The illusion of the majority: A luxurious closing for the 50th anniversary of Faculty of Mathematics.

 Mathematics isn't just for solving equations on a blackboard; it's for understanding the biases in our society. To mark the closing of the Estalmat course, the University of Murcia hosted the lecture "The Illusion of the Majority," given by renowned science communicator Dr. Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón. This event was part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Mathematics and was supported by the Seneca Foundation and Asfamures.

Walks that changed history: On screen, a legendary photograph of Albert Einstein and Kurt Gödel strolling through Princeton serves as a backdrop (and image that you could watch on "Oppenheimer" movie). Two brilliant minds who, from the margins of the established order, challenged the absolute truths of their time.

The paradox of reason: Accompanying the image is a devastating quote from G.K. Chesterton: "The madman is not he who has lost his reason, but he who has lost everything, everything except his reason." A subtle invitation to reflect on how pure logical thinking, isolated from human reality, can lead us to distorted conclusions.

Mathematics Against the Grain: Under the title of the talk, Sáenz de Cabezón explained how statistical or opinion majorities are sometimes nothing more than optical illusions or network biases, demonstrating the value of critical thinking and mathematical analysis in avoiding being swept away by the current.

An inspiring finale for the students of Estalmat*, reminding them that mathematics applied to life is the best tool for thinking for oneself.

*Estalmat: Stimulation of mathematical talent (acronym in Spanish) for young people (from 13 to 15 years old)

Dr. Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón is a Spanish mathematician and professor of Computer Languages ​​and Systems at the University of La Rioja since 2001. He is known for his role as a science communicator, on the Spanish television program Órbita Laika (La 2 RTVE) and for being the creator of the YouTube channel Derivando, (in Spanish)