Recreational Mathematics and its History: In memory of David Singmaster

A one-day interactive meeting to celebrate the life and works of recreational mathematician David Singmaster (find out more here) . The day will include talks on the history of recreational mathematics - such as the Rubiks cube and combinatorial problems - as well as a chance to get stuck into some mathematical puzzles. Attendance is available online and in-person.

Programme

10.15 Welcome

10.30 Katie Steckles, The Maths of Rubik's Cube

11.00 Adam Atkinson, Debunking and "improving" an obscure Italian gambling myth

11.30 Break

11.45 Peter Rowlett, Recreational mathematics in education

12.15 Vinay Kathotia, How do shapes fill space? Aperiodic tilings – spectres, tortoises and all hat…

12.45 Lunch (included with ticket)

14.00 Robin Wilson, David Singmaster: Friend and combinatorialist

14.30 Colin Wright, David Singmaster: Personal memories of the man and his maths

15.00 Break

15.30 Tiago Hirth, The French Sphinx

16.00 Lisa Rougetet*, Why take an interest in mathematical recreations? An historical overview through a mechanical puzzle: the Baguenodier

16.30 Closing Remarks

16.45 End of Day

*This talk will have an interactive component that may make it less accessible to online participants. All other interactive elements will be aimed at both in-person and remote participants.

If you would like to register and pay online, please use this page to do so. If you would prefer to pay the registration fee by cash or cheque on the day of the meeting, please contact [email protected] to register your intention to attend (for catering purposes).

Registration fees for in-person attendance include lunch and refreshments. If you have any special dietary requirements, please specify them when booking.

If you are concerned that there may be barriers to your taking part in this day, please contact the organisers at [email protected].

Image credit: John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera, at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Host or Publisher British Society for the History of Mathematics