First French mathematics museum opened doors in Paris

This maison makes maths more palatable for the masses

At the end of last week, the city of Paris added a new member to its large collection of museums. Called Maison Poincaré, it is the first museum dedicated to mathematics in France and it will now aim to popularize that scientific field to the people and more specifically to the younger generation.

The need to target that specific audience has been underscored by the last Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) analysis from 2019, which showed that French students ranked last in the European Union in terms of their math skills.

Mathematics, however, is, and has always been, the key element behind most modern innovations that benefit our world. Thus, it’s crucial that more people get familiar and comfortable with it.

"It's a place where you can feel and see mathematics in its various incarnations," said Cedric Villani, the main organizer of the project, as quoted by RFI. The former MP and maths professor at Sorbonne University explained that the scientific field actually has a very real human side that can be found in things like poetry, art and imagination.

Making maths fun

You can find Maison Poincaré in the Latin Quarter in a building adjacent to the Institut Henri Poincaré (IHP), of which it forms a part.

Throughout its 900 square metres of space, various displays and interactive exhibitions have been set up. The museum explores different fields of mathematics, how they are connected together, and how maths can be used to model different phenomena.

There will be a permanent exhibition, which lets visitors play video games, read info, solve engaging riddles and listen to audio guides.

Additionally, there will be temporary exhibitions and a workshop space where teachers can bring student groups to alight their curiosity in all things mathematical.