"Mathemusician" Aims To Make Math Engaging.

The New York Times (1/18, Chang) reports, "Mathematicians over the centuries have thought long and deep about how tightly things, like piles of oranges, can be packed within a given amount of space." According to the Times, Vi Hart, "has an audacious career ambition: She wants to make math cool. ... She calls herself a full-time recreational mathemusician, an off-the-beaten-path choice with seemingly limited prospects. And for most of the two years since she graduated from Stony Brook University, life as a recreational mathemusician has indeed been a meager niche pursuit." According to the Times, "At first glance, Ms. Hart's fascination with mathematics might seem odd and unexpected. ... At second glance, the intertwining of art and math seems to be the family business. Her father, George W. Hart, builds sculptures based on geometric forms."