Event overview
A fun look at maths with Simon Singh, Chris French, Rob Eastaway and Helen Wilson.
This event is a pre-Congress event associated with the 16th European Skeptics Congress at Goldsmiths (11-13 September 2015) but it is open to both delegates and non-delegates. The programme for the afternoon is as follows:
Time: 14:30 – 15:00
Title: On Coincidences and the Paranormal
Speaker: Chris French
Biography: Chris French is a Professor of Psychology and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths. His latest book (with Anna Stone) is Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Belief and Experience.
Summary: Skeptics often dismiss paranormal claims, such as precognitive dreams, as being nothing more than coincidences. This talk assesses whether such an explanation is reasonable.
Time: 15:00 – 15:30
Title: From Homer’s Last Theorem to Cryptography
Speaker: Simon Singh
Biography: After completing a PhD in particle physics, Simon Singh joined the BBC Science Department as a producer and director. After directing a documentary about Fermat's Last Theorem, he wrote a book on the subject and has since written four more books. He has been interested in skepticism for several years and founded The Good Thinking Society, a UK-based charity that promotes good science and challenges pseudoscience.
Summary: Simon discusses his three mathematical books, namely Fermat's Last Theorem, The Code Book and The Simpsons & Their Mathematical Secrets.
Time: 15:40 – 16:10
Title: I Wasn’t Expecting That
Speaker: Rob Eastaway
Biography: Rob Eastaway is the author or co-author of twelve books, including the bestselling Why Do Buses Come in Threes? and Maths for Mums and Dads. He is the Director of Maths Inspiration, a national programme of theatre-based lecture shows that were attended by nearly 20,000 teenagers last year. He regularly appears on radio programmes such as More or Less and Today to discuss the maths of everyday life.
Summary: As humans we depend on our intuition to make many of our decisions. And most of the time it works. But when intuition doesn’t work it can go spectacularly wrong. Rob will give some of his favourite examples, and will discuss why mathematicians seem to so often delight in the counter-intuitive.
Time: 16:10 – 16:30
Title: The Mathematics of Chocolate
Speaker: Helen Wilson
Biography: Helen Wilson is an applied mathematician, and deputy head of UCL’s Maths department.
Summary: Helen’s research focuses on non-Newtonian fluids - fluids that don't follow the standard rules of air and water. Industrially, that often means molten plastic; today, it's chocolate.
Codes, Coincidences & Chocolate Fountains
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2015 | 2:30pm - 5:00pm |
Accessibility
If you are attending an event and need the College to help with any mobility requirements you may have, please contact the event organiser in advance to ensure we can accommodate your needs.
