As part of the IMA@50 celebrations, the School of Mathematics, University of Manchester will be hosting the Festival of Mathematics and its Applications. This will be the first hands-on festival devoted to mathematics, and is being held in the Alan Turing Building at the University of Manchester because of the long-standing links between the IMA and Manchester. The Festival will comprise interactive exhibitions, popular and academic talks, maths entertainments, debates and discussions.
There are three strands to the event, and IMA members are most welcome to engage in all of the activities. Further details (including venue locations and registration) are given here.
In summary:
1. Public Lecture
On the evening of 3 July 2014 at 5.30pm there will be a major public lecture by Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS, Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk. This is entitled ‘Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls’, and will be followed by a reception at 6.30pm-7.30pm. Both the lecture and reception will be held in the Samuel Alexander Building, University of Manchester.
This popular lecture is accessible to mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike and is open to the general public. David is a brilliant communicator of science, and is a regular presenter and interviewee on TV and radio. Of his talk, he says: “You take a risk whenever things may turn out well, or not so well, and you don’t know which it will be. So you take risks all the time, but this does not mean you have to be reckless. I will talk about how you can use the probability ideas to take daily risks apart, and how this might help decide whether you should go for it or not. Examples will include sex, drugs, sausage rolls, and Total Wipeout.”
There is no charge for attending the lecture and reception. Registration is not mandatory for this event, but to gauge numbers it would be helpful if you could register.
After the reception (at 8pm) participants may join us for dinner at the Tai Pan restaurant. There is a charge of £25 for attending the dinner, and registration is essential.
2. Seminars on the Challenges for Mathematics
These seminars are intended to provide a stimulating discussion of major topics in mathematics (education, industry and research) and are open to all. The full programme is now available here.
Although there is no cost for attendance, registration is required to estimate numbers for lunch.
In summary, there will be four half day sessions on:
3rd July AM ‘Maths Education and Policy’
led by Professor Dame Celia Hoyles (IMA President, University of London) and Professor Nigel Steele (Coventry University)
3rd July PM ‘What has mathematics done for us?’
led by Dr Snezana Lawrence (Bath Spa University) and Dr Peter Rowlett (Nottingham Trent University)
4th July AM ‘Mathematics in Industry’
led by Dr Robert Leese (Smith Institute) and Professor Alan Champneys (University of Bristol)
4th July PM ‘Mathematics in a Changing World’
led by Professor Robert MacKay FRS (University of Warwick) and Professor Peter Grindrod CBE (University of Oxford)
PhD Student/Early Career Bursaries
We have a limited number of bursaries available to PhD students and Early Career Researchers (up to five years research experience following their PhD) to enable them to attend these seminars. Bursaries of up to £100 can be granted to support travel and subsistence for one or two days. Please complete an online application form here.
3. Festival of Mathematics and its Applications
Downstairs in the Alan Turing Building there will be events for the general public, especially school students, from 10am to 4pm on both 3rd and 4th July. There will be a series of popular talks given by well-known communicators (including James Grime, Steve Mould, Steve Humble, Rob Eastaway, and Colin Wright), interactive workshop sessions and popular exhibitions and stands that will include hands-on maths-focused displays. There is no charge for attending the downstairs activities and registration is not required.
The latest version of the downstairs programme of events is available here.
For photographs from the event please visit the Manchester University Maths Flickr page.
