Professor Dan Look Defies Math Stereotypes
Dan Look is well aware he doesn’t present like a typical math professor. But that observation has roots in the stereotypes about the discipline and those who study it that the Rutherford Professor of Mathematics, through his dynamic personal and pedagogical style, seeks to undo.
Festooned with tattoos of equations and geometric models, Look pulls up to campus in a car emblazoned with the Transformers logo and a license plate that reads “CATS4EVA,” adding an element of style and whimsy to the academic rigor he brings to all his courses, from introductory calculus to upper-level complex analysis.
“On day one [in differential equations], I incorporate a Dungeons and Dragons ruleset, and we play a probability game with dice showing how diseases spread,” Look says. Blending math and pop culture has come to define his approach to teaching, and students have learned to expect references to literature, movies, and even memes—especially cat memes.
In fact, Look is publishing a book called Math Cats, which explores mathematical concepts using examples inspired by cats.
This cross-pollination between disciplines, and in particular the way Look bridges STEM with humanities, has helped draw countless students to the math department—even those who thought they despised the subject. Look says many of his advisees have a second major in the humanities, and he often oversees research projects that involve multiple departments.
His collaboration with students majoring in math and other fields ranks among the most rewarding aspects of teaching at St. Lawrence, Look says. And small class sizes free him up to teach in non-traditional ways.
“Inclusivity of the classroom is a big deal for me,” he says. “I don’t just deliver a cold lecture; there’s always some form of interaction among students working in randomized groups.”
In his upper-level courses, Look ditches numerical grades, assessing students instead on a combination of effort, creativity, and ability. His assessment scheme is designed to emulate the mathematical research process. Students complete weekly homework assignments to test their understanding of fundamental concepts, develop a portfolio of polished proofs to mirror the process of publishing a scholarly article, and take oral exams, which serve as the equivalent of presenting their work at a mathematics conference.
This allows students to see how their work folds into the professional mathematical process.
It's an approach, he says, that’s led to “very high markings” from students on their career preparedness, and countless alumni success stories. Many advisees go on to complete Ph.D.s in math, computer science, or statistics.
One of them, Kevin Angstadt ’14, is now a computer science professor at St. Lawrence, with an office right down the hall from his former advisor.
Look says his job is made easier by the quality and caliber of St. Lawrence students. “The creativity here is higher than other institutions and the students are really self-motivated,” he says. “Once you allow a St. Lawrence student to buy into something, you can’t stop them.”
In an era flooded with information—and sometimes misinformation—Look believes mathematics and its close cousin, philosophy, offer essential tools for navigating the noise. “Philosophy and math teach us to use logic to think critically and evaluate conclusions,” he says. “That skill of questioning and reasoning is more important than ever.”
Look teaches all the main calculuses, as well as differential equations and upper-level analysis courses. He also teaches a class on math and social justice. You can find him during office hours at Valentine 210.
