Happy Pi Day! Today, March 14 (or 3/14), is the day that the irrational number (pi) is celebrated. If you are a little rusty on your math, pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It allows us to measure the circumference or area of a circle.
As a kid, when I learned about pi in math class, I was fascinated by the idea that there was a number that never stopped. And I am not alone. Scientists have calculated pi, which we usually shorten to 3.14, up to 10 trillion digits.
So why celebrate Pi Day? In AAUW’s research report Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, we found that women are still underrepresented in math and the other STEM fields. Having a holiday that celebrates a mathematical concept is a great way to get people interested in the subject. Ways to celebrate Pi Day include enjoying a slice of the word’s homophone, pie (I recommend strawberry rhubarb), or sending a Pi Day e-card.
Yes, Pi Day is a nerdy holiday. But if it helps get more people — including women — interested STEM fields, I’m good with that. Plus, I never ignore an excuse to eat pie.
AAUW Dialog 
There used to be a restaurant in Chicago that was quite popular some time ago called “MY II (pi symbol) – it served pizza, of course!