The Secrets of Mathematics

Oxford University

A series of talks and lectures from Oxford Mathematicians exploring the power and beauty of their subject. These talks would appeal to anyone interested in mathematics and its ever-growing range of applications from medicine to economics and beyond.

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24 episodes
Updated Dec 13, 2017

Episodes24

Newest first

Dec 13, 2017 · 48 min
Can Yule Solve My Problems? - Alex Bellos
In our Oxford Mathematics Christmas Lecture Alex Bellos challenges you with some festive brainteasers as he tells the story of mathematical puzzles from the middle ages to modern day. Alex is the Guardian’s puzzle blogger as well as the author of several works of popular maths, including Puzzle Ninja, Can You Solve My Problems? and Alex’s Adventures in Numberland.
Oct 31, 2016 · 1 hr 2 min
Autism and Minds Wired for Science
Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, Cambridge, and Director of the Autism Research Centre, gives the 2016 Charles Simonyi Lecture on new research into autism.
Oct 19, 2016 · 1 hr 7 min
As he retires from the the Savilian Chair of Geometry, Oxford Mathematician Nigel Hitchin reflects
From early mathematical inspiration at school in Duffield, Derbyshire, Nigel recalls his often unplanned progress via Jesus College, Oxford, Princeton, Cambridge and Warwick, before his final return to Oxford. Along the way such luminaries as Michael Atiyah and Simon Donaldson play their part as Nigel talks about time spent with physicists in Cambridge, the Eureka moments when the answers take shape, to his final reflections on a career where the name Hitchin is attached to so many of the tools of modern geometry and which culminated in the award of the 2016 Shaw Prize.
Oct 19, 2016 · 1 hr 1 min
Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe - Roger Penrose
What can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, scientists are immune to trends, dogmatic beliefs, or flights of fancy? In this lecture, based on his new book, Roger will argue that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential, may be leading today's researchers astray, most notably in three of science's most important areas - string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. Yet Roger will also describe how fashion, faith, and fantasy have, ironically, also been invaluable in shaping his own work.
Sep 17, 2016 · 37 min
Roger Heath-Brown a Life in Mathematics
Roger Heath-Brown is one of Oxford's foremost mathematicians. In this interview with fellow Oxford Mathematician Ben Green, Roger reflects on his influences, his achievements and the pleasures that the subject of mathematics has given him. Roger Heath-Brown's work in analytic number theory has been critical to the advances in the subject over the past thirty years and garnered Roger many prizes. On the eve of his retirement Roger spoke to Ben Green, Waynflete Professor of Mathematics in Oxford and himself a leading figure in the field of number theory.
Jul 6, 2016 · 53 min
Modelling genes: the backwards and forwards of mathematical population genetics - Alison Etheridge
In this lecture Professor Alison Etheridge explores some of the simple mathematical caricatures that underpin our understanding of modern genetic data. How can we explain the patterns of genetic variation in the world around us? The genetic composition of a population can be changed by natural selection, mutation, mating, and other genetic, ecological and evolutionary mechanisms. How do they interact with one another, and what was their relative importance in shaping the patterns we see today?
Jun 15, 2016 · 38 min
The Prime Number Theorem
Oxford Students discuss the Prime Number Theorem. Prime numbers have fascinated mathematicians since there were mathematicians to be fascinated, and The Prime Number Theorem is one of the crowning achievements of 19th century mathematics. The theorem answers, in a precise form, a very basic and naive-sounding question: how many prime numbers are there? Proved in 1896, the theorem marked the culmination of a century of mathematical progress, and is also at the heart of one of the biggest unsolved problems in mathematics today. Host: Aled Walker, 2nd year DPhil, Mathematics, Magdalen College Guests: Simon Myerson, 4th year DPhil, Mathematics, Oriel College: Sofia Lindqvist, 1st year DPhil, Mathematics, Keble College, Jamie Beacom, 1st year DPhil, Mathematics, Balliol College.
May 16, 2016 · 55 min
What We Cannot Know - Marcus du Sautoy
Science is giving us unprecedented insight into the big questions that have challenged humanity. Where did we come from? What is the ultimate destiny of the universe? What are the building blocks of the physical world? What is consciousness? 'What We Cannot Know' asks us to rein in this unbridled enthusiasm for the power of science. Are there limits to what we can discover about our physical universe? Are some regions of the future beyond the predictive powers of science and mathematics? Are there ideas so complex that they are beyond the conception of our finite human brains? Can brains even investigate themselves or does the analysis enter an infinite loop from which it is impossible to rescue itself? To coincide with the launch of his new book of the same title, Marcus du Sautoy will be answering (or not answering) those questions
Dec 18, 2015 · 57 min
The Travelling Santa Problem and Other Seasonal Challenges - Marcus du Sautoy
The Oxford Mathematics Christmas Public Lecture 2015 examined an aspect of Christmas not often considered: the mathematics. Delivered by Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science. The Oxford Mathematics Christmas Lecture is generously sponsored by G-Research - Researching investment ideas to predict financial markets.
Dec 7, 2015 · 1 hr 1 min
Symmetry, Spaces and Undecidability - Martin Bridson
The understanding of the possible geometries in dimension 3 is one of the triumphs of 20th century mathematics. In this talk Martin Bridson explains why such an understanding is impossible in higher dimensions. When one wants to describe the symmetries of any object or system, in mathematics or everyday life, the right language to use is group theory. How might one go about understanding the universe of all groups and what kinds of novel geometry might emerge as we explore this universe? Martin Bridson became Head of the Mathematical Institute on 01 October 2015. To mark the occasion he gave this Inaugural Chairman's Public Lecture.
Nov 16, 2015 · 51 min
Putting the Higgs Boson in its Place
Professor Melissa Franklin talks about her experiences working towards the discovery of the Higgs Boson and her work today at the Large Hadron Collider This entertaining lecture by experimental particle physicist, Professor Melissa Franklin (the first woman to achieve tenure in the Harvard Physics Department), is the latest in the Charles Simonyi annual lecture series. This series was set up in 1999 in order to promote the public understanding of Science
Oct 28, 2015 · 1 hr 11 min
M. C. Escher - Artist, Mathematician, Man
M.C. Escher is known as the mathematician's (and hippie's) favourite artist. But why? And was Escher, a man who claimed he knew no mathematics, really a mathematical genius? In this lecture Roger Penrose and Jon Chapman not only show why Escher has won the artistic and mathematical hearts of mathematicians, but also why his art is inspiring both artists and mathematicians today, as captured in Jon's brilliant updating of Escher's 'Picture Gallery' to the new mathematics building in Oxford. Please note the BBC film is not available on this film.
Jul 1, 2015 · 51 min
The Gomboc, the Turtle and the Evolution of Shape - Gabor Domokos
Gabor Domokos gives a talk on his mathematical journey that led to the creation of the Gomboc, the shape which has just one stable and one unstable point of equilibrium. In 1995, Russian mathematician V.I. Arnold conjectured that convex, homogeneous solids with just two static balance points (weebles without a bottom weight) may exist. Ten years later the first Gomboc was built. Gabor Domokos, will describe his own part in the journey of discovery, the mathematics behind that journey and the curious relationship between the Gomboc and the turtle. He will also discuss Arnold's second major conjecture: the Gomboc in nature is not the origin, but the ultimate goal of shape evolution.
Mar 12, 2015 · 57 min
Birth of an Idea: A Mathematical Adventure - Cedric Villani
What goes on inside the mind of a mathematician? Where does inspiration come from? Cedric Villani, winner of the most prestigious prize in mathematics, the Fields Medal, explains the process. Inaugural Titchmarsh Lecture 2015.
Dec 4, 2014 · 54 min
Forbidden Crystal Symmetry: Mathematics and architecture - Roger Penrose
World-renowned mathematician Sir Roger Penrose, Oxford University, describes how crystalline symmetries are necessarily 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold, or 6-fold.
Dec 4, 2014 · 58 min
What Maths Really Does: From modelling the brain to modelling the climate - Alain Goriely
How has mathematics emerged over recent decades as the engine behind 21st century science? Alain Goriely looks at this question and more.
Dec 3, 2014 · 56 min
The History of Mathematics in 300 Stamps - Robin Wilson
The entire history of mathematics in one hour, as illustrated by around 300 postage stamps featuring mathematics and mathematicians from across the world. From Euclid to Euler, from Pythagoras to Poincare, and from Fibonacci to the Fields Medals, all are featured in attractive, charming and sometimes bizarre stamps. No knowledge of mathematics or philately required.
Nov 20, 2014 · 44 min
Big Data's Big Deal - Viktor Mayer-Schonberger
Big Data promises to change all sectors of our economy, and deeply affect our society. But beyond the current hype, what are Big Data's salient qualities, and do they warrant the high hopes? These are some of the questions that this talk addresses. Speaker: Viktor Mayer-Schönberger
Jun 18, 2014 · 50 min
Extra Time: Professor Sir Roger Penrose in conversation with Andrew Hodges - part one
These two video sessions explore the development of Sir Roger Penrose's thought over more than 60 years, ending with his most recent theories and predictions. In the first session, Roger Penrose explains the impact of his time at Cambridge in the 1950s. The interview brings out his highly unconventional choice of subjects for deep study, which completely ignored the boundary between 'pure' and 'applied' mathematics. Those familiar with his world-leading development of relativity theory in the 1960s may be surprised to learn how much he was influenced by quantum theory in the 1950s, and also by the early origin of his new ideas. Roger Penrose explains the influence of Dirac, Sciama and other leading figures of the 1950s, and goes on to characterise the emergence of twistor theory. Non-experts will be interested to hear how the ideas of his best-known work, The Emperor's New Mind, also had an origin in this early period. Roger Penrose also adds fascinating detail about the psychology of mathematical discovery, explaining how he was very slow at school, needing extra time to think issues through for himself. The mystery of time, in physics and human consciousness, runs through the entire conversation, and lights up even the most technical aspects of the discussion.
Jun 18, 2014 · 41 min
Extra Time: Professor Sir Roger Penrose in conversation with Andrew Hodges - part two
These two video sessions explore the development of Sir Roger Penrose’s thought over more than 60 years, ending with his most recent theories and predictions. In the second session, the emphasis shifts to the recent developments in Roger Penrose's thought. He gives a very clear outline of his argument for Conformal Cyclic Cosmology as the correct description of the Big Bang. However, the conversation turns once again to the precursors of these ideas in the 1950s, with new anecdotes about Dirac and the origin of Roger Penrose’s geometrical innovations. Bringing the discussion up to the present moment, Roger Penrose describes the impact of recent observations of primordial magnetic fields and also addresses the significance of his own predictions for the form of dark matter. In a closing segment, the discussion turns to the current discoveries in neurology and biophysics relevant to Roger Penrose’s theory of microtubules as advanced in Shadows of the Mind. The discussion ends tantalisingly with renewed speculation on the foundations of quantum mechanics and its relation to general relativity. Non-experts will relish Sir Roger Penrose’s comment that 'To me eternity is not such a long time'.