The mathematician who inspires audiences ‘derivating’
Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón is a mathematician and science communicator who has helped make mathematics accessible to large audiences without reducing its intellectual depth. His work combines university research and teaching with television, books, podcasts, live performances and online videos that present mathematics as a creative and useful way of understanding the world.
His academic research focuses mainly on computational algebra, an area that uses algorithms and computer methods to solve problems involving algebraic structures. This field connects abstract mathematics with practical calculation and has applications in geometry, coding, optimisation and computer science.
As a communicator, Sáenz de Cabezón is known for turning apparently difficult ideas into clear stories, examples and questions. He shows that mathematics is present in technology, probability, decision-making, patterns and everyday reasoning. His style combines rigour with humour, helping audiences overcome the belief that mathematics is reserved for specialists or for people with a particular kind of talent.
Career and recognitions
Born in Logroño, Sáenz de Cabezón holds a PhD in Mathematics and is Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computing at the University of La Rioja. He works with national and international research teams and has published numerous scientific articles in computational algebra.
He created the YouTube channel Derivando, which has around one and a half million subscribers and has become one of the leading Spanish-language mathematics channels. He presents Orbita Laika on Spain’s public television channel La 2 and also communicates through books, podcasts, conferences, courses, newspapers and radio. He has received several awards in Spain and Latin America for his contribution to science communication and for bringing mathematics into contemporary popular culture.
