Mathematics Masterclasses
Our Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses, jointly organised with Napier University and Heriot-Watt University, are interactive and hands-on super-curricular classes designed to stimulate and encourage young people in the art and practice of mathematics.
Masterclasses are designed to stretch and inspire keen and talented pupils from all over Scotland, allowing them to broaden their mathematical knowledge and develop a sense of enjoyment in the subject. Classes are led by top experts from academia and industry, and cover a broad range of mathematical topics.
The Edinburgh Mathematics Masterclasses series runs in the spring term, starting in February. On six Saturday mornings, a different speaker will be invited to share their favourite part of mathematics, which could be an interesting game they've played, an aspect of their cutting-edge research, a magic trick, or an unexpected connection between maths and another subject. Classes are never just a dry lecture, but are highly interactive and a great opportunity for pupils to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Schools from across Scotland are invited to nominate up to five S2 pupils to take part in the series; this year we will accept around 300 pupils, from a mix of state and private schools. Parents cannot nominate their child directly, but are encouraged to speak to their child's teacher if they are interested. Pupils are selected based on their enthusiasm for mathematics and their work ethic rather than purely on their mathematical ability. You can find out more about Royal Institution Masterclasses here.
If you are a school teacher and you are interested in nominating your pupils to take part in the program, please contact Will Reynolds (will.reynolds@ed.ac.uk). He will send you relevant information.
The Edinburgh & Lothians Mathematics Masterclasses are supported by the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, Heriot-Watt University and the Royal Institution. If you are interested in offering us financial support for future years then we would be glad to hear from you!
Programme
2024 Programme
The 2024 programme dates are announced below, with abstracts and speakers coming soon.
27 January
10:00 - 11:30
Online via Zoom
Samantha Durbin
Cipher Challenge
We’ll start off our Masterclass series by exploring some classic codebreaking, culminating in a cipher challenge escape room. You’ll need a pen and some paper, and should be able to open multiple tabs on a web browser alongside the Zoom window.
3 February
10:00 - 11:30
Online via Zoom
Kevin Hughes
Gems from Greek Antiquity
We will discuss some ancient mathematics focusing on Geometry. There were many important contributions around the world by the time of ancient Greece. These were recorded and expanded in Euclid's Elements which, for many reasons, has had a lasting legacy through to modern mathematics.
10 February
10:00 - 11:30
Online via Zoom
Heather Yorston
Always, Sometimes or Never: an Introduction to Proof
How do we know some things are true in all cases? This interactive workshop looks at how to assess some statements and is an introduction to proof. Some algebraic thinking will be introduced at an appropriate level emerging from basic concepts of numbers.
2 March
10:00 - 12:20
Heriot-Watt University
Alec Cooper
When is a knot not a knot?
How do you know if a loop of string is really knotted, or not? In fact, the mathematical theory of knots is a part of topology and is hundreds of years old. In this workshop we will explore links, braids, and knots in mathematics, science, art, and everyday life.
9 March
10:00 - 12:20
Edinburgh Napier University
Vladimir Bratov
Chaos: The Mathematics of Order and Disorder
We use mathematics to describe nature; that is, life and the processes we see around us. Can we mathematically describe and predict evolution of any process that we see? Is the future always determined by the present? We will try to see how beautiful nature can be and discuss that this beauty is often (if not always) the result of how lazy nature is. We will talk about celestial mechanics and try to understand what a fractal is.
16 March
10:00 - 12:20
University of Edinburgh
Minhyong Kim
Understanding Sound (Mathematically)
What is it to hear sound? What is sound made out of? What kind of sound is musical? What is harmony? We will investigate these questions, perform some strange experiments, build up new sounds out of old, and take sound apart into pieces.