Gibran Lara, Areceli Partearroyo, Diana Garcia-Monzalvo, Julia Adryuk, Senna Handley, Gissell Villareal, David Cervantes-Nava, Mark Sobierajski, Cheryl Chute Miller, Christina Wahl, Devin Benko, Blair Madore, Lindsey Wadsworth, Thomas Rubin, Stephany Syptak-Ramnath, Rafael Cravioto Torres, Ross Hisert, Kristy Allen, Grant Gallagher and Ruben Martinez Avendano.

POTSDAM -- Faculty and students from SUNY Potsdam's Department of Mathematics recently journeyed to Mexico for a Winterim course on the origins of math.

Led by Cheryl Miller and Blair Madore, 11 students studied ancient mathematics and learned about Mexican culture while taking part in hands-on activities and field trips, from Jan. 2 to 15. The course explored the origins of mathematics in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, Meso-America and the Islamic world.

"Students participated in about 30 hours of classes, completed 22 exercises, completed four site-related projects, watched four hours of video, did seven quizzes and one final test, and wrote over 8,000 words of journal entries," Madore said.

One highlight of the visit was a meeting with U.S. Embassy officials, Stephany Syptak-Ramnath and Areceli Partearroyo. The group also met with staff in the SUNY's Office for Latin America.

The group visited multiple archaeological sites, dating from the Toltec to the Aztec Empire, as well as the Museum of Anthropology. The trip also included stops in Mexico City and El Chico National Park.

Students from UAEH joined the group for field trips, taking part in educational exercises and helping to translate. In addition, the Mexican university hosted events to welcome the SUNY Potsdam group.

Two families of international students who have studied at SUNY Potsdam also opened their doors to the group, welcoming the faculty and students for meals and hospitality.

"The Mexican students traveled with us, ate comida with us and also participated in the scavenger hunts. In fact, this is an important opportunity for our American students to understand what their Mexican counterparts are like, to practice some Spanish and to build relationships," Madore said. "While not a graded part of the course, it is a very important part of the experience."