About this day
For A-level, IB, BTEC Level 3 and T Level maths students
Join us for the ultimate A-level maths enrichment day! Maths in Action brings an exciting day of interactive learning for students! Through engaging sessions led by top academics, industry leaders, and expert communicators, students will discover the power of maths beyond the classroom—from pure maths to real-world applications.
A special Exam Success session will provide students with expert strategies to boost confidence and exam performance. With live polls, quizzes, and plenty of opportunities to engage with speakers, this is maths like never before.
Host: Matt Pritchard (STEM Communicator) Exam Session: Nicole Cozens
“A great day! Kept the students attention, without trivialising the content!”
– Tiffin School –
One more speaker for this exciting event will be announced soon!
Programme & speakers
Pokémaths – the maths behind the video game Tom Crawford, University of Oxford
How many Pikachu’s does it take to power a lightbulb? How much does a Charizard eat? And why does the world of Pokémon seem to ignore the basic laws of physics? Dr Tom Crawford looks at the maths one of the world’s favourite video games.
About Dr Tom Crawford
Dr Tom Crawford, a mathematician at the University of Oxford, shares his love for maths through tomrocksmaths.com, showcasing favourite equations on Numberphile, and sporting maths tattoos (14 and counting).
Can maths help to save the polar regions? Sammie Buzzard, Northumbria University, Assistant Professor in Polar Observation and Modelling
In this session Dr Sammie Buzzard will show some of the applications of maths for investigating how our polar regions are being impacted by climate change. This includes using numerical simulations, satellites and even trying to do integration in a tent in Greenland!
About Dr Sammie Buzzard
Dr Sammie Buzzard is a glaciologist and climate scientist who uses maths to investigate how our polar regions are changing and what this might mean for the future. This has taken her to some unexpected places, including the Arctic.
Machine learning with a pile of matchboxes Matthew Scroggs, University College London
Back in the 1960s, computer pioneer Donald Michie created something extraordinary: MENACE, a “machine” made entirely of matchboxes that could learn to play noughts and crosses. In this talk, we’ll challenge a modern replica of MENACE—built by Matthew—to a live game and watch as it learns, adapts, and tries to outsmart us one move at a time.
About Matthew Scroggs
When not working Matthew writes puzzles and articles for Chalkdust Magazine, including the infamous crossnumber, and reads Martin Gardner books.
Fractals: Journey to the 2.7th Dimension Katie Steckles, Mathematician and Communicator
Fractals are never-ending intricate mathematical patterns. Katie Steckles shows the beauty of fractals, exploring these intriguing structures and explaining why she finds them so fascinating. From constructing simple fractal shapes to running a worldwide fractal-building project, Katie demonstrates why fractals captured her mathematical imagination and why she finds magnificence in their infinity.
About Dr Katie Steckles
Katie is a mathematician based in Manchester, who talks about mathematics at universities, schools events, festivals, on BBC radio and TV, in books and on the internet.
Maths of Crowd Flow Aoife Hunt, Professor of Crowd Safety and Security Science, University of Greenwich
Professor Aoife Hunt MBE has worked with the biggest venues in the world – from major festivals to sell-out football matches. She will share her insight into how maths can be applied to manage crowd flow, and the use of cutting-edge simulation models to predict crowd behaviour.
About Professor Aoife Hunt
Aoife is a leading specialist in crowd dynamics. She works with some of the biggest stadiums and events in the world, using mathematical methods to make sure that crowds are safe and secure.