Danica McKellar Knows All About Math

Posted on August 27, 2007

Actress and math whiz Danica McKellar - known to many as Winnie from the The Wonder Years tv series - has a message for girls in her book, Math Doesn't Suck. Danica tells Aetiology in an interview that she wanted to show girls that succeeding at math is both possible and glamorous.

I'd like to show girls that math is accessible and relevant, and even a little glamorous! This society constantly bombards us with damaging social messages telling young girls that math and science aren't for them. I want to show them that yes, math is for them, and my goal was to write an entertaining book that presents math in a fun teen-magazine style, to keep this subject in as non-intimidating and non-stuffy an environment as possible.
I want to see girls embrace math who never thought they could, and for them to understand the importance of developing a strong mind. Math is a fabulous mind strengthener - it's like going to the gym, for your brain!

This is good. We need to encourage young students to pursue math and science courses. Articles and features about McKellar and her Math book have appeared on ABC News, Newsweek and CNN. Danica McKellar blossomed as a math wiz when she was at UCLA. In a recent blog post McKellar says she even "co-authored a new math theorem" while she was there. She also says she answers math questions on her website, danicamckellar.com.