Sunday 10th September 2006. East and West Midlands Branch Visit to Belgrave Hall, Leicester 1.00 p.m. and Leicester Museum of Science and Technology, Arts and Craft Steam Day 2.15 p.m.
Belgrave Hall is an interesting house and gardens, run by Leicester City Council. Leicester Museum of Science and Technology is based at Abbey Pumping Station, and as well as the Museum and Steam Day, the beam engine in the museum will be operating. For further information of the two venues, access http://www.leicestermuseums.ac.uk/
Wednesday 4th October 2006. From Curiosity To Commerce. A Presidential Address by Peter Grindrod. 7.00 p.m. in Room B13, Maths & Physics Building, University of Nottingham.
Abstract: Why study mathematics? For each of us it is a personal journey full of challenges, adventures and opportunities. Yet the benefits are both to the individuals and to the economy. There is a push and a pull. We need to balance the risks and benefits for students. We will look at examples of applicable mathematics in some diverse fields. Recently the government and has placed great stress on excellence in science and innovation as an enabler, and indeed part of the infrastructure necessary, for our economic wellbeing within the knowledge economy. Mathematics is clearly a pervasive player in this – acting directly in supporting some of the main drivers, and more generally in creating a culture of imagination and advancement. So what starts out as curiosity-driven problem solving and many inspiring intellectual challenges for individual students can be seen a mission critical for all of our futures.
Wednesday 11th October 2006. From Curiosity To Commerce. A Presidential Address by Peter Grindrod. 7.00 p.m. in Lecture Theatre 1, Ken Edwards Building, Leicester University.
Abstract: Why study mathematics? For each of us it is a personal journey full of challenges, adventures and opportunities. Yet the benefits are both to the individuals and to the economy. There is a push and a pull. We need to balance the risks and benefits for students. We will look at examples of applicable mathematics in some diverse fields. Recently the government and has placed great stress on excellence in science and innovation as an enabler, and indeed part of the infrastructure necessary, for our economic wellbeing within the knowledge economy. Mathematics is clearly a pervasive player in this – acting directly in supporting some of the main drivers, and more generally in creating a culture of imagination and advancement. So what starts out as curiosity-driven problem solving and many inspiring intellectual challenges for individual students can be seen a mission critical for all of our futures.
Thursday 16th November 2006. Rock Guitar In 11 Dimensions: Strats, Strads & Superstrings. A performance by Dr. Mark Lewney. 7.30 p.m. in Room GE004, George Eliot Building, Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent University.
Abstract: What causes the revolutionary, history-changing sound of rock guitar, and how does it help us to understand the nature of the stuff we’re made of? Famelab winner Mark Lewney explains the physics of rock using riffs from Vivaldi to AC/DC, explains the secret of the Stradivarius, and shows how string vibrations might lie at the heart of the Big Questions about the universe. In this entertaining and mind-expanding lecture, acoustics expert Dr. Lewney explains the physics of vibrations with the help of props as diverse as an air-bazooka, a bullwhip and his custom Ibanez electric guitar through a 100W Marshall amp, turned up loud, with live demonstrations of expert rock guitar playing throughout. Then Dr. Lewney shows how the vibrations of guitar strings might be applied to the particles we’re all made of, but with a twist: the strings vibrate in extra dimensions. Charming stories and mind-bending animations are used to try to get the audience to think in 4-, 5- or even 11-D. This introduction to Superstring Theory shares the wonder and excitement of such grand scale, cutting edge physics.
Dr Mark Lewney has a PhD in guitar acoustics from Cardiff University and now deals with new inventions in telecomms at the UK Patent Office in Newport. At the 2005 Cheltenham Science Festival he was the first winner of FameLab®, a national competition to find the new faces of science communication, with a talk on the physics of rock guitar. Mark has appeared on Radio 4’s Material World as a guitar expert, on a British Council DVD called Beautiful Physics which was distributed worldwide, and on CBBC’s Xchange! as the “Rock Doctor.
Wednesday 6th December 2006. (Joint meeting with the British Computer Society (BCS), Coventry University and Sigma.) Cracking the Cipher Challenge. A talk by Simon Singh. 7.00 p.m. in the Goldstein Lecture Theatre, Alan Berry Building, Coventry University.
Abstract: In “The Code Book”, a history of cryptography, the author Simon Singh included ten encrypted messages with a prize of £10,000 for the first person or team to decipher all of them. Thousands of amateur and professional codebreakers took up the Cipher Challenge, but it took over a year before the messages were cracked. Simon Singh will be talking about how he constructed the Cipher Challenge and how the winners eventually cracked it. He will also be using the Cipher Challenge to give an introduction to the history of cryptography and to demonstrate why encryption is more important today than ever before. In particular, he will discuss what the Cipher Challenge can teach us about Internet security and he will be demonstrating a genuine Second World War Enigma cipher machine.
Since studying physics at Cambridge, Simon Singh has been a TV Director and author. He directed for BBC Tomorrow’s World and Horizon, and his books include Fermat’s Last Theorem, The Code Book and Big Bang. Arrangements are being made for book signings either before or after the lecture in the University Bookshop, more details to follow.
Tuesday 12th December 2006. The Future Of Mathematics Education 14-19: What Might It Look Like? A talk by Tom Roper (School of Education, University of Leeds). 7.30 p.m. in the Heap Lecture Theatre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road Site.
Abstract: The Assessment and Evaluation Unit within the School of Education at the University of Leeds was one of two groups contracted by QCA in response to the Smith Report, Making Mathematics Count, to put forward recommendations for new pathways in mathematics at 14-19. The talk will look at the recommendations made to QCA, dealing with, in particular, functional mathematics, GCSE 1 and GCSE 2, the mathematics for the specialized or vocational diplomas and GCE.
Wednesday 24th January 2007. Statistical Modelling In Sport. A talk by Dr. Phil Scarf (Salford University). 7.30 p.m. in the Heap Lecture Theatre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road Site.
Abstract: This talk considers how modelling can be used to shed light on a variety of sporting issues. First, we look at how the timing of a declaration in the third innings of a test match can be optimized. Second, we look at route choice in mountain running events and examine an empirical basis for Naismith’s rule. Next we look at the actions in a football match which contribute to the final result of the game. Finally, we return to cricket to discuss how we might rank players in test cricket putting batting and bowling contributions on the same scale. Sport provides subject matter for a wide range of interesting modelling problems, and it is a growing area for the application of mathematics in general and statistics and operational research in particular. The question arises: can it be considered as a mainstream area for the application of mathematics?
Phil Scarf is a lecturer at the University of Salford. His research interests are in Replacement Modelling, Reliability and Maintenance Modelling, and OR and Statistics in Sport. He is currently co-editor of the IMA Journal of Management Mathematics which recently published a special issue on OR in Sport under his editorship. He is an orienteer, adventure racer and has competed in a number of mountain marathon events. He has played cricket at club level.
Tuesday 13th February 2007. (Joint meeting with the British Computer Society [BCS].) The WASP Search for Extra-solar Planets: an IT Challenge in Astronomy. A talk by Dr. Richard West (Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester). 7.00 p.m. in the Charles Wilson Building, University of Leicester.
Abstract: The Wide-Angle Search for Planets (WASP) is the UK’s leading astronomical survey aiming to detect the presence of planets around distant stars. The planet-detection strategy requires frequent and precise measurements to be made of millions of stars over many weeks or months. This in turn requires the acquisition of many tens of terabytes of imaging data per year which must analysed, organised and sifted. I will review the progress made by the project in this data-handling challenge, and present some of the planet signatures detected to date.
Thursday 22nd February 2007. Marston’s Brewery Visit. The Brewery, Shobnall Road, Burton on Trent, DE14 2BW. An Evening event has been arranged for Branch members and their friends, starting at 7.00 p.m. and lasting approximately 3 hours.
Saturday 10th March 2007. Branch Dinner at The Country Cottage Hotel, Easthorpe Street, Ruddington, NG11 6LA. Meet 7.30 p.m. in the private room for a meal starting 8.00 p.m.
Tuesday 20th March 2007. MAESTRO to the Rescue. A talk by Olivier Haas (Control Theory and Applications Centre, Coventry University). 7.30 p.m. in Room Q1.10, Queen’s Building, City Campus, De Montfort University, Leicester.
Abstract: The European integrated project MAESTRO (Methods and Advanced Equipment for Simulation and Treatment in Radio-Oncology) aims to provide research on image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Unique to the project is the combination of radiotherapy physics, medical imaging and control engineering to improve the behaviour of current radiotherapy treatment devices. The work aims to develop new control techniques to enable radiotherapy treatment equipment to move to adapt to detectable organ and patient motion. A three stage research process was used and will be described, including test involving the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW), Coventry, Newcastle general Hospital, Newcastle, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh and Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.
Wednesday 16th May 2007. Mathematics, Statistics and Horse Race Betting (or why Lucky Jim did not win the 3.00 p.m. at Newmarket!) A talk by Tony Palmer (previously of De Montfort University). 7.30 p.m. in Room Q1.10, Queen’s Building, City Campus, De Montfort University, Leicester.
Abstract: In his book “The Complete Manual of Racing and Betting Systems”, David Duncan’s answer to the question, “Is it possible to beat the “book” by mathematical means alone?”, is a definite “no”. However, he does suggest that the individual backer can adopt a mathematical approach to enhance the prospect of a credit balance. So we will consider how we might improve our betting – either by reducing our losses or even make a profit (if luck is with us). We start by trying to identify the races worth betting in (the odds offered are an important factor here) and then look at ways of deciding which horses to back (is it worth backing the favourite?) and considering different betting strategies. We will use both mathematical and statistical techniques to try and achieve the above.
Tuesday 19th June 2007. Joint Branch Social Event at The Wheatsheaf Inn, Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester. (The location can be found via the postcode, LE7 7JN, in Multimap.) Meet by 6.30 p.m. in the bar for a directed walk and quiz, or 7.30 p.m. in the Skittle Alley.
Members and their guests from both the IMA East and West Midlands Branches are invited to attend a summer evening of social activities centred around the The Wheatsheaf, Thurcaston, Leicestershire. Thurcaston is a village conveniently situated near the A46 Leicester Ring (Link from A46 Fosse Way to the M1 Junction 21A). Early participants are invited to spend an hour investigating the interesting features of Thurcaston, guided by a quiz. Later we will retire to the skittle alley where matters mathematical (with equations both simple and quadratical) and more, can be discussed over a challenge skittles game and a pub meal. As this is a social event many members attend with their partners.
