Past Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures

Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures

MC Escher - Artist, Mathematician, Man 

Roger Penrose and Jon Chapman

This lecture has now sold out

The symbiosis between mathematics and art is personified by the relationship between Roger Penrose and the great Dutch graphic artist MC Escher. In this lecture Roger will give a personal perspective on Escher's work and his own relationship with the artist while Jon Chapman will demonstrate the mathematical imagination inherent in the work. 

The lecture will be preceded by a showing of the BBC 4 documentary on Escher presented by Sir Roger Penrose. Private Escher prints and artefacts will be on display outside the lecture theatre.

5pm

Lecture Theatre 1

Mathematical Institute

Andrew Wiles Building

Radcliffe Observatory Quarter

Woodstock Road

OX2 6GG

Roger Penrose is Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor at the Mathematical Institute in Oxford

Jon Chapman is Statutory Professor of Mathematics and Its Applications at the Mathematical Institute in Oxford

In 1995, celebrated Russian mathematician V.I. Arnold conjectured that, contrary to common belief, convex, homogeneous solids with just two static balance points ("weebles without a bottom weight") may exist. Ten years later, based on a constructive proof, the first such object, dubbed "Gömböc", was built. In the process leading to the discovery, several curious properties of the shape emerged and evidently some tropical turtles had evolved similar shells for the purpose of self-righting.

This Public Lecture will describe those properties as well as explain the journey of discovery, the mathematics behind the journey, the parallels with molecular biology and the latest Gömböc thinking, most notably Arnold's second major conjecture, namely that the Gömböc in Nature is not the origin, rather the ultimate goal of shape evolution.

Please email @email to register.

Artist Antoni Malinowski has been commissioned to produce a major wall painting in the foyer of the new Mathematical Institute in Oxford, the Andrew Wiles Building. To celebrate and introduce that work Antoni and a series of distinguished speakers will demonstrate the different impacts and perceptions of colour produced by the micro-structure of the pigments, from an explanation of the pigments themselves to an examination of how the brain perceives colour.

Speakers:

Jo Volley, Gary Woodley and Malina Busch, the Pigment Timeline Project, Slade School of Fine Art, University College London

‘Pigment Timeline’

Dr. Ruth Siddall - Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences, University College London

‘Pigments: microstructure and origins?’  

Antoni Malinowski

‘Spectrum Materialised’ 

Prof. Hannah Smithson Associate Professor, Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford and Tutorial Fellow, Pembroke College

‘Colour Perception‘

11.30am, Lecture Theatre 1

Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford

Andrew Wiles Building

Radcliffe Observatory Quarter

No booking required

Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures

Inaugural Titchmarsh Lecture

10.03.15

Cédric Villani

Birth of an Idea: A Mathematical Adventure 

What goes on inside the mind of a mathematician? Where does inspiration come from? Cédric Villani will describe how he encountered obstacles and setbacks, losses of faith and even brushes with madness as he wrestled with the theorem that culminated in him winning the most prestigious prize in mathematics, the Fields Medal. Cédric will sign copies of his book after the lecture.

5pm

Lecture Theatre 1, Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, OX2 6GG

Please email @email to register

Cedric Villani is a Professor at the University of Lyon and Director of the Institut Henri Poincaré

We are pleased to announce that Andrew Wiles will present the inaugural Oxford Mathematics Christmas Public Lecture. Please register by emailing @email

The entire history of mathematics in one hour, as illustrated by around 300 postage stamps featuring mathematics and mathematicians from across the world.

From Euclid to Euler, from Pythagoras to Poincaré, and from Fibonacci to the Fields Medals, all are featured in attractive, charming and sometimes bizarre stamps. No knowledge of mathematics or philately required.

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger is Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at the University of Oxford's Internet Institute. He is also a faculty affiliate of Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Together with Kenneth Cukier he is the co-author of the international bestseller Big Data.

Struggling for ideas at the weekends? Learn how to draw with colour and discover the creation of colour from our natural environment. Have a go at making your own natural paint colours. Create your own mini planet inspired by alchemy and the Radcliffe Observatory. Paint making demonstrations throughout the day with artist Nabil Al. All materials provided. Suitable for all ages from 6 to 60. Invite your friends.