On the one hand, they are natural objects that the human brain is designed to deal without problem, and they are useful, because society needs to quantify and measure; but they are also man-made and social objects, sophisticated mathematical and cultural constructions, multi-faceted and fascinating. Since ancient times and in many different cultures, numbers contain beauty and mystery within them, and are the mirror which enigmatically reflects the harmony of the cosmos. Not only do they provide the basic language of all scientific discourse that aims to explore and understand natural phenomena, but they exert a deep yet subtle charm on philosophical and theological thought, art, architecture, and music.

The exhibition is divided into 11 modules (plus two special entrance and exit modules). Some of them tackle general issues regarding numbers and counting, while other focus on significant numbers. Each number is associated to emblematic figures of great mathematicians, and offers an opportunity to explore the intertwining between mathematics and other areas of culture, from art to music, literature, and mystical thought.

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW:

0 THE NUMBER GALLERY

1 NUMBER SENSE

2 FIRST STEPS: 1, 2, 3 ...

3 COUNTING GESTURES AND FIGURES

4 A FASCINATION WITH THE IRRATIONAL: √2 E Φ

5 CALCULATION TOOLS AND MACHINES

6 THE SECRET OF THE CIRCLE: π

7 MEASURING THE WORLD

8 A NEW BASIS: e

9 IMAGINARY NUMBERS: i

10 FROM ZERO TO INFINITY

11 THE ENIGMAS OF PRIME NUMBERS

12 OUR PLANET IN NUMBERS

 - STRONG POINTS OF THE EXHIBITION:

- A fascinating subject of universal significance

- An exhibition that is portable and scalable, with a modular layout customized to local needs

- A high degree of interactivity thanks to the presence of multimedia exhibits and installations

- An excellent educational program, with creative workshops designed for every level of education

- Positive social value (promoting numeracy)