We are delighted to invite you to a special workshop jointly organized by the Association of Mathematics Educators (AME) and the Mathematics and Mathematics Department (MME), NIE:
Heavenly Mathematics – The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendars
Speaker: Professor Helmer Aslaksen, University of Oslo
Date: 20 July 2026, Monday
Venue: Lecture Theatre 12, National Institute of Education
Time: 3-5pm
Workshop Abstract:
Have you always wondered why Chinese New Year falls between January 21 and February 21? Do you know how to estimate the date of Chinese New Year without looking it up? How is the date of Qing Ming determined? Why is Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month? Why was it necessary to have more than 100 reforms of the Chinese calendar, while the Western calendar required only two major reforms? If such questions interest you, this workshop is for you!
This session is especially relevant for all school teachers seeking to deepen their students’ conceptual understanding through applications of mathematics in real world contexts.
About the Speaker:
Professor Helmer Aslaksen completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oslo and earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1989 to 2011, he served at the Department of Mathematics atthe National University of Singapore before joining the University of Oslo, where he holds a joint appointment in the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Mathematics.
His wide-ranging interests span geometry, Lie theory, astronomy, calendars, voting systems, and mathematics education. He has served as academic advisor for several major exhibitions and television programs, and chairedthe Singapore Mathematical Olympiad. At NUS, he was known for innovative modules such as Heavenly Mathematics & Cultural Astronomy and Mathematics in Art and Architecture, and received the University’s Outstanding Educator Award in 2004. At the Universityof Oslo, he introduced School Mathematics from an Advanced Viewpoint, a course designed to strengthen pre-service teachers’ understanding of foundational mathematics.
Registration Fees
- Free for AME members
- $150 for non-AME members
We warmly invite AME members and mathematics educators to join us for this meaningful professional exchange and networking opportunity.
Register below
Not yet an AME Member, please sign up for AME membership to enjoy the discounted conference fees.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a mathematically rich and pedagogically inspiring session.
Registered participants are encouraged to attend in person.