Mathematics as a Team Sport
Intentional serendipity is a motif at Oberwolfach. The institute works to minimize distractions from math and to remove any barriers to collaboration. No locks, restricted Wi-Fi, and meals served family style with seats assigned at random before lunch and dinner. we’ve only just begun to explore, with landing parties here and there along the coast and a small number of successful excursions into the interior. They listen as if they’re exploring dangerous new terrain and their lives depend on understanding each other. nearly transcribing themselves in chalk as they went. unspooled rows of symbols, “Sometimes you don’t ask yourself the correct questions, but people can ask them for you,” she said. But math is like everything else: To be successful you have to be able to communicate.”