On Saturday, Feb. 22, the John R. Blocker Building will once again open its doors to the public to host the community, blending creativity and education. Texas A&M’s Mathematics and Statistics Fair has been running strong for more than two decades, continuously welcoming attendees to join in celebrating the beauty of collaboration between math and statistics at no charge.
The event schedule promises an interactive day to inspire generations with a shared love of numbers. Expect puzzles, crafts, magic tricks, interactive games, statistics and problem-solving solutions targeted to school-aged children. Organizers add another layer of fun by utilizing the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival format. With each game played, craft created and problem solved, students earn a raffle ticket. The more tickets they earn, the better their chance of winning a prize and the more they learn to love math. A pizza lunch will also be provided for all fair participants.
At Texas A&M, we know math is not 'done' or 'finished,' it is constantly evolving and growing, just like the students we teach
Founded more than 20 years ago by Texas A&M mathematics professors, husband and wife Dr. Peter Kuchment and Dr. Mila Mogilevsky, the fair was created to enhance understanding and appreciation for math. The partnership with the Department of Statistics was added in 2017. The event has become the highlight of the departments’ spring outreach events, and its popularity and success grow each new year.
"At Texas A&M, we know math is not 'done' or 'finished,' it is constantly evolving and growing, just like the students we teach", said Dr. John Weeks, director of the fair and instructional assistant professor of mathematics. “We want our participants to walk away knowing they've just watched mathematics happen and that they've grown in the process."
Sinjini Sengupta, co-director of the fair and instructional associate professor of mathematics, said the numerous hands-on activities are not just for students but also for their parents and teachers. “Everyone will find something fun and engaging to do at the fair,” she said.
The fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the John R. Blocker Building on the Texas A&M campus. A pizza lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., followed by a guest presentation at 1 p.m. by Dr. Oksana Shatalov, instructional professor. The winner of the raffle prize will be announced at 2 p.m.
Free parking is available in Lot 47 near the Bonfire Memorial on the Texas A&M campus. Participants may also pay to park in the Northside Garage on the corner of University Drive and Ireland Street near the Blocker Building.
Weeks and Sengupta encourage Texas A&M mathematics and statistics students to volunteer for the fair. Participants may register, sign up to volunteer and learn more about the event on the 2025 Mathematics and Statistics Fair website.