Hearing the Will of the People in the Vote: The Mathematics of Quantifying Gerrymandering

The US political system requires redrawing districts every ten years based on the census, often manipulated for partisan gain through gerrymandering. Identifying and understanding gerrymandering involves questions of fairness, proportional representation, and geopolitical influences. This interdisciplinary issue involves lawyers, mathematicians, and policy advocates, prompting new computational methods and mathematical research. Upcoming analyses aim to be proactive, considering communities of interest and incumbency. Mattingly's journey began with an undergraduate project in 2013, leading to significant legal testimonies and collaborative research, making these concepts accessible to students and the public.

Jonathan Christopher Mattingly grew up in Charlotte. He graduated from the NC School of Science and Mathematics and received a BS is Applied Mathematics with a concentration in physics from Yale University. After two years abroad with a year spent at ENS Lyon studying nonlinear and statistical physics on a Rotary Fellowship, he returned to the US to attend Princeton University where he obtained a PhD in Applied and Computational Mathematics in 1998 under the supervision of Yakov Sinai. After 4 years as a Szego assistant professor at Stanford University and a year as a member of the IAS in Princeton, he moved to Duke in 2003. In 2019 he was named a James B. Duke Professor of Mathematics and a Professor of Statistical Science. In 2023 he was named the Kimberly J. Jenkins Distinguished University Professor of New Technologies.

The Memorial Union parking ramp is located on the south side of the Memorial Union, adjacent to Lincoln Way. After parking in the ramp, enter the building from any level through the stairwell or elevator in the northeast corner of the ramp. Navigate to building level 2 and follow the cardinal and gold wayfinding signage along Floor 2 to the Sun Room. Before leaving the building after the event, pay for parking at the pay station found on Floor 2, then take the elevator or stairs to your parking level.