Barcelona is living this week a curious temporary transformation in a well-known square. The plaça del Pi in Ciutat Vella has been provisionally renamed “plaça del número π” until next Friday, March 21.
This symbolic change announced by l’Ajuntament de Barcelona is part of the activities promoted by the Barcelona City Council as part of the celebration of International Mathematics Day.
The name change is part of the collaboration between the City Council and the Societat Catalana de les Matemàtiques (SCM), with the aim of bringing mathematics closer to the citizens.
Throughout the month of March, various educational and cultural activities aimed at audiences of all ages have been scheduled. Among them, the Xarxa de Biblioteques Municipals organizes a series of talks on the relationship between art and mathematics, as well as various interactive workshops.
In parallel to these activities, the International Mathematics Day also coincides with the 30th edition of the Cangur test in Catalonia.
This international competition, promoted by the association Le Kangourou sans Frontières, seeks to encourage interest in mathematics among young people through a problem-solving competition.
This year’s edition, to be held on March 20, has exceeded the number of registrations of 2024 and is expected to involve more than 110,000 students throughout Catalonia.