathematics,” says Stephanie. “It’s an extremely fun event for us to plan and attend. Seeing the students so passionate about math is a reminder for us to recognize why we chose to study this subject at an institution like Courant. When you’re in your classes and with your classmates all the time, you kind of forget that. Seeing those students is a really nice source of inspiration.”

Whether you love math or prefer to keep your distance from algebraic equations, the NYU Mathematics Society has something for you. You just have to give it a chance, says Hayden.

“Anyone who is interested in math should come to our first meeting of the year,” he says. “Even if you think you hate math, give it a shot. Come meet new people. Attend some of the events. You might find it a lot more interesting than you were expecting. It might even open a new passion for you.”