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A Concert Celebrating the Seven Bridges of Königsberg

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A long time ago, in a city far, far away, a mathematician solved a puzzle, the solution of which made our modern, connected world possible. Georgia Tech's School of Music and School of Mathematics have teamed up with local Atlanta artists to create a performance combining contemporary dance, original music, and storytelling. Called The Seven  Bridges of Königsberg, the concert celebrates this history and aims to spark people’s curiosity and convey the wonder of mathematics.

The classic puzzle that inspired Leonhard Euler to found the fields of topology and graph theory (or network theory) asked the simple question: Is it possible to cross all of the seven bridges of the city of Königsberg exactly once, with no repetition or backtracking? 

Euler was not content with a yes-or-no answer. Instead he began to think about the nature of connectedness in a mathematical way, as it applies to all possible cities with any number of islands and bridges; as well as to networks of transportation, commerce, and communication; to the pathways by which diseases or ideas spread; and ultimately to our contemporary interconnected life.

The Seven Bridges of Königsberg was selected by a new program called Science in Vivo, funded by the Simons Foundation, to receive one of its inaugural 10 awards as an Experimental Site “exploring what is possible when science experiences for the public are integrated into existing cultural gatherings.” 

The debut performance on Sept. 13, 2018 will take place on the Georgia Tech campus along Atlantic Ave, where an installation of the Seven Bridges of Königsberg puzzle was constructed earlier this year.   

To tell about the foundation of graph theory, the Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra will perform a new composition by composer Marshall Coats, while a math team and dancers interpret the story and some concepts about graphs, as choreographed by guest artist Kristel Tedesco.

This performance will be repeated at the Bailey Center in the Kennesaw State University on Sept. 23, 2018. Other versions of the show will take place at public locations around Atlanta and the Southeast region in September and October.

In addition to the spectacle, the audience will have opportunities to explore mathematical puzzles and games and to personally engage with the mathematicians and artists.

The Seven Bridges of Königsberg is a production of Mathematics in Motion, Inc. and the Georgia Tech Schools of Music and Mathematics, with financial support from the Georgia Tech College of Design, the Georgia Tech College of Sciences, the Georgia Tech Office of the Arts as one of the Creative Curriculum Initiatives, and Science in Vivo.

Event Schedule

11:00 AM Interactive exposition by Club Math

12:15 PM Remarks by School of Mathematics Chair and College of Design Dean Steven French 

12:20 PM Music and Dance Performance 

1:00 PM Interactive engagement with Club Math

Directions to Seven Bridges Plaza 

The Seven Bridges Plaza is along the Atlantic Drive Promenade, right next to the Howey Physics Building. 

By Georgia Tech Trolley: Get off at the intersection of Ferst Drive and Atlantic Drive. Walk toward the Einstein Statue, The Seven Bridges Plaza will be on the right, past the Howie Building. You can catch the Georgia Tech Trolley at the MARTA Midtown station. 

By private transportation: 

If you are coming from south of Atlanta:

  1. Take I-85 North to 10th Street/14th Street/Ga Tech (Exit No. 150)
  2. Take a left onto 10th Street at the light at the end of the ramp
  3. Go straight through 3 traffic lights
  4. Take a left onto State Street (the next light)
  5. Go through one stop sign
  6. The Howey Physics Building is the first building on the left. A Visitor Parking Lot is in front of the Building. 

If you are driving from the east or west:

  1. Take I-20 into the city.
  2. Exit North onto I-75/85.
  3. Take I-75/85 North to the ramp of 10th Street/14th Street/Ga Tech.(Exit 150)
  4. Take a left onto 10th Street at the light at the end of the ramp.
  5. Go straight through 3 traffic lights.
  6. Take a left onto State Street (the next light).
  7. Go through one stop sign.
  8. The Howey Physics Building is the first building on the left. A Visitor Parking Lot is in front of the building.

 

Status

  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:A. Maureen Rouhi
  • Created:08/27/2018
  • Modified By:A. Maureen Rouhi
  • Modified:09/11/2018