Talented mathematician and magician Arthur Benjamin will appear at UCI on Thursday, Jan. 12, as part of a math seminar series for undergraduates. The retired chair of Harvey Mudd College’s math department has been called “America’s best math whiz” by Reader’s Digest. Also a widely recognized magician, Benjamin combines his skills in a presentation called “Mathemagics,” during which he will demonstrate and explain his ability to compute more quickly than a calculator, among other feats. The free event, funded by the National Science Foundation, will take place in the Student Center’s Pacific Ballroom C from noon to 1 p.m. and is open to the public. For a preview, go here.