Deciphering mathematical tablets from Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is known for being the cradle of great ancient civilizations, and is associated with the birth of writing. But the need to handle data and numerical computations goes back even further. Fortunately, a large number of Mesopotamian tablets containing cuneiform writings have come down to us today, attesting to the extent to which the ancient Mesopotamians mastered mathematics. With this talk we will take a mathematical walk through Ancient Mesopotamia. In particular, we will learn to decipher some Mesopotamian tablets of mathematical content from about 3,800 years old. We will see how the Pythagoras theorem was systematically used more than a thousand years before the existence of Pythagoras himself.

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Is time travel possible? A special look into space-time

We all move through time at a rate of one second per second, and we try to describe events that happen in nature from what we see. To what extent are these events dependent on the observer? Einstein proposed a theory that reveals the role played by the observer when describing the time and space in which we live. Through this talk, we will try to understand from a mathematical point of view the statements that revolve around the theory of special relativity, such as time dilation, space contraction, or the possibility of time travel.

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Brief CV

Pilar Rueda is a full professor of Mathematical Analysis at the University of Valencia, has been a visiting professor at universities in the US, Ireland and Brazil. She has numerous scientific publications and has participated in several international conferences as a plenary speaker held, for example, in the USA, Poland, Italy, Morocco or Romania, in addition to having been invited as a speaker in nearly 30 conferences in practically a dozen different countries, spread over Europe, the two Americas, Asia and Africa.

She has an extensive experience in the area of mathematical dissemination through the programs of the Nau Gran of the University of Valencia, in addition to having collaborated with CEFIRE in Torrent and having given lectures and teaching experiences in the CEIP Antonio Machado of Torrent.

At the University of Valencia, she has been vice-dean of the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, coordinator of the Mathematics Degree, member of the Senate, member of the Equality Committee, the Teaching Committee and the Research Committee.

Social networks

• @FMatemaUV_EG
• @CdCienciaUV
• @MednightGTS

Stimulating scientific vocations is a project of the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit of the University of Valencia, which has co-funding from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science and Innovation.