Forthcoming events in this series


Fri, 04 Mar 2022

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Preparing for Prelims and Part A exams

Further Information

Preparing for Prelims and Part A exams

This session will offer guidance for Prelims and Part A students preparing for closed-book, in-person exams this summer, with tips on revision and information about practical arrangements. If you have questions, please send them in advance (by 28 February) via https://vevox.app/#/m/170975861 and we'll try to address as many as possible during the session.

A separate session in Week 6 will be aimed at students doing Part B, Part C and MSc exams.

Abstract

Preparing for Prelims and Part A exams with Dr Vicky Neale

Description: This session will offer guidance for Prelims and Part A students preparing for closed-book, in-person exams this summer, with tips on revision and information about practical arrangements. If you have questions, please send them in advance (by 28 February) via https://vevox.app/#/m/170975861 and we'll try to address as many as possible during the session.

A separate session in Week 6 will be aimed at students doing Part B, Part C and MSc exams.

Fri, 25 Feb 2022

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Preparing for exams with A4 summary sheets

Dr Vicky Neale
Further Information

This session will offer some tips on preparing the A4 summary sheets permitted for Part B, Part C and MSc exams this summer. It will also include wider advice about preparing for and sitting in-person exams. If you have questions, please do send them in advance (by 21 February) via https://vevox.app/#/m/174169279 and we'll try to address as many as possible during the session.

This session is aimed at Part B, Part C and MSc students sitting exams this summer. A separate session in Week 7 will be aimed at Prelims and Part A students.

Fri, 26 Nov 2021

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Dissertation: presenting a thesis

Dr Richard Earl
Abstract

This session is particularly aimed at fourth-year and OMMS students who are completing a dissertation this year. The talk will be given by Dr Richard Earl who chairs Projects Committee. For many of you this will be the first time you have written such an extended piece on mathematics. The talk will include advice on planning a timetable, managing the  workload, presenting mathematics, structuring the dissertation and creating a narrative, providing references and avoiding plagiarism.

Fri, 29 Oct 2021

14:00 - 15:00
South Mezz Circulation
Fri, 22 Oct 2021

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Making the most of intercollegiate classes

Dr Richard Earl, Dr Neil Laws, and Dr Vicky Neale
Abstract

What should you expect in intercollegiate classes?  What can you do to get the most out of them?  In this session, experienced class tutors will share their thoughts, including advice about online classes. 

All undergraduate and masters students welcome, especially Part B and MSc students attending intercollegiate classes. 

Fri, 15 Oct 2021

14:00 - 15:00
L1

What makes a good solution?

Dr Vicky Neale
Abstract

We'll discuss what mathematicians are looking for in written solutions.  How can you set out your ideas clearly, and what are the standard mathematical conventions?

This session is likely to be most relevant for first-year undergraduates, but all are welcome.

Fri, 19 Feb 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Telling a mathematical story

Dr Vicky Neale
Abstract

Mathematicians need to talk and write about their mathematics.  This includes undergraduates and MSc students, who might be writing a dissertation or project report, preparing a presentation on a summer research project, or preparing for a job interview.  It can be helpful to think of this as a form of storytelling, as this can lead to more effective communication.  For a story to be engaging you also need to know your audience.  In this interactive session, we'll discuss what we mean by telling a mathematical story, give you some top tips from our experience, and give you a chance to think about how you might put this into practice.

Fri, 27 Nov 2020

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Dissertation: presenting a thesis

Dr Richard Earl and Dr Neil Laws
Abstract

This session is particularly aimed at fourth-year and OMMS students who are completing a dissertation this year. The talk will be given by Dr Richard Earl who chairs Projects Committee. For many of you this will be the first time you have written such an extended piece on mathematics. The talk will include advice on planning a timetable, managing the workload, presenting mathematics, structuring the dissertation and creating a narrative, providing references and avoiding plagiarism.

Fri, 13 Nov 2020

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

What's it like to do a DPhil/research?

Various
Abstract

The session will be a panel discussion addressing practical aspects of doing a research degree. We will take questions from the audience so will discuss whatever people wish to ask us, but we expect to talk about the process of applying, why you might want to consider doing a research degree, the experience of doing research, and what people do after they have completed their degree.

Fri, 23 Oct 2020

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Making the most of intercollegiate classes

Dr Richard Earl, Dr Neil Laws and Dr Vicky Neale
Abstract

What should you expect in intercollegiate classes?  What can you do to get the most out of them?  In this session, experienced class tutors will share their thoughts, including advice about hybrid and online classes. 

All undergraduate and masters students welcome, especially Part B and MSc students attending intercollegiate classes. (Students who attended the Part C/OMMS induction event will find significant overlap between the advice offered there and this session!)

Fri, 16 Oct 2020

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

What makes a good maths solution?

Dr Vicky Neale
Abstract

In this interactive workshop, we'll discuss what mathematicians are looking for in written solutions.  How can you set out your ideas clearly, and what are the standard mathematical conventions?

This session is likely to be most relevant for first-year undergraduates, but all are welcome.

Fri, 13 Mar 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

The Big Mathematical Quiz of the Year

Dr Richard Earl
Abstract

Fancy a fun afternoon on the final Friday afternoon of term? Then come along, either by yourself or pre-organised teams of up to four, to this week’s Fridays@2 for the first ever Big Mathematical Quiz of the Year!

Fri, 06 Mar 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Communicating Mathematics to Non-Specialists

James Munro and Mareli Grady
Abstract

Have you ever had to explain mathematics to someone who isn’t a mathematician? Maybe you’ve been cornered at a family gathering by an interested relative. Maybe you’d like to explain to a potential employer what you’ve been doing for the last three years. Maybe you’ve agreed to explain vector calculus to a room of 13-year-olds. We’ve all been there. This session will cover some top tips for talking about maths in a way that makes sense to non-mathematicians, with specific examples from the outreach team.

Fri, 21 Feb 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Telling a mathematical story

Dr Vicky Neale and Dr Richard Earl
Abstract

Mathematicians need to talk and write about their mathematics.  This includes undergraduates and MSc students, who may be writing a dissertation or project report, preparing a presentation on a summer research project, or preparing for a job interview.  We think that it can be helpful to think of this as a form of storytelling, as this can lead to more effective communication.  For a story to be engaging you also need to know your audience.  In this session, we'll discuss what we mean by telling a mathematical story, give you some top tips from our experience, and give you a chance to think about how you might put this into practice.

Fri, 14 Feb 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Studying Independently - "Self-explanation training"

Dr Vicky Neale
Abstract

When your lecturers say that they expect you to study your notes between lectures, what do they really mean?  There is research on how mathematicians go about reading maths effectively.  We'll look at a technique (self-explanation training) that has been shown to improve students' comprehension of proofs, and in this interactive workshop we'll practise together on some examples.  Please bring a pen/pencil and paper!

Fri, 07 Feb 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Mathematics: the past, present and future - "Patterns in the primes"

Prof James Maynard
Abstract

Prime numbers have been looked at for centuries, but some of the most basic questions about them are still major unsolved problems. These problems began as idle curiosities, but have grown to become hugely important not only in pure mathematics, but also have many applications to the real world. I'll talk about some of these quests to find patterns in the sequence of prime numbers.

Fri, 31 Jan 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Applying a mathematician's mindset beyond mathematics

Dr Owen Cotton-Barratt
Abstract

Mathematics has provided us with several extremely useful tools to apply in the world beyond mathematics.  But it also provides us with mathematicians -- individuals who have trained habits of careful thinking in domains where that is the only way to make progress. This talk will explore some other domains -- such as saying sensible things about the long-term future, or how to identify good actions in the world -- where this style of thinking seems particularly desirable as progress can otherwise be elusive or illusory.  It will also consider how a mathematician's curiosity can help to identify important questions.

Fri, 24 Jan 2020

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Managing Workload - "Orchestrating learning opportunities"

Nick Andrews
Abstract

Taught courses offer a range of distinctive learning opportunities from lectures to tutorials/supervisions through to individual study. Orchestration refers to the combining and sequencing of these opportunities for maximum effect. This raises a question about who does the orchestration. In school, there is a good case for suggesting that it is teachers who take responsibility for orchestration of students’ learning opportunities. Moving to university, do students take on more responsibility for orchestration?

In this session there will be a chance to look back on the learning opportunities you experienced last term and to reflect on how (or even if) they were orchestrated. What could be different in the term ahead if you pay more attention to how distinctive learning opportunities are orchestrated?

Fri, 06 Dec 2019

14:00 - 15:00
South Mezz Circulation

Working together: end-of-term mathematical board games

Abstract

Would you like to meet some of your fellow students, and some graduate students and postdocs, in an informal and relaxed atmosphere, while building your communication skills?  In this Friday@2 session, you'll be able to play a selection of board games, meet new people, and practise working together.  What better way to spend the final Friday afternoon of term?!  We'll play the games in the south Mezzanine area of the Andrew Wiles Building, outside L3.

Fri, 29 Nov 2019

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Dissertation: presenting a thesis

Dr Richard Earl and Dr Neil Laws
Abstract

This session is particularly aimed at fourth-year and OMMS students who are completing a dissertation this year. The talk will be given by Dr Richard Earl who chairs Projects Committee. For many of you this will be the first time you have written such an extended piece on mathematics. The talk will include advice on planning a timetable, managing the  workload, presenting mathematics, structuring the dissertation and creating a narrative, providing references and avoiding plagiarism.

Fri, 22 Nov 2019

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Mathematics: the past, present and future - “Infecting by Numbers”

Prof. Christl Donnelly
Abstract

Outbreaks and epidemics from Ebola to influenza and measles are often in the news. Statistical analysis and modelling are frequently used to understand the transmission dynamics of epidemics as well as to inform and evaluate control measures, with real-time analysis being the most challenging but potentially most impactful. Examples will be drawn from diseases affecting both humans and animals.

Fri, 15 Nov 2019

14:00 - 15:00
L1

What's it like to do a DPhil/research?

Abstract

This week's Fridays@2 will be a panel discussion focusing on what it is like to pursue a research degree. The panel will share their thoughts and experiences in a question-and-answer session, discussing some of the practicalities of being a postgraduate student, and where a research degree might lead afterwards. Participants include:

Jono Chetwynd-Diggle (Smith Institute)

Victoria Patel (PDE CDT, Mathematical Institute)

Robin Thompson (Christ Church)

Rosemary Walmsley (DPhil student Health Economics Research Centre, Oxford) 

Fri, 08 Nov 2019

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Banish imposter feelings (and trust you belong!)

Maureen Freed and Ben Walker
Abstract

How can it be that so many clever, competent and capable people can feel that they are just one step away from being exposed as a complete fraud? Despite evidence that they are performing well they can still have that lurking fear that at any moment someone is going to tap them on the shoulder and say "We need to have a chat". If you've ever felt like this, or you feel like this right now, then this Friday@2 session might be of interest to you. We'll explore what "Imposter Feelings" are, why we get them and steps you can start to take to help yourself and others. This event is likely to be of interest to undergraduates and MSc students at all stages. 

Fri, 01 Nov 2019

14:00 - 15:00
L1

Where does collaborating end and plagiarising begin?

Dr Chris Hollings
Abstract

Despite the stereotype of the lone genius working by themselves, most professional mathematicians collaborate with others.  But when you're learning maths as a student, is it OK to work with other people, or is that cheating?  And if you're not used to collaborating with others, then you might feel shy about discussing your ideas when you're not confident about them.  In this session, we'll explore ways in which you can get the most out of collaborations with your fellow students, whilst avoiding inadvertently passing off other people's work as your own.  This session will be suitable for undergraduate and MSc students at any stage of their degree who would like to increase their confidence in collaboration.  Please bring a pen or pencil!