Mathematics and Hope Event: Students Draw a Future Filled with Hope Through 513 Artworks

The award ceremony of the “Mathematics and Hope” themed art competition, organized in collaboration between our University and the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, brought together students’ imagination and mathematics through art. With participation from students ranging from primary school to high school level, a total of 513 artworks were evaluated, highlighting the inspiring and solution-oriented aspects of mathematics beyond numbers through artistic expression.

The 513 artworks submitted to the competition revealed students’ unique perspectives on mathematics. While some works transformed mathematics into colorful bridges, others depicted numbers as stars in the sky. Some students portrayed mathematics as a guiding light in darkness.

Delivering the opening speech at the award ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and project coordinator Prof. Dr. Rahmet Savaş emphasized that mathematics is one of the most important sources of knowledge guiding humanity. He noted that mathematics is not limited to numbers and calculations, but that mathematical thinking lies at the foundation of knowledge acquisition and problem-solving.

Referring to Dr. John Snow’s analysis of cholera data during the 1854 London outbreak, Prof. Dr. Savaş highlighted how mathematical data analysis helped identify the source of the epidemic and saved thousands of lives. He emphasized that mathematics is a powerful tool for finding direction in situations of uncertainty.

Prof. Dr. Savaş also noted that research shows a strong relationship between students’ levels of hope and their success in mathematics. He stated that hopeful students are more capable of developing alternative solutions to problems and demonstrate greater resilience in the face of challenges. Within this framework, students were asked to interpret the concepts of mathematics and hope through visual art.

Speaking at the ceremony, artist, art educator, and Jury Chair Cemal Toy stated that the competition held special meaning for him, emphasizing the value of bringing mathematics and art together on a common platform. He noted that the submitted works were prepared with great care and creativity, making the jury’s selection process quite challenging.

Representing the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, Branch Director Ahmet Bürlükkara stated that the project, which brought together mathematics, art, and hope, served as an important example for student development. Congratulating all participants, he remarked: “In fact, this competition has 513 winners.”

Rector Prof. Dr. Enes Eryarsoy emphasized the strong relationship between mathematics and art. He explained that music is connected to mathematics through frequencies, while visual arts are connected through millions of colors and points. He also highlighted that mathematics forms the foundation of technology, artificial intelligence, and many tools used in daily life.

Prof. Dr. Eryarsoy described mathematics as a universal language shaping the future and encouraged students not only to learn numbers but also to combine mathematics with creativity and productivity.
“Mathematics should not be seen only as a world of numbers and calculations. It exists in every aspect of our lives, from musical notes and the colors we see, to the technologies we use and artificial intelligence systems. Understanding numbers means shaping tomorrow and building a better future,” he said.

At the end of the ceremony, awards were presented to the winning students, and an exhibition featuring all submitted artworks was opened to visitors.