I intermittently read a webcomic xkcd, which is mostly teccy and sometimes mathsy jokes. One from a couple of weeks ago stikes me as funny: “Math Paper“. Also, the last frame reminds me of a sign I saw attached to the side of the Department of Mathematics at Bristol. I took a picture of this,…
A purple door and more in Portsmouth
Last week I visited the Department of Mathematics at Portsmouth University (pictured above). I was invited to do so by Nira Chamberlain, who is studying part time for a PhD there. I met with staff in the Department and visited the Purple Door (pictured below), where the careers service is based. The Mathematics Department has…
Dinner with the East Midlands Branch
On Saturday night I attended the IMA East Midlands Branch dinner. This was in Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, just a couple of miles from where I live. By contrast, others had travelled from around the region to attend: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, one chap had travelled from Alford in Lincolnshire, which must be a good couple of hours…
Sunny, spring day in Oxford
Last week I visited the Mathematical Institute at Oxford (pictured above). Last year, before my employment, the IMA gave a grant to the student mathematical society, the Invariants. Recently the committee for this changed and the new committee will take the Invariants through for the next year so it was useful to visit and meet…
Cricketing at Trent Bridge
On Wednesday evening I attended a talk by Frank Duckworth on the Duckworth-Lewis method for helping decide the outcome of one day cricket matches where play is interrupted, which has now been used for over 10 years. This took place in the Long Room at Trent Bridge cricket ground. I am not particularly a follower…
An historic meeting
Woke with a rather large hangover in a hall of residence room, rushed late to a lecture theatre and listened to a chap give a talk I didn’t fully understand… this is certainly bringing back memories! I’m on the train now going home from Manchester having spent the last two days at the 50th British…
Missing stickers
I designed a sticker to go out with Mathematics Today April declaring “I’m a member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications – Are you?” Unfortunately, due to an error the sticker was not included as intended in Mathematics Today April but instead we will be sending it out next week with a note…