Mathematician Moon Duchin, a professor at the University of Chicago, has dedicated her career to understanding the intricate relationship between mathematics and gerrymandering, the practice of drawing district lines to favor a particular political party. As she reflected on her past experiences teaching geometry to talented teens at a program called Mathcamp, Duchin shared insights into the mathematical concepts that underpin this critical issue.
During her time at Mathcamp, students engaged with challenging problems, such as the famous “decomposability” paradox, which illustrates how a solid ball can be divided into five non-overlapping pieces and then reassembled into two identical solid balls. “That”s really weird, right?” Duchin remarked, highlighting the surprising nature of mathematical phenomena.
Currently, Duchin leads the university”s Data and Democracy Research Initiative, where she focuses on how mathematics can be applied to tackle gerrymandering and to propose alternative electoral systems. On October 20, she presented the annual Blackwell Seminar at the University of Washington, an event that honors David Blackwell, one of her mathematical heroes. In her address, titled “How to Measure Political Representation,” she emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges of democracy today.
Duchin defines partisan gerrymandering as a process where the dominant political party manipulates district boundaries to secure greater electoral advantages and promote its agenda. This practice has led many to describe the situation as politicians selecting their voters, rather than voters choosing their representatives, a characterization that Duchin firmly supports.
With her research, Duchin aims to shed light on the complexities surrounding political representation and encourage a more equitable approach to democracy. She advocates for increased awareness and understanding of these mathematical and political challenges, urging that they deserve global attention in discussions about democratic systems.
