Talks

Seminars for Undergraduates
Julian Holstein (Cambridge)
"What is a geometric object?"
25th January 2008, 3pm, CMS

Geometry has come a long way from the times of triangles and conic sections. I will try to explain what kinds of objects geometers and topologists work with these days. We will then look at the moduli problem, which is concerned with classifying and parametrising families of geometric objects. The main idea is to turn a collection of geometric objects itself into a geometric object. This is an extremely fruitful approach, but it is also very delicate and will quickly force us to rethink what we mean by a geometric object.

Speaker Meeting
Dr Goddard (Warwick)
"Quantum Chemistry for Mathematicians"
1st February 2008, 7:30pm, CMS

Since the nineteenth century, chemists have arranged the chemical elements into the periodic table. Until the advent of quantum mechanics in the 1920's, this arrangement was based on experimental periodicities, with no theoretical basis. From the 1960's onwards, computers made (numerical) quantum chemistry a very productive area of research. In this talk I will present some of the mathematical foundations of the subject, as well as giving an overview of some recent rigorous mathematical results, which aim to improve upon existing quantum chemistry methods.

Speaker Meeting
Professor Graham Brightwell (LSE)
"Non-transitive sets of dice"
15th February 2008, 7:30pm, CMS

It is well-known that there is a trio of "three-sided dice" A, B and C, with the following property. If A and B are rolled, then the probability that the number showing on die A is greater than that on die B is strictly greater than 1/2 - A beats B - while similarly B beats C and C beats A. This observation may seem to lie purely within the realm of recreational mathematics; my aim in this talk is to explain how examples of such "non-transitivity" lead to some interesting mathematics.

Speaker Meeting
Dr David Acheson (Oxford)
"Infinity, Chaos and the Electric Guitar"
22nd February, 7:30pm, CMS MR4

Why does infinity pop up all over mathematics? Why do some physical systems oscillate in a chaotic and seemingly unpredictable way? And what has all this got to do with the electric guitar? We will consider all these questions in a light-hearted look at both pure and applied mathematics, with computer demonstrations and live experiments.

Social

Puzzles and Games Ring
Sometime Soon
Some location
Puzzles and Games ring isn't currently running. If you would be interested in attending Puzzle and Games Ring, please contact the committee.

Problems Drive
Sunday 2nd March, 2pm
CMS Cafe
Our annual Problems Drive

Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 5th March 2008, 1:30pm
CMS Cafe
We'll be reporting back to our members on the past year, and electing a new Committee. Come along and get involved! [Details of Committee positions]

Triennial Dinner
Saturday 8th March
Fitzwilliam College
Only happens once every three years! Not to be missed!