A conversation about the mathematics of chemistry inspired by a pencil, plus a chat about approximation. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.
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A conversation about the mathematics of chemistry inspired by a pencil, plus a chat about approximation. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS | List of episodes
There’s no Nobel Prize for Mathematics
This is a common statement. I’ve certainly used it myself. Recently it occurred to me to be annoyed with this.
Nobel Prizes are awarded in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economics, but not mathematics.
On the other hand, mathematics is widely applicable and I think I could convince you it is certainly used in physics (career), chemistry (career), biology (career), medicine (career) and economics (career). (Links to the excellent Plus Magazine and Maths Careers.) The case for literature and peace might be a bit harder to sell. But even without these two we still have a majority.
So perhaps from now on I will try to remember to say:
Most of the Nobel Prizes are for Mathematics1
[1. there is a fallacy here: for example, saying that some mathematics can be applied to economics does not mean that all economics involves mathematics. But, shh!]