On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the University of Bucharest hosted a special event titled „Numitorul Comun” („The Common Denominator”), featuring a dialogue between actress Maia Morgenstern and prof. univ. dr. habil. Liviu P. Dinu, a specialist in computational linguistics and a faculty member at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Bucharest. The event took place in the „Spiru Haret” Amphitheater of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science.
The discussion, initiated and moderated by Professor Liviu P. Dinu, was part of the „Solomon Marcus” seminar, organized under the patronage of the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO. This event continues the series of tributes dedicated to the legacy of the great mathematician on the occasion of his centennial in 2025, celebrated by all 194 UNESCO member states.
The University of Bucharest was represented at the event by Associate Professor Constantin Vică, PhD, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Public Relations, and Associate Professor Cătălin Gherghe, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Also attending on behalf of the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO was Dr. Codrin Tăut, an expert from the Culture Subcommittee.
In a packed amphitheater filled with students, professors, and researchers interested in Solomon Marcus’s academic legacy, Maia Morgenstern delivered what could be described as a masterclass in pedagogy. Drawing from Marcus’s well-known statement that „education and learning are a performance”, the actress vividly illustrated how, for a teacher, the classroom is what the stage is for an actor.
Also contributing to the discussion was Professor Radu Gologan, PhD, President of the Romanian Mathematical Sciences Society, who spoke about Solomon Marcus’s impact on both a macro level, through his research and publications, and a micro level, through his undeniable and enduring influence on his students. He fondly recalled how Marcus „stood by his students to the very end”.
Maia Morgenstern shared with the audience that Solomon Marcus was a familiar presence in her childhood home, as both her parents had graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Despite her own distance from mathematics, her father often reminded her that „mathematics is the queen of the arts”, which eventually led her to seek reconciliation with the subject.
Emphasizing the fluid connection between the arts and sciences, Maia Morgenstern highlighted Solomon Marcus’s highly relevant vision of education. She stressed the need to move away from rigid teaching methods, filled with commands like „prove this” or „demonstrate how”, toward a more inquisitive approach that fosters closeness, making the unknown not something to fear, but rather „a seductive mystery.”
Building on this idea, she recalled how Solomon Marcus often spoke about the importance of mistakes and the courage it takes to make them, frequently saying: „It’s okay to stumble, to erase the board, and start over.” The actress concluded that this applies not only to education but also to the artistic process, stating: „You can always start over—just like in the glass bead game.”
Furthermore, Maia Morgenstern spoke about Solomon Marcus’s deep sense of humanity and humanism. Despite his devotion to mathematics, he often admitted that „poetry saved him”. In this context, she emphasized the importance of translating knowledge between science and art, making complex ideas accessible across disciplines.
To close the event, Professor Cătălin Gherghe, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, used a striking metaphor to illustrate Marcus’s notion of education as a performance. He imagined two parallel lines—one representing the mathematician, the other the actor—and noted that their intersection could only occur at a point at infinity. In other words, the event demonstrated how, through mathematics, an actor, too, reaches toward the infinite.
The events organized by the University of Bucharest in this series are not merely tributes to Solomon Marcus but also platforms for dialogue and the exchange of ideas among researchers from around the world. Future guests will include renowned scholars such as Oliviero Stock, Professor Andrea Sgarro, PhD, Professor Alexandra Cornilescu, PhD, Professor Rada Mihalcea, PhD, and Professor Carlos Martin Vide, PhD, who will explore Marcus’s impact across various scientific fields. The first seminar in this series, titled „Talking about Mathematics and Literature: Remembering Solomon Marcus,” featured writer Bogdan Suceavă as a guest speaker.
SECŢIUNE ACCESIBILIZATĂ PENTRU PERSOANELE CU DIZABILITĂŢI DE VEDERE
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Maia Morgenstern in Conversation with Professor Liviu P. Dinu at the „Numitorul Comun” („Common Denominator”) Conference (A tribute to Solomon Marcus)
Maia Morgenstern in Conversation with Professor Liviu P. Dinu at the „Numitorul Comun” („Common Denominator”) Conference (A tribute to Solomon Marcus)
