The Virtual Encounter with Outstanding Mathematicians #52 took place on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 from 5 pm until 6 pm. Carmen Mares, community outreach expert at the Mathematics Research Center (CIMAT) in Mexico, was our invited speaker. This virtual event was free and open to the general public.
On this Encounter, Carmen Mares shared anecdotes of her personal life and her professional journey as a female mathematician. The speaker also presented on “What’s behind the activity design of the Mate@Plaza”. In this virtual event, Carmen Mares explained that the Mate@Plaza are math fairs organized in communities near Guanajuato, public plazas, schools, among others, whose objective is to share recreational math activities aimed at a public of diverse ages. The speaker mentioned that these fairs take place in open and flexible spaces with around 5 activities that have the facility of adapting to age and disposition of the public. Carmen Mares also shared concrete material constructed in the laboratories of CIMAT. This virtual event was co-organized by the Mathematics Research Center (CIMAT) in Mexico. This was the first FUNDAPROMAT Virtual Encounter with Outstanding Mathematicians of 2026.
