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Samín Cerón: a mathematical revolution that breaks molds and takes to the stree...

Samín Cerón: a mathematical revolution that breaks molds and takes to the streets

In work that goes beyond the classroom, the University of Cauca and its people sow knowledge and change lives in different settings. And in that mission, through which walls are gradually being brought down, Professor Samín Cerón has transformed her passion for mathematics into a social outreach project that inspires, educates, and connects knowledge. Through her initiative “Mathematics to the Street,” she has reached hundreds of children and young people in Popayán and other municipalities of Cauca, showing that the learning process can be more effective when it involves games, laughter, and community work.

A graduate in Mathematics Education from The University of Cauca , Samin Cerón has devoted her life to teaching, researching, and sharing this field of knowledge that is often perceived as distant or inaccessible. From her first steps as an adjunct professor, her path has been marked by commitment and gratitude. Passionate about education, she completed a master’s degree in mathematics at The University of Valle, and a master’s degree in Mathematics Didactics at UNIR UNIR, and later, with the support of her husband Wilson Martínez, began her doctorate at The University of Santiago de Chile. She then returned to her Alma Mater not only with greater knowledge, but with a deep desire to give back to the university and its students everything she had learned: that seed of expanding the scope of action flourished.

And so, in 2018, “Mathematics to the Street” was born within the context of the student movement. Thanks to the initiative of the students from the Mathematics and Mathematics Education programs who, in the midst of an assembly, proposed taking their knowledge into public space, the idea soon materialized: with the support of faculty members, they set up the first stands in squares such as Santo Domingo and Parque Caldas, where they shared games, explanations, and reflections on public education. Since then, the project has grown, become institutionalized, and reached different territories of our department, consolidating itself as a very powerful strategy for learning, encounter, and transformation. For Professor Samin, “Mathematics to the Street” is much more than an academic event: “It has been a challenge, and it has been possible to combine mathematical knowledge with playfulness. I can have fun and I can learn. What is meaningful is that it emerges from the students’ initiative; they are the soul of the event, the ones who organize the stands and, through their way of explaining, manage to attract boys and girls. Without them, this would not be possible.”

This inspiring journey has been enriched by the support of key figures who shaped Professor Samin Cerón’s path. Since her undergraduate years, Professor Carlos Alberto Trujillo was a driving force behind her continued education. During her master’s studies, Guillermo Ortiz served as a fundamental guide, while in Chile, Professor Enrique Reyes revealed to her the more approachable side of mathematics. The unconditional support of Professor Wilson Martínez has been a pillar, along with the valuable contributions of faculty members who have strengthened the “Mathematics to the Street” project, such as Martha Bobadilla, Gabriela Arbeláez, Aldo Parra, Elkin Cárdenas, Ramiro Acevedo, Rosana Pérez, Carlos Trujillo, and the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Natural, Exact and Education Sciences, led by Dr. Jairo Roa, in addition to the Vice-Rector’s Office for Research headed by Professor Francisco Pino. Also adding momentum is the support of all department professors, who have contributed significantly to the initiative, as well as the dynamism of the research seedbeds and the current leadership of Professor Julieta Martínez.

Thus, “Mathematics to the Street” has not only reconfigured spaces, but has also cultivated vocations. Several students from the Mathematics Education program who first encountered the project in high school are now active participants or distinguished graduates. The experience has been particularly enriching in institutions serving children with hearing disabilities, who have been able to join the initiative thanks to the support of Unicauca students and the invaluable work of interpreters.

The impact of this process, which transcends generations, is also evident in how program graduates actively invite the project into the institutions where they now practice their profession, spreading enthusiasm, and even a love for mathematics.

From The University of Cauca, we celebrate with deep gratitude the tireless commitment of Professor Samin Cerón and the entire team of teachers and students who bring “Mathematics to the Street” to life. These initiatives are the living expression of how public universities weave knowledge and transform realities, radiating joy and relevance to every corner of our territories. We therefore extend a special invitation to all young people: come closer to mathematics, discover its beauty, explore its usefulness, and allow it to become an ally in your professional and personal journey. “Mathematics is everywhere. Sometimes we don’t see it, but it’s there, in the decisions we make, in games, in everyday life. Even if it challenges us, we can overcome our fear, fall in love with it, and find that balance between rigorous study and the enjoyment it can also give us,” Professor Samin shared, moved.

With initiatives like these, our institution reaffirms its commitment to quality, inclusive, and socially meaningful education, because knowledge does not remain within walls: it walks, it plays, it is shared, and it leaves us with lessons for life itself. How proud we are to break molds and take to the streets #WithUnicaucaSeal!