Cambridge Science Festival 2014 - maths highlights
The 20th annual University of Cambridge Science Festival takes place from 10-21 March 2014, with more than 250 events for all ages. You can browse the full programme on the Cambridge Science Festival web pages, but we've also picked out some of the Festival's mathematical highlights for you below. From animal patterns to string theory, prime numbers to the Simpsons, the free public talks on offer cover a huge range of mathematical topics. And don't forget to join us at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences for our Hands-On Maths Fair on Saturday 22 March, with games, activities and problem-solving challenges encouraging creative mathematical thinking, exploration and strategic reasoning. We look forward to seeing you there! Please note: the events below take place in a number of different locations. Please click on the further information link in each case to check the venue details.
Tuesday 11 March, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Thursday 13 March, 5.00pm - 6.00pm
Thursday 13 March, 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Saturday 22 March, 12noon - 1pm
Saturday 22 March, 3pm - 4pm
Tuesday 11 March
Tuesday 11 March, 2.30pm - 4pmThinking Mathematically
Join Charlie Gilderdale to work on some of his favourite mathematical problems from the NRICH collection, and discover that everyone can think mathematically. Come prepared to explore, discuss, conjecture, question, explain and generalise! Interactive talk/workshop for schools. Ages 14-15. Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online.Tuesday 11 March, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Combinatorics: the Mathematics that Counts
Join Professor Robin Wilson as he discusses combinatorial mathematics. Included under its wide umbrella are permutations and combinations, graphs and networks, certain geometrical problems, and Sudoku puzzles. Talk. Ages 12+. Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online. [FULLY BOOKED]Thursday 13 March
Thursday 13 March, 2.30pm - 4pmConvincing Yourself, Convincing Others
Do you enjoy thought-provoking questions? Can you develop convincing arguments? Join Charlie Gilderdale from the NRICH project to work on some of his favourite mathematical problems that will challenge you to notice patterns, develop convincing arguments and refine your powers of persuasion. Interactive talk/workshop for schools. Ages 11-13. Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online.Thursday 13 March, 5.00pm - 6.00pm
The Pointless Universe
Modern physics raises questions concerning phenomena on widely different distance scales. From the evolution of the whole Universe to microscopic properties of sub-nuclear particles, Professor Michael Green presents a historical survey of the evolution of theoretical approaches to understanding such problems. He will also discuss recent ideas from String Theory that have the potential for unifying areas of physics that have previously appeared to be only remotely connected. Talk. Ages 15+. Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online.Thursday 13 March, 7.30pm - 8.30pm
What a Coincidence!
Many of us experience bizarre coincidences, whether it's finding an unexpected connection to someone we meet, or bumping into a friend in an odd location. But why do they happen, and why do we take some much notice of them? Professor David Spiegelhalter will be mining his database of coincidences to show what we consider surprising, and then show how we can use the theory of probability to check how surprising some of these stories really are. Talk. Ages 12+. Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online.Sunday 16 March
Sunday 16 March, 1pm - 2pmThe Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets
Simon Singh (author of Fermat’s Last Theorem) will talk about his new book, which reveals how a team of mathematically gifted writers have covered everything from calculus to geometry, from pi to game theory, and from infinitesimals to infinity in various episodes of The Simpsons. Talk. Ages 8+. Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online. [FULLY BOOKED]Monday 17 March
Monday 17 March, 6pm - 7pmOur Universe and Others
We are the outcome of a process taking nearly 14 billion years during which atoms, stars, planets and biospheres emerged from a hot dense 'big bang'. The details of this process are sensitive to a few important numbers -- the so-called 'constants' of physics. In this illustrated lecture Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, will discuss the key stages in this process, and then address two questions: What would our cosmos be like if the key numbers were different? And could a huge variety of other 'universes' exist as part of physical reality, each the aftermath of a different 'big bang'? Talk. Adults (ages 16+). Pre-booking essential - see more information and book online.Saturday 22 March
Saturday 22 March, 11.30am - 4pmHands-On Maths Fair
Hands-on mathematical activities for all ages from 5 to adult. Famously, G.H Hardy described mathematicians, like poets and painters, as makers of patterns, and mathematics as a creative art. Find out what patterns you can discover, and explore your creative thinking and critical reasoning, with hands-on activities, games and problem-solving challenges for all ages from 5 to adult. From prime number hopscotch to origami, it's maths, but not as you may know it! Hands-on event - drop in throughout the day. All ages from 5 to adult. No booking needed - see more information.Saturday 22 March, 12noon - 1pm
Seven Things You Need to Know About Prime Numbers
Prime numbers are fundamentally important in mathematics. Join Dr Vicky Neale to discover some of the beautiful properties of prime numbers, and learn about some of the unsolved problems that mathematicians are working on today. Talk. Ages 15+. No booking needed - see more information.Saturday 22 March, 3pm - 4pm
