Math in Bloom

Although it often goes unnoticed, when we look more closely, we can begin to see how math is woven into the natural world around us. Fibonacci sequences appear in plant growth patterns that optimize light, space, and reproduction. Succulents, broccoli, and butterfly wings are brilliant displays of fractal geometry that recur across living systems. Even the propagation of plants reflects a seemingly infinite capacity for regeneration and adaptation.

As part of the Simons Foundation’s Infinite Sums national math initiative, the Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) in Flushing, Queens, has joined Math in Bloom, a national cohort of six gardens that are creating interactive experiences that celebrate the mathematical beauty inherent in nature. As living spaces for exploration and learning, participating gardens are hosting events that invite visitors to rediscover their locally inspired landscapes and displays of flora and fauna—and to notice the underlying math that gives rise to their elegance, complexity, and sense of wonder.

Qiyao Zhu is a research fellow in the Center for Computational Biology at the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute. Her research combines mathematics, computation, and biology to better understand how complex molecular structures form and function. Morgan Potter, supervisor of gardeners at QBG, works closely with the cultivation and stewardship of the garden’s living collections. Regina Forlenza, assistant director of visitor services at QBG, develops programs and experiences that help visitors engage with nature and with one another. Together, they have spent much of the past year dreaming up ways to activate the garden and invite people of all ages to experience it through a fresh mathematical lens.

Join them for a conversation with Elizabeth Simolke, senior program manager in the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division, as they share more about how they are leaning into math in nature to help visitors experience the garden in new ways. They’ll also offer a sneak peek of what they have planned for their next Math in Bloom celebration on Infinity Day (Saturday, August 8, 2026).

About the Speakers:

Zhu is a research fellow in the Center for Computational Biology at the Simon Foundation’s Flatiron Institute. Her research interests include cyclic peptide-based drug designs, with a focus on addressing the high-dimensionality challenges inherent in physics-based peptide modeling. Zhu holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from UCLA.

Potter joined the Queens Botanical Garden in 2006. As supervisor of gardeners, Potter leads the horticulture department in maintaining QBG’s 39 acres of gardens and arboretum as well as plant collections, propagation, and display design. Potter has a BA in biology and several horticulture certificates, including completion of Longwood Gardens’ Professional Horticulture Program.

Forlenza is an accomplished museum professional with over 18 years of experience in the cultural sector. She currently serves as the assistant director of visitor services at Queens Botanical Garden, where she designs and implements environmental programs that foster meaningful engagement across diverse communities. In addition to her work in the museum field, Forlenza actively contributes to the nonprofit sector as a peer advisor for the national Social Impact Study, funded by the American Alliance of Museums, and as a member of the ECRC Nonprofit Peer Leadership Circle. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from St. John’s University and pursued graduate studies in art history at Queens College.

Conversation Moderator: Simolke joined the Simons Foundation in 2019 as the outreach coordinator for the President’s Office before transitioning to the foundation’s Science, Society & Culture team in 2021. As senior program manager, she leads the division’s Researcher Engagement Program and oversees both the Presidential Lectures and the Presents public event series. She also plays an integral part in advancing the division’s national initiatives, with a focus on programs that support science engagement in rural communities and small towns across the country. Prior to coming to the foundation, Simolke served as the administrative manager of the Global Business Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds bachelor’s degrees in public relations and Spanish from Appalachian State University and completed her master’s studies in communication at the University of Chile.