Woods Lecture Series: Arthur Benjamin

Arthur Benjamin brings his Mathemagics show to Shelton Auditorium on Tuesday, January 26, 2027, at 7:30 PM. It's part of the J. James Woods Lecture Series at Butler University, which was set up with a gift from the estate of J. James Woods to bring mathematicians and scientists to the campus to talk about theories at the frontier of their fields, as well as related technologies and issues of public concern.

Benjamin fits the bill in a few different ways. He's a distinguished mathematician, a professional magician, and one of the world's fastest mental calculators, and the Mathemagics performance is where those three things overlap. He's been recognized by the Mathematical Association of America for his teaching and writing, and the Princeton Review once named him one of the Best 300 Professors in America. In 2017, he was the sole recipient of the Communications Award from the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics, given to people who share the beauty and value of mathematics with a broad audience.

If you're not familiar with his books, he's written Secrets of Mental Math and The Magic of Math: Solving for X and Figuring Out Why, both of which have sold well. The live show is essentially that same intersection of math and magic performed in front of an audience. It's less of a lecture and more of a demonstration, with Benjamin doing the mental calculations live on stage.

The show is free and open to the public, and no ticket is required. It runs at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, January 26, at Shelton Auditorium, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46208.