About

Photo: E. Żubrowska

Photo: E. Żubrowska

I am a logician, mathematician, computer scientist, author, public speaker, science communicator, and artist. You can find me at the University of Oslo, where I teach Logical Methods as an Associate Professor at the Department of Informatics in the research group Analytical Solutions and Reasoning (ASR), otherwise at UC Berkeley, California and ICERM at Brown University, where I am a Visiting Scholar. I am also engaged in various forms of science communication and outreach, which you may read about below. My academic interests are logical calculi, proof theory, mathematical logic, complexity theory, automata, combinatorics, philosophy of mathematics, visualization, and mathematical art, but I am interested in most topics related to mathematics, computer science, art, and philosophy.

Projects

Here are some of my projects.

Magical Patterns: YouTube Series

Magical Patterns is a YouTube series about alternative and fascinating patterns in mathematics. The aim of the series is to get more people interested in mathematics, by breaking with some of the expectations many have of this subject. Magical Patterns is produced by Rubicon, one of the largest TV producers in Norway, and supported by the Abel Prize and the University of Oslo. You can find all the videos on the YouTube channel Magical Patterns (in Norwegian, but with subtitles) and on my blog.

Magical Patterns: Mathematics Column

Since 2016 I have been a regular mathematics columnist in Aftenposten, Norway's largest printed newspaper by circulation. Here, I write about mathematics and computer science in an entertaining and understandable way.

Magical Patterns is a column where Associate Professor Roger Antonsen at the University of Oslo wanders through some of the fascinating and magical patterns that surround us, especially in mathematics and computer science.

Open Zone for Experimental Informatics

In 2011, when Ole-Johan Dahl's House opened, I helped establish Open Zone for Experimental Informatics (the Zone), a makerspace and a student laboratory at the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo. The idea was to create a project-based meeting place for engaged and curious students, a different learning environment, and a creative playroom. The goal is (1) to collect and showcase good student projects, (2) to increase the commitment, curiosity, and enthusiasm at the entire department, for both students and staff, (3) to communicate the field of computer science to a wider audience, and (4) to create a meeting place for creative and engaged students.

UiO: Experiences

In 2013, I took the initiative to establish UiO: Experiences, a science communication project funded by the The Research Council of Norway. The project is about creating greater interest in science. The primary means is to set up temporary booths, zones, laboratories, and experiments in places where there are many people in order to get positive attention. The idea is to create science-based entertainment that can both challenge people's perceptions about what science is, and do it in a way that is interactive and surprising. The project aims to create experiences that give rise to wonder and insight, invite interactivity and dialogue, explore science in physical and concrete ways, and do something novel, different and surprising. During the summer of 2013 we visited the amusement park Tusenfryd and performed scientific experiments relating to the attractions of the park. During the summer of 2015 and spring of 2016, we continued to make a Megakopter with 48 propellers and set a Guinness World Record.

Maker Faire Oslo

In 2013, I was the project leader, along with Jon Haavie at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, for Oslo Mini Maker Faire, which was Scandinavia's very first Maker Faire. In 2014 we organized Maker Faire Oslo, and later in 2014 we organized MakerCon – the Nordic Edition. Maker Faire is the world’s greatest festival for creativity and making, and MakerCon was a two day conference by and for makers.

Norway Makers

In 2014, I cofounded the organization Norway Makers, whose purpose is to cultivate the joy of making and innovation at the intersection of art, technology and science, by building up under "the maker movement" in Norway. In cooperation with the regional science centers in Norway, and with support from the DNB Savings Bank Foundation, we are facilitating the establishment of up to ten public makerspaces in Norway.

Get in touch

Ole-Johan Dahl's House

Ole-Johan Dahl's House

If you want to meet in person, my office is in Ole-Johan Dahls hus on Blindern in Oslo. That is right by the Forskningsparken subway station.

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