Maths outreach
I believe that mathematics is a beautiful and fascinating subject, and I hope to be able to inspire others to feel the same way. In particular, I try to convince people that maths is so much more than numbers and mental arithmetic, and that even the most esoteric parts of the subject can be useful in the modern world.
I am proud to have been nominated twice for the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Beltane Innovators Prize for Public Engagement, and in 2010 I was part of a team which won the competition The ex Factor at the "How to talk maths in public" conference.
Here is a list of projects I regularly get involved with. If you would like more details of any of my talks or projects, or if you would like me to come and give a talk at your school or university, please send me an email!
- I give popular mathematics lectures on a variety of topics and for a variety of audiences. Take a look at my Talks and Workshops page for more details, and to see upcoming talks I am giving.
- For three years now I have designed maths exhibits for the University of Edinburgh's contribution to the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Last year's topic was CSI: Museum where we examined the statistics and probability needed in a courtroom.
- I organise the Edinburgh & Lothians masterclass series for S2 pupils, which runs every autumn for bright pupils in the local area.
- I am half of an art/science collaboration together with Madeleine Shepherd. Recently we turned a collection of shirts into a series of sculptures which embodied mathematical principles. Have a look at our blog for more information!
- I help to organise the MathsJam in Edinburgh; that is, a place for people to meet once a month to share interesting mathsy puzzles, problems, anecdotes or objects. We meet on the second-to-last Tuesday of each month at Spoon Cafe/Bistro: see the Facebook page or email me for more details.
- I can organise postgraduate training events based on communication skills. In February 2011 I organised a postgraduate engagement conference entitled Engaging with Engagement (EwE) for postgraduates across Scotland to learn different techniques of engaging the public with mathematics. As guest speakers and mentors we had Matt Parker, Rob Eastaway, Pippa Goldschmidt, EUSci and Vidiowiki.
- I teach a self-designed University of Edinburgh Open Studies course for adults entitled Mathematical Ideas that Shaped the World. Check out the 'maths picnic' photos on the course website!
- I am a Science and Engineering Ambassador!
Haggis the sheep
My sheep Haggis helps me in my outreach and writes a blog about his activities, which can be found at Knot Your Average Sheep. You can also follow him on Twitter as haggismaths.
What's on my blackboard?
Haggis and I have started a new photo-blog called What's on my blackboard?, which aims to capture the beauty and wonder of mathematics through the blackboards of its practitioners. Please send us photos of your black (or white!) boards!