About this day
Welcome to our Maths in Action day!
We are excited to provide your students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts and explore new mathematics areas to enhance their classroom studies. During this enrichment day pupils will participate in a variety of interactive sessions that will challenge and inspire them. Our experienced speakers will guide your students through a range of topics, from advanced calculus to mathematical modelling, and will provide students with opportunities to collaborate with their peers to solve problems and explore new ideas.
In addition to the interactive sessions, we will hold an exam masterclass session tailored explicitly for A-Level Maths students. This session will provide students with strategies and tips for approaching and solving problems commonly found on A-Level Maths exams.
We are confident your students will enjoy the day and leave with a renewed appreciation for the beauty and power of mathematics!
Host: Sophie Maclean (Mathematician & Communicator)
“Excellent demonstration of the breadth and depth of application of maths. Really useful and pitched at the right level. Very positive response from our students”
Maths Teacher, March 2023
Programme & speakers
Fermat's Last Theorem Simon Singh, Science Writer
Fermat’s Last Theorem is the most notorious problem in the history of mathematics. It evaded all efforts to find a proof for over three centuries, until Professor Andrew Wiles worked in secrecy for seven years to crack the mystery. As well as recounting the epic tale of Fermat’s Last Theorem, Simon will also explore the nature of proof in maths.
About Simon Singh
After a PhD in particle physics, Simon joined BBC TV, working on Tomorrow’s World & Horizon. His BAFTA-winning documentary on Fermat’s Last Theorem led to a No.1 bestselling book. Simon has written four other books, presented radio & TV programs, and created a math website (parallel.org.uk).
Maths in a Twist Colin Wright, Mathematician and Juggler
Many students are introduced at some point to the Moebius Strip, but this talk goes further to explore other possible twists and turns, looking to find structure and patterns, and asking how we can make sense of it all.
About Dr Colin Wright
Colin received his maths doctorate in 1990 from Cambridge University. While at Cambridge he also learned how to fire-breathe, unicycle, juggle and ballroom dance.
The N Most Important Symbols in Mathematics Katie Steckles, Mathematician and Communicator
Join mathematician Katie Steckles on a journey through the huge array of beautiful symbols and notation we use to communicate mathematical ideas. Learn about the history of some familiar characters, and find out how truly ingenious notation can be – helping us to communicate and understand complex and abstract structures, and even driving new mathematical discoveries. Bring a pen and paper if you want to join in!
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.
Mathemusic Sophie Maclean, Mathematician and Communicator
The links between music and maths have been studied for millennia. Even Brian May has a maths degree! Both maths and music possess their own beauty, but together become something quite magical. In this exciting and interactive talk, Sophie explores the connections between the two. Bring your best singing voices!
About Sophie Maclean
Sophie is a Maths Communicator and a member of the team behind Chalkdust Magazine. She has previously worked as a Quantitative Trader, a Software Engineer, and a Maths tutor.
Risk and Reward Alison Kiddle, Maths Communicator
When we make decisions, we weigh up risks against potential rewards, but humans are notoriously bad at estimating how likely events are. Join Alison to discover how probability and statistics help us find certainty in an unpredictable world.
About Alison Kiddle
Alison is a mathematician and educator from the East of England. As well as travelling round the UK and abroad to talk about maths, Alison designs puzzles, writes about maths, and creates mathematical art and craft.