"Pi Day 3.14"… KIAS to Host 'Pi Day' Interactive Event for Elementary Students
by Kim Jonghwa
Published 04 Mar.2026 11:54(KST)
Mathematics Tiling Experience and Lecture at Hongneung on March 14
Open to 45 Pairs of 4th to 6th Grade Students on a First-Come, First-Served Basis
The Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS) will hold an interactive mathematics event for elementary school students to celebrate the International Day of Mathematics.
KIAS announced that it will host the "2026 KIAS Pi Day" event on March 14 at its Hongneung campus in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.
March 14 is called "Pi Day," inspired by the approximate value of pi, 3.14. In 2019, UNESCO designated this date as the "International Day of Mathematics" to highlight the importance of mathematics and promote mathematics education.
KIAS has prepared a hands-on mathematics program for upper-grade elementary school students to highlight the significance of the International Day of Mathematics and to help students enjoy learning mathematics. The opening ceremony of the event will be held at 3:09 p.m. on March 14, symbolizing the sequence of numbers in pi.
Mathematics Experience with the Theme of 'Tiling'… Puzzle and Shape Activities
This event will feature a mathematics lecture and hands-on activities on the theme of "tiling." Tiling is a mathematical concept where shapes are used to fill empty spaces without overlaps or gaps.
Participating students will discover rules by solving various shape puzzles and will naturally understand mathematical concepts such as repetition and symmetry through activities that involve creating new tiling patterns. The program also includes activities with intriguing shapes such as "Penrose tiling," designed to nurture mathematical creativity and spatial reasoning skills.
The event is open to 45 pairs of 4th to 6th grade elementary students and their parents. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis through the KIAS website. The application deadline is March 12, and participation is free of charge.
Noh Taewon, President of KIAS, stated, "The faster science and technology develop, the more important mathematical thinking and basic science become," and added, "I hope this event provides an opportunity for children to enjoy mathematics and develop their imagination."
KIAS, established in 1996, is Korea's first pure theoretical basic science research institute. It conducts research in basic science fields such as mathematics and physics and contributes to strengthening the international competitiveness of Korean basic science.
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