July 23, Wednesday -- Math professor and professional magician Arthur Benjamin will present "Mathemagics: The Art of Mental Calculation," a show of lightning-fast calculations and other feats of mind, and reveal some of the math behind his magic tricks. The show is aimed at high-school students and headlines Math Fest, an evening to celebrate the excitement of mathematics and its influence in society.

Benjamin, a professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, is the author of several books on math tricks as well as dozens of research papers. He has toured the country with his show and performed for international television audiences.

Benjamin's presentation will begin at 5 p.m. in the Social Sciences and Humanities Building, Room 1100, on the UC Davis campus. Afterwards, try out math puzzles and games in the Social Sciences Courtyard at 6 p.m. Members of the Department of Mathematics will be on hand to answer questions about careers in mathematics. From 7:30-8:30 p.m., there will be a showing of mathematical movies in Wellman Hall, Room 2.

The event is free and open to the public. Math Fest is organized by the UC Davis Department of Mathematics and sponsored by the National Science Foundation through a VIGRE grant, and the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) program.