Corresponding Editor, Nexus Network Journal
Area of study: The relationship between mathematics and architecture, especially for educational purposes at secondary school level
Geographic area: Scandinavia
Ivan Tafteberg Jakobsen is a retired teacher. He received a M.Sc. in mathematics and physics from Aarhus University, Denmark, and a Ph.D. in mathematics from University of London in 1971. He taught mathematics at upper secondary school level from 1973 to 2009, during which period he became interested in the history of mathematics and especially the relationship between mathematics and architecture. He has been involved in developing educational material in these areas, in arranging in-service courses for mathematics teachers about mathematics and architecture, and in arranging study tours for teachers to places especially interesting in this respect, most recently four study tours to Barcelona during the years 2008 – 2011, jointly with Jesper Matthiasen. The main purpose of these efforts has been to present mathematical aspects of buildings that are understandable at an elementary level, mathematically interesting, and important for the overall understanding of buildings and designs. Apart from this he has also been interested in the border areas between mathematics and historical navigation and surveying, where, also jointly with Jesper Matthiasen, he has developed teaching material and created collections of historical instruments that can be borrowed by secondary schools.
In June 2011 his book Antoni Gaudí. Geometrien bag arkitekturen was published (in Danish). This book tries to present the many geometrical thoughts behind Gaudí’s architecture in a way accessible to secondary school students.
Contact:
Ivan Tafteberg Jakobsen
St. Blichers Vej 20
DK-8230 Aabyhoj
Denmark
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
