New Scientist presents ...
Instant Expert – The mathematics that explains our world
Saturday 28 September, 10am - 5pm | Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS
Mathematicians don’t just spend their time imagining weirder and weirder imaginary multidimensional quantum universes. Mathematics is at the heart of so much of our everyday lives and researchers across the world are using the latest theories to explain so much about the world around us.
From the rules that underpin all of our music to the increasing power and sophistication of computers, maths lies behind everything from seemingly mundane everyday experiences to the biggest challenges facing humanity.
Join our line-up of leading thinkers as we unlock the secrets hidden within the language of mathematics – the language that truly explains our world.
NEW EVENT FORMAT FOR 2024
We are always seeking ways to make our events more inclusive and to find new ways to deliver value to you. For 2024 we have reduced the ticket prices and introduced a new ticket option “super early bird” for our Instant Expert events. An Instant Expert ticket no longer includes refreshments or lunch, but the agenda includes a lunch break and there are many great eateries close to the venue to choose from. But what doesn’t change is that each event will continue to feature six expert speakers sharing their knowledge and latest research on the event topic. We hope you like the changes we have made to the event format for 2024, and as always we welcome your feedback.
At this Instant Expert, you’ll:
• Explore the latest groundbreaking discoveries in mathematics.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the maths that lies behind our everyday experiences.
• Meet and learn from leading researchers at the forefront of the field.
• Ask questions and engage in discussions about the leading edge of mathematics.
Talks and speakers:
Can computers prove theorems?
Professor Kevin Buzzard, British mathematician at Imperial College London.
Computers have been better than humans at doing calculations for many decades now. But calculations are easy once you know the method. Research mathematicians try to prove new theorems, and for this task there is no method; pushing back the boundaries of mathematics involves ingenuity and inspiration. Can computers help humans to prove theorems? Will they one day be proving theorems by themselves, putting human mathematicians out of business? Kevin will survey the state of the art.
How maths explains music
Sarah Hart, mathematician and author.
The great mathematician Gottfried Leibniz said that music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting. We love it, in other words, because it is the mathematics of the subconscious. In this lecture Sarah will bring that mathematics into the open, and see how mathematical ideas are woven into every aspect of music. Sarah will explore the beautiful number patterns underlying harmony, the geometrical symmetries of melody, and the 2000-year-old algorithm that predicts the rhythms most favoured by musicians across the world.
Mathematics in the Kitchen
Helen Wilson, Professor of Applied Mathematics at UCL, and a former head of the UCL Department of Mathematics.
From mixing cornflour to baking bread, the kitchen is full of processes involving complex fluids and soft solids. This talk will show how to create mathematical models of many of these processes, with surprising applications outside the kitchen as well.
Mathematics and the brain
Prof. Alain Goriely, Professor of Mathematical Modelling at the University of Oxford
The human brain is an organ of extreme complexity, the object of ultimate intellectual egocentrism, and a source of endless scientific challenges. Its intricate folded shape and complicated internal wiring have fascinated generations of scientists but still raise fundamental questions. Are bigger brains better in some senes? How do brain convolutions emerge? How is the brain geometry related to its function? How are different parts of the brain connected to each other? Is there something special about the human brain? In this talk, Alain will show that by using geometry, scaling laws, modelling, and network topology, we can uncover some of the basic principles at work in the shaping of our brain.
Can maths help save the world?
Peter Rowlett is an academic mathematician at Sheffield Hallam University
Mathematics and mathematical modelling have a vital role to play in the modern world, underpinning many technological, scientific and digital developments. This places it well to contribution to solutions to problems from the everyday up to huge global issues facing humanity. This talk will offer a tour of maths contributing to solutions in climate and the natural world, sustainable living, and inequalities.
One more exciting talk to be announced soon...
Who should attend?
This masterclass is designed for everyone who wants to understand the hidden mathematical rules that lie behind our everyday experiences. No prioir knowledge or maths qualifications are required, just an open mind and a curiosity to learn.
Benefits of attending:
- Become an expert in one day
- Informal set-up, meet like minded people
- Open your mind, be inspired
- Unique chance to ask your burning questions to our experts
What's included in your ticket:
- In-depth and engaging talks from six leading scientists
- Ask-an-expert Question Time session
- Your chance to meet our six speakers and New Scientist host
- Exclusive on-the-day New Scientist subscription deal, book and merchandise offers
Booking information:
The event will be held at the Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS
Doors will open at 9:15am, with talks commencing at 10am sharp. The event will finish at 5pm.
We require the name of each person attending - please ensure this is provided at the time of booking. If you need to change the name of an attendee, please notify us as soon as possible: live@newscientist.com
Eventbrite will email you your ticket(s) immediately after purchase. Please remember to bring your ticket(s) with you as you'll need it to gain entry. We can scan tickets from a print out, or off the screen of a phone / tablet / smartwatch.
The schedule / exact running order for the day will be confirmed closer to the event, and will be emailed to all ticket holders.
Lunch will NOT be provided at this event. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food, or purchase lunch at one of the many establishments in the surrounding area.
Should you require details about disabled access, please contact us at: live@newscientist.com
Tickets are non-transferable to any other New Scientist event.
All tickets are non-refundable. New Scientist reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up, or cancel the event. In the unlikely event of cancellation, all tickets will be fully refunded. New Scientist Ltd will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event.
Tickets are subject to availability and are only available in advance through Eventbrite.