Math Is Hot These Days

Writing for the Washington Post, Dominic Basulto argues that mathematics is enjoying newfound popularity and respect.

Basulto cites Maryam Mirzakhani's Fields Medal and a CareerCast survey identifying mathematician as the "most desirable job in the world" as two reasons for the recent buzz about mathematics. He also notes, however, that the broad applicability of mathematics has garnered it attention:

Math is no longer a standalone field, full of tormented geniuses solving Fermat’s Last Theorem or the Poincaré conjecture. Now mathematics is an integral part of fields such as biology, chemistry and computer science.