Button to scroll to the top of the page.
STARBIRD, MICHAEL
No

Michael P Starbird

Professor
Department of Mathematics

Distinguished Teaching Professor | The University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers Fellow

Topology and education

starbird@mail.utexas.edu

Phone: 512-471-5156

Office Location
PMA 11.122

Postal Address
2515 SPEEDWAY
AUSTIN, TX 78712

Ph.D., Wisconsin (1974)

Research Interests

Topology and education

Dr. Starbird served as a member-at-large of the Council of the American Mathematical Society, on the national education committees of both the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America, and on numerous UT wide and UT System wide committees where he consistently promotes the significant role that mathematics can play in the general education of students. He has given more than 350 invited lectures at colleges and universities throughout the country and more than 40 minicourses and workshops to teachers. Approximately one million copies of his general audience video courses and co-authored books have appeared, including video courses on calculus, statistics, probablility, geometry, and the joy of thinking. His nine co-authored books include three Inquiry Based Learning mathematics textbooks, a mathematics textbook for general audiences co-authored with Edward Burger entitled The Heart of Mathematics: An invitation to effective thinking, and general audience books with Burger including The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking, which has appeared in 19 foreign language editions. 

Books by Michael Starbird

(with Edward B. Burger) The Heart of Mathematics: An invitation to effective thinking (In its 4th edition)

(with Edward B. Burger), Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Math Jazz: Making Light of Weighty Ideas (which has appeared in 8 foreign language editions)

(with David C. Marshall and Edward Odell) Number Theory Through Inquiry 

(with Brian Katz) Distilling Ideas: An Introduction to Mathematical Thinking

(with Edward B. Burger) The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking (which has appeared in 19 foreign language editions)

(with Francis Su) Topology Through Inquiry

Video courses by Michael Starbird

Change and Motion: Calculus Made Clear (in its 2nd edition)

Meaning From Datea: Statistics Made Clear

What are the Chances? Probability Made Clear

Mathematics from the Visual World 

(with Edward Burger) The Joy of Thinking: The Beauty and Power of Classical Mathematical Ideas

 

  • Texas 10/Texas Exes Award, 2023
  • Elected to the Texas Philosophical Society, 2016
  • Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, Pomona College, 2014
  • Lori Holleran-Steiker Signature Course Award for Creative Student Engagment, 2014 (inaugural award)
  • Provost's Teaching Senior Fellow, 2013 (inaugural year)
  • Independent Publisher Book Awards 2013 Silver Medal for the 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
  • UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers, 2013 (inaugural year)
  • American Mathematical Society Fellow, 2012 (inaugural year)
  • Plan II Parlin Fellow Award, 2011
  • University of Texas Regents Outstanding Teaching Award, 2009 (inaugural year)
  • Mathematical Association of America Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo National Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, 2007
  • Eyes of Texas Excellence Award, 2002
  • Robert W. Hamilton Book Author Award Runner-up, 2001
  • Friar Society Centennial Teaching Fellowship, 2000
  • Academy of Distinguished Teachers, member, 1998-
  • Chad Oliver Plan II Teaching Award, 1997
  • Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, 1995
  • Recreational Sports Super Racquets Champion, 1989
  • Board of Directors Member, Texas Lyceum Association, 1989-95
  • President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award, 1989
  • Excellence Award, Eyes of Texas, Fall, 1987
  • Dad's Association Centennial Teaching Fellowship, Fall, 1987
  • Natural Sciences Council Teaching Excellence Award (one of six), April, 1985
  • Minnie Stevens Piper Professor (awarded to ten professors each year in the state of Texas), 1984
  • Honorable mention, Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, 1979
  • Visiting Member, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, 1978-79
  • Faculty Fellow, The University of Texas, Austin, 1975-77, 82-86

Math Education

Topology