The US professor, who has a PhD from the University of Wisconsin and has previously taught in Bendigo, is presenting a free public seminar about his use of the software at La Trobe University Bendigo today.

The seminar is being hosted by the Bendigo campus' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Department of Mathematics.

The graphic capabilities of a spreadsheet meant it was a powerful tool to illustrate visually complex mathematical ideas, he said.

Dr Arganbright uses Microsoft Excel as it is the most common spreadsheet.

'‘But any spreadsheet works equally well,'' he said.

‘‘The great thing about using a spreadsheet is that practically everyone has access to one.'' Professor Terry Mills, from the Bendigo campus Department of Mathematics, said Dr Arganbright was a pioneer who was internationally recognised for his creative use of spreadsheets for mathematics and mathematics teaching.

Dr Arganbright said he would show some examples of how a spreadsheet could be used mathematically to describe real-life situations.

‘‘Things such as epidemics, population growth . . . things that are important socially and environmentally,'' he said. The audience would be able to start creating their own spreadsheet examples as soon as they got home, Dr Arganbright said.

The seminar will be held in Room B1.29 in the Business Building at La Trobe University Bendigo between noon and 1 pm.