Thursday 13th September 2007. Branch Social Event at the Grainstore Brewery, Station Approach, Oakham, Rutland. Meet by 7.30 p.m. in the bar for a group visit.
Members and their guests from the IMA East Midlands Branch are invited to attend a video and guided tour (approx 1 hour) of the Brewery, established by a former Head Brewer at Ruddles. You will be able to sample a variety of legendary real ales that are served on the premises and also in many other Rutland pubs. Oakham is the County town of Rutland. Rich in history and character, and less than an hour’s drive from Nottingham, Leicester or Loughborough. The Brewery and Public House is set in a Victorian building next to the station. Further details can be obtained on the Brewery website: www.grainstorebrewery.com/
Monday 15th October 2007. Maths, Magic and the Electric Guitar. A talk by David Acheson (Oxford University). 7.30 p.m. in the Law Court Lecture Theatre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road Site.
Abstract: Why is the number 1089 so special? What is the connection between mathematics and the electric guitar? Can mathematics even explain the legendary Indian Rope Trick? These are some of the questions that David Acheson considers in an informal look at surprises in mathematics. The lecture is accompanied by demonstrations and computer experiments.
Tuesday 13th November 2007. The Tay Bridge Disaster: Act of God or Gross Negligence. A talk by Peter R. Lewis (Open University). 7.30 p.m. in the Queens Building, City Campus, De Montfort University, Leicester.
Abstract: In 1879 the Tay Bridge was the longest bridge in the world, spanning two miles across the Tay estuary in southeastern Scotland. On the evening of December 28, 1879, the central part of the span—the so-called high girders—suddenly collapsed, leaving a gap of well over a half-mile. Most disturbing was that the two-year-old bridge collapsed while an express passenger train from Edinburgh was making its way across. The resulting accident claimed the lives of 75 victims, making it one of the most catastrophic structural failures in Britain’s history.
More than 125 years later the cause of the disaster seems to remain in doubt. In a recent book, “Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay” (Tempus Publishing), we have attempted to put an end to the uncertainty. By re-examining the wealth of surviving evidence – in particular the photographic archive and the records from the formal accident investigation of 1880 – we have re-assessed the various theories of how and why the bridge came down. Notably, the Tay Bridge disaster inquiry pioneered systematic investigation and recording of the evidence visible at an accident site. Other accidents of the railroad age were systematically investigated prior to the late 1880s, but the Tay Bridge was probably the first time a systematic photographic survey was made for an accident investigation. The photos have proved to be an invaluable archive, which has enabled re-examination of the disaster with the benefit of modern knowledge of likely failure modes.
Thursday 6th December 2007. Euler – 300 years on. A talk by Robin Wilson (Open University). 7.30 p.m. in the Law Court Lecture Theatre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road Site.
Abstract: In this talk we look at the life, labours and legacy of Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), the most prolific mathematician of all time.
Tuesday 8th January 2008. The Duckworth-Lewis Method: 11 years on. A talk by Frank Duckworth (Royal Statistical Society). 7.30 p.m. in the Ken Edwards Building, Leicester University.
Abstract: The talk will describe why and how the Duckworth-Lewis method for resetting targets in rain-interrupted one-day cricket matches came about and the way the mathematics of the method has since been upgraded to take advantage of the increasing availability of computers in scorers’ boxes. The experience from over 800 applications world-wide will be reviewed.
Tuesday 19th February 2008. Genetic Algorithms. A talk by Dr Dick Pitt (Sheffield Hallam University). 7.30 p.m. in Room GEE004-LT1, George Eliot Building, Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent University.
Abstract: We are all familiar with the incredible beauty and variety of nature. Most of us know something about genetics. Few of us are aware that we can tackle Maths problems with an approach that is similar to that used in nature. This relatively new approach has an attractive simplicity. Using it we can solve some serious problems. In this talk I will explain why I find the approach fascinating and, starting from the beginning, give a few examples.
Tuesday 11th March 2008. Crowd Dynamics. A talk by Keith Still (Crowd Dynamics Limited). 7.30 p.m. in the Law Court Lecture Theatre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road Site.
Abstract: Crowd dynamics can be defined as the study of the how and where crowds form and move above the critical density of more than one person per square metre. At high density there is the potential for overcrowding and personal injury. It is therefore important to understand the dynamics of crowds, how crowds understand and interpret information systems, how management systems affect crowd behaviour. We call this the science of crowd dynamics. As with all modelling the principles of discovery, understanding and control apply to crowd dynamics. We outline in this talk the fundamental influences on crowd behaviour – Design, Information and Management, during the three phases of crowd dynamics (ingress, circulation and egress) and how applying some simply predictive modelling was used to prevent dangerous over crowding at the last two London New Year Events.
Dr Keith Still, FIMA is the Founder and CTO of Crowd Dynamics Limited an international consultancy business advising on crowd dynamics during normal and emergency situations (http://www.crowddynamics.com/)
Saturday 19th April 2008. 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.
Thursday 8th May 2008. Patterns in the Sand: the Physics of Granular Flow. A talk by Professor Tom Mullin (Director of the Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester). 7.30 p.m. in Room B13, Maths & Physics Building, University of Nottingham, University Park.
Abstract: Segregation of mixtures of granular materials is a topic which is of interest to a broad range of scientists from physicists, to geologists and engineers. An everyday occurrence the phenomenon can be seen at the breakfast table where the fruit and nuts are usually found clustered at the top of a packet of muesli. The process can be driven by either simple avalanching in binary mixtures when the angle of repose of the constituents are different or it can be promoted using an external drive or perturbation. We will discuss these issues and present the results of a new experimental study of particle segregation in a binary mixture which is subject to a periodic horizontal forcing. A surprising self-organization process is observed which shows critical behaviour in its formation. Connections with concepts from equilibrium phase transitions will be discussed.
Thursday 12th June 2008. Joint Branch Social Event at The Bull’s Head, The Nook, Cosby, Leicester. 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 Bulls Head, Cosby, Leicester. Cosby is a picturesque village situated about 11km South-West of Leicester. Early participants are invited to spend an hour investigating the interesting features of Cosby, guided by a quiz. Later we will retire to the skittle alley for a challenge skittles game and a pub meal. As this is a social event many members attend with their partners.
