Featuring: Fredric Ancel
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Professor of Mathematics
“Every pattern has some symmetry which mathematicians study using the idea of a symmetry group – a group of all the ways a pattern or object can be symmetrical. Wallpaper patterns have only 17 types of symmetry groups. The 700-year-old mosaics in the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain are among the world’s most beautiful wallpaper patterns. Do all 17 wallpaper groups appear among the Alhambra mosaics? Yes! – And, also, no.”
Join UWM mathematician Ric Ancel at the April Science Bag to learn all about the Alhambra mosaics. What are the symmetry groups of the mosaic patterns? Why do wallpaper patterns have only 17 symmetry groups? And which ones can you find in the mosaics?
Science Bag runs every Friday night at 8pm April 7-28 with a Sunday matinee on April 16 at 2 p.m.
Shows are held in Physics 137.
All shows are free and open to the public. Families welcome!