Laura Laing

When people learn that I have a degree in mathematics, it’s always the same reaction: Widening eyes change to a puzzled look and then, “But aren’t you a writer?” I contend that writing great non-fiction is not much different from proving a(b + c) = ab + ac, except I get to use words that are a whole lot more fun.

And so I've figured out how to mix the math and writing. With Math for Grownups -- a funny, and not-at-all-scary look at how we use math in our everyday lives -- I've launched a career as a math evangelist. I speak to parents, teachers and other grownups about how they can overcome math anxiety, help kids learn math and develop a better relationship with numbers.

As I writer, I've written for a long list of local and national publications, including Parade, Parents, USA Today, Pregnancy, Southwest Airline's Spirit magazine, The Advocate, Baltimore Jewish Times and Baltimore's City Paper. You name it, I've covered it: from poopy diapers to what it's like to be a teenager with HIV to how math modeling is helping doctors diagnose overdoses.

As a curriculum developer, I've worked with a variety of companies to produce videos, online courses, tests and textbooks.

In the end, writing and speaking are like teaching and preaching. I want to inspire people to learn more -- about themselves and others. Not that I have all the answers, just a lot of good questions.