The OU Math Club hosted this semester’s first meeting Wednesday afternoon, featuring a guest lecture by OU research professor Steven Spallone.

He demonstrated how juggling and mathematics interact.

Spallone performed juggling techniques that ranged from a simple one-ball trick to challenging, seven-ball tricks. While continuing to juggle, he explained many of the mathematics sequences involved in his tricks.

“There is a natural compatibility between math and juggling,” Spallone said. “There are connections between math and a lot of things in the world.”

The professor said he started juggling as a sophomore in high school. He began juggling as a means of fitness, but has crafted his passion into a hybrid with juggling and yoga called “jyoga.”

Spallone explained how he uses numbers to represent specific movements to create an elaborate sequence. The greater the number in a sequence corresponds to how high in the air one has to throw the ball.

A basic three-ball juggle can be broken down into its basic parts and mixed with other movements to create a completely new sequence, he said. The professor also explained many theorems involved in creating a sequence.

In addition to his more elaborate juggling techniques, Spallone discussed a few simple ones to get amateur jugglers started.

During the meeting, Spallone asked for volunteers which he used to represent the balls in his elaborate sequences. While confusing at first, the “human balls” helped to make the complex sequences more simple.

“I was surprised by the amount of students we had show up,” said Keri Kornelson, OU mathematics professor and club sponsor. “We plugged the meeting in all of our classes to get students to come. I’m really excited about how many students showed up.”

The club tries to provide a variety of presentations, speakers and movies that tie into math to its members, said OU mathematics professor and club sponsor Jon Kujawa.

“We have reps from ConocoPhillips coming to speak with us in a couple weeks,” said Kujawa.

Members of the Math Club will volunteer later this year at the department’s Math Day.

For more information, visit OUMathclub.wordpress.com.