The talks listed on this page are related to mathematics, science or the work of the Institute in some way.
They are provided for your convenience only, the Institute and the authors do not accept any responsibility for the contents.

Mathematics in Engineering

Jaguar Target Tracking

'101 uses of a quadratic equation'
Students, parents, politicians and some teachers often ask, what's the use of learning about abstract maths such as quadratic equations. In this talk I show that quadratic equations have played a pivotal role in the development of human civilisation and are vital to modern technology.

'How maths can make you rich and famous'
I'll show you how you can become rich and famous by cracking hard maths problems. These include learning how to organise the perfect party and how (or not) to predict the weather.

'A mathematical magic show'
So you thought that maths was boring and has no surprises or mystery. In this talk I will teach you a series of conjuring tricks, which all look great, but which teach you a lot of maths along the way. Prepare to be amazed.

'Dancing with mathematics'
Symmetry is all around us, and is the basis of much of our art and music. In this talk I'll introduce you to the maths of symmetry. We will then show how the same maths can be used to construct some dances. With the aid of music, the talk will evolve into a dancing session.

'Does nature really care about rational numbers'
Some numbers are integers, some are rational and some (like root 2) are irrational. Why are numbers different and why does it matter. In this talk I'll give a brief history of counting and show that such subjects as tuning a piano, washing your car and the future of the planet all rely on whether numbers are rational or not.

More talks for schools can be found in the book "Mathematics Galore"

News from The Millenium Maths Project - filmed lectures online (pilot)

Some of the past talks from our popular public and schools lecture series have been filmed by Cambridge University Science Productions and are now available to watch online. This is a pilot project and the CUSP video archive is still under construction: some users are still experiencing technical difficulties with some of the formats and few of our lectures are available yet - we hope to have these problems resolved and more material online later in the year.

Currently, however, you can watch the following two lectures, both of which are approximately an hour long:

'Mathematics, Magic, and the Electric Guitar'
Dr David Acheson (University of Oxford)
Why is the number 1089 so special? What is the connection between mathematics and the electric guitar? Can mathematics even explain the legendary Indian Rope Trick? These are some of the questions that David Acheson considered in an informal look at surprises in mathematics, given as a lecture for the MMP in May 2004. The lecture is accompanied by demonstrations and computer experiments. (Suggested age 14+).

'Chaos and Fractals: Predicting the Unpredictable'
Professor Michael Thompson
Mathematicians, working with physicists, biologists and engineers, have created a new science for the complexities of nature. Chaos Theory shows that systems obeying precise deterministic laws can act in unpredictable ways. By pointing to hidden laws, it can uncover order where formerly only erratic behaviour had been observed. Chaos cuts across traditional scientific disciplines, unifying the turbulent flow of fluids, irregularities of the heartbeat and the swirls of desert dunes. Its new kind of mathematics explains the butterfly effect that bedevils accurate weather forecasting, reversals of the Earth's magnetic field, gaps in the asteroid belt, growth of insect populations, oscillations of electronic circuits, capsize of ships, and the efficient manoeuvering of space-craft.
This talk, which covered a great deal of ground, used pictures, demonstrations and videos to give a whistlestop tour of chaos theory at work. (Level: General Public, suggested age range 17/18+).

We would be interested in feedback about the utility or appeal of these lectures, and any suggestions for improvements - please email mmp@maths.cam.ac.uk.
For any TECHNICAL QUERIES or to report FAULTS please contact info@sciencemedianetwork.com including a link to the page where the problem was found.