Create a video game, master engineer a modern city, edit an animated movie, compete in a mountain bike race, jump into a ‘binary dance party’ or program and control Curiosity, NASA’s next Mars rover. Through approximately 40 unique and interactive experiences, the traveling exhibition 2theXtreme: MathAlive! at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science takes math from its native form into the fascinating applied worlds of design, engineering, technology and science. Presented nationally by Raytheon, the exhibition runs Sept. 27 through Jan. 4.

An inspiring exhibition exploring the world of mathematics, 2theXtreme: MathAlive! promises to spark imagination and reveal not only math at work, but the endless possibilities of math. The exhibition, which has drawn huge crowds across the U.S., brings to life the real math behind what kids love most – video games, sports, fashion, music, robotics and more. Innovative technologies and hands-on activities create interactive and immersive experiences that spark a passion for math and provide a formula for fun. Because STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math – is a national focus, the exhibition is bilingual, presented in English and Spanish. 

A survey commissioned by Raytheon of America’s middle school students indicates that nearly half of students ages 10-14 enjoy learning math outside of school and consider hands-on activities their favorite method for experiencing new subject material. 

“Math is the foundation for so many incredible careers that are edgy, thrilling and innovative,” said Colleen Walker, the Eugene McDermott chief executive officer of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. “We think kids are going to love this exhibition, and we hope that they walk away with a whole new passion and respect for math with a birds-eye view of the very cool career opportunities that have math at their core.”

In this 5,000-square-foot exhibition, six themed areas with hands-on discovery reveal the relevancy of math to real life: "Outdoor Action," "Build Your World," "Future Style," "Kickin' It," "Game Plan" and "Robotics and Space." Throughout the exhibition, visitors can interact with animated and energetic virtual guides – the BotZ. With quirky personalities and kid-friendly language, these three math-loving virtual guides help visitors tackle the challenges, explain the math involved, prompt and encourage answers, and jump in if visitors get stuck. Along the way, professionals, celebrities, visionaries and inspiring personalities in a variety of fields share how math is used in their everyday work through interactive videos.

“This is not a ‘stand back and observe’ exhibition. Visitors can freestyle on a snowboard, attempt an Ollie on a custom skateboard, capture their 360-degree image, challenge a friend in a mountain bike race, operate simulations of NASA's latest robotics and even design infrastructure for an ecologically sustainable city,” said Steve Hinkley, the Perot Museum’s vice president of programs. “Mathematical concepts – from fractions and probability, to ratios and basic binary code – are showcased in a way so students can see that math is not only an important part of their everyday lives, but is also a lot of fun.”

Other MathAlive! highlights include:

Boardercross: Snowboarding Experience. Jump onto a pivoting snowboard, angle your board and fly over obstacles while racing friends and other guests to the finish line.

Ramp It Up: Build Your Skateboard with POP. Design your own skateboard that performs the best tricks. Determine the shape and length of your board and choose the perfect wheel size. Then test your skateboard's ability to perform an Ollie.

Style Revolution: 360-degree Photo Shoot. Strike a pose! Step onto a photo stage and have your image captured in 360 degrees, using the same freeze-motion technique made famous in modern action movies.

Pedal to the Peak: Mountain Bike Challenge. Jump on a stationary bike and compete in a mountain bike race. As you pedal, try to match shaded areas on two combined graphs to gain maximum points.

Get a Grip: Rock Climbing. Test your climbing abilities with a horizontal climb around a rock wall. Measure your height and arm span in this hands-on exhibit.

Game Developer. Race against the clock to develop and program your very own game with a 3D model.

Supertall: Skyscraper Design Studio. Design your own 'supertall' skyscraper by making several decisions about the building's function, structure and design. If your structure passes the test, it will be 'built' with simulated time-lapse photography.

Mix It Up: Giant Musical Instrument. Explore the relationship between rhythm and math by adding or subtracting musical elements on a giant super-instrument.

On Target: NASA Robot. Control a viewing camera mounted at the end of a robotic arm on the International Space Station.

2theXtreme: MathAlive! is designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and levels of math ability, but with particular relevance to kids in grades 3-8. The exhibition was organized in direct response to the larger need to improve math proficiency among students, and inspire kids to explore and pursue STEM careers. For teachers, the exhibition serves as an entertaining and relevant exploration lab. Each interactive station presents different types and levels of math, so students at different grade levels will find the entire experience relevant and supportive to what they are learning in the classroom.

The local presenting sponsors of 2theXtreme: MathAlive! are The Episcopal School of Dallas and St. Philip’s School & Community Center. The local supporting sponsor is Texas Instruments and the media sponsor is Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds. Institutional collaborators for the exhibition include NASA, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Society of Professional Engineers, MATHCOUNTS and the Society of Women Engineers.