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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261017T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261017T170000
DTSTAMP:20260804T170154Z
CREATED:20260414T174712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T170154Z
UID:1421-1792224000-1792256400@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Oxford’s Savilian Professors of Astronomy: The First 400 Years
DESCRIPTION:To celebrate the publication in December 2025 of an edited book with the above title\, Steven Balbus (Savilian Professor 2012–24) and Robin Wilson are organising this one-day meeting in which the authors of this book and others will present the 400-year history of the Savilian Chair of Astronomy. \nThere is no attendance fee but if you wish to attend\, please pre-register on this form in order to facilitate communication and logistics.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/oxfords-savilian-professors-of-astronomy-the-first-400-years/
LOCATION:Green Templeton College Oxford\, 43 Woodstock Rd\, Oxford\, OX2 6HG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261015T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261015T170000
DTSTAMP:20260911T155526Z
CREATED:20260909T163915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T155526Z
UID:1694-1792058400-1792083600@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:History of Mathematics Day\, in Honour of John Fauvel
DESCRIPTION:John Fauvel was one of Britain’s most distinguished historians of mathematics. He contributed extensively to teaching at the Open University and to the embedding of history of mathematics into mathematics teaching more broadly. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of his passing\, and as such the OU are hosting a 1-day meeting in his honour. \nThe day will highlight the research in history of mathematics developed at the OU and look ahead to current research and how this can be used in teaching. We hope to gather together many of those who studied MA290 at the OU – a course John Fauvel co-designed – as well as those who worked alongside him at the OU and elsewhere. The day will consist of talks and a visit to the Fauvel Collection at the OU Archive. \nThe event will take place in-person at Walton Hall Campus in Milton Keynes\, and the talks will be streamed live over MS Teams. There is no registration fee but to attend either in-person or online then you must fill in this form: History of Mathematics Day\, in Honour of John Fauvel. 15th October 2026. – Fill in form. \nProgramme \n10.15 Welcome & Registration\n10.30 Brigitte Stenhouse\, Contextualising the Curriculum through the History of Mathematics\n11.10 Elinor Flavell\, The career trajectories of female students at Cambridge University\, 1873-1890\n11.30 Visit to the Fauvel Collection\, OU Archive\n12.40 Lunch*\n13.40 Robin Wilson & Raymond Flood\, Working with John\n14.10 MA290 video showing\n14.30 June Barrow-Green\, John Fauvel: Mentor and Friend\n15.10 Tea & Coffee Break\n15.40 Jeremy Gray\, John Fauvel and the early years of history of maths at the OU\n16.20 Close of formal proceedings \n*Lunch is not provided\, but a table will be booked at the Hub Café for attendees to eat together. You can bring a packed lunch or purchase lunch at the café (~£10). \nAbstracts \nJune Barrow-Green\, Emerita Professor\, OU\nJohn Fauvel: Mentor and Friend\nI first met John in 1989 when I was being interviewed for a PhD spot at the OU\, and he could not have been more encouraging. Thus began what would become a wonderful friendship. Needless to say\, I had barely set foot in Milton Keynes before John had characteristically—and skilfully—persuaded me to stand for the Council of the British Society for the History of Mathematics! Over the years that followed\, we shared an office\, travelled to conferences across the USA and Europe\, taught at OU Summer Schools\, and collaborated on projects with the BBC. Gently questioning\, he would steer me in new directions with his remarkable knowledge and incredible library always at my disposal. In my talk\, I will describe some of the work which resulted and how his influence still motivates and inspires my work today. \nElinor Flavell\, PhD student\, OU\nThe career trajectories of female students at Cambridge University 1873-1890\nBy the year 1890 over 100 women had studied mathematics at either Girton or Newnham College in Cambridge and had faced the question of whether they wanted\, or needed\, to find a job. Essayists\, such as William Rathbone Greg\, idealised the Victorian housewife and maligned the working woman\, calling them “lonely and destitute…because they have none to love\, cherish and obey” (Greg\, 1877). While many people seemed to agree with these ideas the reality did not\, as current research suggests that less than 25% of the women studying mathematics at Cambridge went on to marry\, with the majority instead becoming schoolteachers. Many of these teachers had dynamic career trajectories which spanned thirty or forty years and involved working in different schools around the country (and in some cases the world) to educate the next generation; progressing in role from Mathematics Mistress to Head Mistress.\nThis talk will analyse the career trajectories of the women who studied mathematics at Cambridge in the late nineteenth century and question if this had an influence on the career opportunities for younger women and girls. That is\, how did university-educated women working at multiple different schools impact the jobs that the next generation of women were able to do. Using college registers\, personal memoirs and college records we will trace the career trajectories of these women and situate them within the broader context of what mathematical community existed once they had left Cambridge.\nGreg\, W. R. (1877). Why are Women Redundant? In: Literary and Social Judgements\, Vol II\, 4th Edition\, Trübner & Co.\, pp.44-90. \nRaymond Flood\, Kellogg College\, Oxford & Robin Wilson\, Emeritus Professor\, OU\nWorking with John\nIn this talk we share some memories of our years collaborating with John on many projects. In particular\, Robin will recall John’s acting prowess (!) and his links with Colorado College\, while Raymond will reminisce about the books that we worked on with John. \nJeremy Gray\, Emeritus Professor\, OU\nJohn Fauvel and the early years of history of mathematics at the OU\nThe idea of a course on the history of mathematics at the OU is due to Graham Flegg. First I\, and then John\, were brought in to run it as lowly creatures called course assistants\, and John did very well at keeping the course alive\, but it was clear to him and me that there had to be a new course. By this time\, course assistants\, who often knew more than their nominal bosses\, had been raised to the status of lecturers\, and we were able to produce a new course and a remarkably successful source book. John’s loving attention to detail in that book and on the course stands as one of the finer testimonials\, I believe\, both to him and the first few decades of the OU Mathematics Faculty. \nBrigitte Stenhouse\, Lecturer in History of Mathematics\, OU\nContextualising the Curriculum through the History of Mathematics\nOver the past three years\, the Contextualising the Curriculum through the History of Mathematics project at The Open University has hosted four undergraduate student research interns. During the internships\, students engage with academic literature in history of mathematics in order to identify people\, ideas\, or artefacts that complement the undergraduate mathematics curriculum; the way in which their chosen histories “complement” the curriculum is left to the student\, though they are encouraged to search for lesser-told stories that resonate with their personal interests.\nIn this talk I will walk through some of the ~15 articles soon to be available on the Contextualising the Curriculum VLE site\, reflecting on what knowledge and study skills students can gain from engaging with these resources.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/history-of-mathematics-day-in-honour-of-john-fauvel/
LOCATION:The Open University\, Walton Hall\, Milton Keynes\, MK7 6AA\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Fauvel-2-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261014T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261014T200000
DTSTAMP:20261002T114000Z
CREATED:20261002T113626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261002T114000Z
UID:1741-1792002600-1792008000@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:LSE Public Lecture: What Does It Take to Become a Mathematician? The case of Mary Somerville (1780-1872)
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr Brigitte Stenhouse for an LSE Department of Mathematics public lecture exploring the life and work of mathematician Mary Somerville (1780-1872). \n\n\n\n\nThrough the case of Mary Somerville\, this lecture will explore what it meant to become a mathematician in the nineteenth century and consider the opportunities\, challenges and circumstances that shaped her mathematical life and career. \nFor more details and to register to attend\, click here.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/lse-public-lecture-what-does-it-take-to-become-a-mathematician-the-case-of-mary-somerville-1780-1872/
LOCATION:LSE\, London School of Economics\, London\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/me_headshot_small.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261014T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261014T160000
DTSTAMP:20260921T151249Z
CREATED:20260911T155044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T151249Z
UID:1714-1791986400-1791993600@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Talking History of Maths: The Computer Becomes a Weapon
DESCRIPTION:We are really excited to present ‘Talking History of Maths’! Supported by the British Society for the History of Mathematics\, this will be a set of five talks and discussions over the 2026/27 academic year. It is aimed at undergraduate mathematics or joint honours students\, but anyone is welcome to take part. \nEach of the five sessions will take place over 90 minutes\, consisting of an hour talk followed by a 30-minute discussion. They will be presented live at one university with other groups ‘Zooming in’  to watch. Our first session will take place at 2pm BST on Wednesday 14th October 2026 (title and abstract below). \nThere are two ways to take part:\n1.      As an individual: You will join by yourself on Zoom and then are welcome to join our discussion over Zoom for the last 30 minutes.\n2.      As a group: We are imagining this will be university maths societies\, but any group is welcome to sign up. You will book out a room and watch the talk together and then discuss it as a group. For this option\, the first ten groups that sign up will be given a supplementary £50 tea\, coffee and cake budget for the five sessions. \nTo register for the event please fill in this form: Talking History of Maths Registration  – Fill in form. \nThe Computer Becomes a Weapon\, Dr. Troy Kaighin Astarte\, \nWhat was the first computer? Some candidate answers jump to mind\, but a few minutes’ careful thinking reveals the question is very poorly phrased. In this talk\, we will consider why that is the case and begin to disentangle some early aspects of the history of the things we now call ‘computers’. In doing so\, we will find ourselves confronting very quickly their militaristic origins\, and some even darker ones. We will review the conditions in which modern computers were developed and consider what kind of legacies they might leave. Along the way\, we might even find ourselves thinking about how these histories are echoed in current debates about technology. Yes\, I wrote “we” throughout\, in recognition of what I hope to be a discussion as a group as well as a lecture. \nFuture dates and lecture titles forthcoming. \nIf you have any questions\, please send them to elinor[dot]flavell[at]open[dot]ac[dot]uk.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/talking-history-of-maths/
CATEGORIES:BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Thm-Poster-with-QRcode-and-basic-info.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261007T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261007T193000
DTSTAMP:20260907T082853Z
CREATED:20260206T142600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260907T082853Z
UID:1185-1791394200-1791401400@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:BSHM-Gresham Lecture 2026
DESCRIPTION:Our annual joint lecture with Gresham College in the heart of central London and online. This year we will hear from Professor Dr Volker Remmert (Bergische Universität Wuppertal) on: \nWhat do you need a mathematician for? Perspectives from the 17th century. \nIn the early modern period\, it was common practice to praise the mathematical sciences\, a typical example being Martinus Hortensius’ Inauguration Speech on the Dignity and the Usefulness of the Mathematical Sciences (Amsterdam 1634). \nThis lecture explains how “mathematical sciences” were understood in the 17th century\, before exploring the arguments which were used to advocate for the use of the mathematical sciences\, using visual materials such as title engravings of 17th century publications. Can previous answers to the question “What do you need a mathematician for?” help us understand our need for mathematicians today? \nThis event is free and open to all\, but booking is required for both in-person and online attendance. For more details and to book\, go to the Gresham College website: What Do You Need a Mathematician For? Perspectives from the 17th Century | Gresham College. \n 
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/bshm-gresham-lecture-2026/
LOCATION:Gresham College\, Barnard's Inn Hall\, London\, EC1N 2HH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260919T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260919T200000
DTSTAMP:20260727T082356Z
CREATED:20260708T145446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T082356Z
UID:1582-1789840800-1789848000@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade - Preview Concert
DESCRIPTION:A blazing concert of songs inspired by real-life STEM pioneers at the British Science Festival. Tickets are free but booking is required: British Science Festival | Mayflower. \nThe Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade is an energetic ensemble musical\, following the world of British physicist and inventor Hertha Ayrton and four of her contemporaries at 1880s Girton College\, Cambridge: mathematician Charlotte Scott\, astronomer Annie Maunder\, chemist Ida Freund and botanist Ethel Sargant. \nAfter starting a fire brigade to protect themselves\, this unlikely crew end up fighting more than fires in a battle for equality that lasts way beyond their student years. \nFor more information and to find other performance dates\, see the official website of the musical: The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade – A New Musical. \nIf you would like to learn more about mathematician Charlotte Scott\, you can read a guest blog by Jemma Lorenat here: Charlotte Angas Scott: “a judicious misuse of conventions is frequently essential to progress” – The Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/the-cambridge-first-all-ladies-fire-brigade-preview-concert/
LOCATION:Mayflower Studios\, 142-144 Above Bar Street\, Southampton\, Hampshire\, SO14 7DU\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260910T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T170000
DTSTAMP:20260626T145137Z
CREATED:20260626T145137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T145137Z
UID:1569-1789027200-1789146000@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Framing Mathematics: Early Career Workshop on the History and Philosophy of Mathematics
DESCRIPTION:Building on the core idea of the Novembertagung\, “Framing Mathematics” aims to foster connections between the widely spread community of early career historians and philosophers of mathematics. Complementing the Novembertagung format\, we especially encourage contributions by postdocs and others in the later stages of their early-career path for this workshop. We in particular hope this will be the first in a long series of workshops dedicated to broadening (early-career) conversations on mathematical thought. \nWorkshop theme:  \nWhat is mathematics? From a contemporary perspective\, one might be led to believe that mathematics is what mathematicians do. They write down formulas\, think in front of blackboards\, prove theorems. Mathematics appears to be objective and rigorous\, to make true statements\, and to deal with specific objects and their properties\, or to deduce new meanings from axioms. But who counts as a mathematician in the first place? What counts as mathematical practice and content? And how did we get to this point to begin with? These questions are prompted by the sentiment that at least as of today\, mathematics is a consistent and dynamic epistemic system\, a field of inquiry that\, while being self-containing\, continuously extends its reach and reshapes its nature also by application. While contemporary mathematical practices seem rather rigid—with a narrow understanding of what mathematics is—a historical-philosphical analysis\, across centuries and linguistic traditions\, allows us to appreciate this field as dynamic. \nThis workshop is dedicated to exploring the various ways in which mathematics was conceived of\, practiced and institutionalized across history and within different cultures\, acknowledging that “mathematics” itself may be an anachronistic notion. In an explicit hope to bridge disciplinary boundaries\, we thus invite contributions that explore the diverse disciplinary framings of mathematics across different periods and contexts—from antiquity to nowadays\, with no geographic restrictions to Western traditions. \nKeynote speakers: \nArianna Borrelli (Käthe Hamburger Kolleg Aachen)\nKarine Chemla (SPHERE–CNRS\, Paris)\nBarbara Sattler (Bochum University) \nThis event is sponsored by the BSHM.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/framing-mathematics-early-career-workshop-on-the-history-and-philosophy-of-mathematics/
LOCATION:Université Paris Cité\, Paris\, France
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260713
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260717
DTSTAMP:20260712T131443Z
CREATED:20260118T154119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260712T131443Z
UID:1008-1783900800-1784246399@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:European Society for the History of Science – History of Science Society Joint Meeting
DESCRIPTION:The History of Science Society and the European Society for the History of Science will have their first joint meeting 13–16 July 2026 in Edinburgh\, Scotland\, with the support of the British Society for the History of Science. The theme of the conference is: \nShifting Perspectives: Plural Worlds\, Contested Sciences.  \nMore details and the conference programme are available here: 2026 HSS Annual Meeting – History of Science Society.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/european-society-for-the-history-of-science-history-of-science-society-joint-meeting/
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260516
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260517
DTSTAMP:20260503T151446Z
CREATED:20260118T154024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260503T151446Z
UID:1006-1778889600-1778975999@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Doing Mathematics in the Archive – A Joint Meeting with the INI
DESCRIPTION:A day of talks reflecting on how archival work can be mathematically fruitful and how a deep engagement with the mathematical content of archival materials can reveal new historical or philosophical insight. This event takes place at the Isaac Newton Institute\, Cambridge (full details at the bottom of the page) and online via a zoom webinar. \nBook your ticket for in-person or virtual attendance via Eventbrite: Doing Mathematics in the Archive Tickets\, Sat\, May 16\, 2026 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite. \nProgramme \n10.30 Arrival & Registration. Tea & coffee will be served. \n11.00 Michael Potter (University of Cambridge). Archives in mathematical philosophy: Some case studies. \n12.00 Aoife Kearins (University of Oxford). Epistolary Mathematics in the 19th Century. \n13.00 Lunch (included with in-person ticket). \n14.00 June Barrow-Green (Open University)\, Andrew Burbanks (University of Portsmouth)\, Dan Rust (Open University)\, Reem Yassawi (Queen Mary University of London). George Birkhoff’s forgotten manuscript. \n15.00 Emmylou Haffner (CNRS). Collective and personal archives in the genesis of Bourbaki’s set theory book. \n16.00 Tea & Coffee \n17.00 Close of Meeting \nA full book of abstracts is available here. \nIn-person registration fees include lunch and refreshments. If you have any special dietary requirements\, please specify them when booking. \nIf you would like to take advantage of the BSHM Member pricing\, membership starts from just £18 a year and can be purchased via the BSHM website.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/doing-mathematics-in-the-archive-a-joint-meeting-with-the-ini/
LOCATION:Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences\, 20 Clarkson Road\, Cambridge\, CB3 0EH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Archives_nationales_PR3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T181500
DTSTAMP:20260118T200804Z
CREATED:20260118T153731Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T200804Z
UID:1001-1776436200-1776449700@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:LMS Spitalfields Meeting & Hirst Lecture
DESCRIPTION:The LMS is hosting the 2026 Spitalfields History of Mathematics Meeting and Hirst Lecture\, comprising two lectures by Professor June Barrow-Green (The Open University) and Dr Brigitte Stenhouse (The Open University). This meeting will take place both in person and online. \nThe meeting features the Hirst Lecture 2026\, given by the winner of the Joint LMS-BSHM Hirst Prize and Lectureship 2025\, Professor June Barrow-Green. \nThe Hirst Prize and Lectureship for the History of Mathematics is awarded for contributions to the study of the history of mathematics. The prize is awarded in recognition of original and innovative work in the history of mathematics\, which may be in any medium. \nThis prize is awarded jointly by the LMS and the British Society for the History of Mathematics. \nFor more information\, and to register\, please visit the LMS page. 
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/lms-spitalfields-meeting-hirst-lecture/
LOCATION:De Morgan House\, 57-58 Russell Sq\, London\, WC1B 4HS
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260401T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260401T190000
DTSTAMP:20260312T200812Z
CREATED:20260312T200812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T200812Z
UID:1336-1775052000-1775070000@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Primes and Resonance: Sophie Germain’s 250th Birthday
DESCRIPTION:An event organised by the University of Oxford and the ICMS\, hosted at The Royal Institution\, London. \nSophie Germain is remembered for her major contributions to mathematics\, ranging from advances in number theory (related to Fermat’s Last Theorem) to foundational results on vibrating plates. She was the first woman to win a major competitive research prize in mathematics. \nThis event will celebrate her 250th birthday with four general-audience talks\, a live demonstration\, and a speaker panel bringing her life and work into focus. No specialist background is assumed. \nExpect history\, Fermat’s Last Theorem\, sand figures on vibrating plates\, and open questions on primes\, moving from deep theory to patterns you can see. \nFor more information and to register\, see: www.sophie-germain.com/250
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/primes-and-resonance-sophie-germains-250th-birthday/
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260312T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260312T170000
DTSTAMP:20260308T090328Z
CREATED:20260308T090321Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260308T090328Z
UID:1332-1773331200-1773334800@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Kirk Public Lecture: The Ocean of Numbers\, How India Shaped the Way We Calculate
DESCRIPTION:The upcoming Kirk Distinguished Visiting Fellow Public Lecture by Professor Clemency Montelle\, titled “The Ocean of Numbers: How India shaped the way we calculate”\, will be on Thursday 12 March 2026 at 4 p.m. in Seminar Room 1 at the Isaac Newton Institute\, Cambridge. \nThe talk will also be streamed online via the INI website: [MHM] Kirk Public Lecture: The Ocean of Numbers: How India Shaped the Way We Calculate – Isaac Newton Institute (click watch live in the top right-hand corner). \n 
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/kirk-public-lecture-the-ocean-of-numbers-how-india-shaped-the-way-we-calculate/
LOCATION:Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences\, 20 Clarkson Road\, Cambridge\, CB3 0EH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260310T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260310T183000
DTSTAMP:20260216T160446Z
CREATED:20260216T160446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T160446Z
UID:1249-1773162000-1773167400@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Shakespeare By Numbers
DESCRIPTION:Shakespeare scholar Darren Freebury-Jones and mathematician Rob Eastaway will explore the fascinating connections between Shakespeare\, numbers and Elizabethan history. \nIn this illustrated joint talk followed by moderated discussion and questions\, Shakespeare scholar Darren Freebury-Jones and maths author Rob Eastaway explore Shakespeare from a fresh angle – through numbers. They reveal new insights into the social\, cultural\, and theatrical context of Elizabethan England\, and show how numbers can deepen our understanding of the structure\, form\, and language of Shakespeare’s plays. \nRSVP to rob[at]mathsinspiration.com if you wish to attend\, as numbers are limited. \nAbout the presenters: \nDr. Darren Freebury-Jones is a scholar and author known for his work on Shakespeare and his contemporaries\, including the book Shakespeare’s Borrowed Feathers. \nRob Eastaway is a maths author and presenter\, whose most recent book Much Ado About Numbers explores how Elizabethan mathematics influenced Shakespeare’s work.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/shakespeare-by-numbers/
LOCATION:The London Interdisciplinary School\, 20-30 Whitechapel Road\, E1 1EW
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260307T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260307T173000
DTSTAMP:20260227T165206Z
CREATED:20260118T144709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260227T165206Z
UID:977-1772879400-1772904600@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Research In Progress
DESCRIPTION:The Queen’s College\, Oxford (full details below). \nOur annual meeting which provides an opportunity for research students in any area of the history of mathematics to present their work to a friendly and supportive audience. Alongside the student speakers there will be a selection of posters on display throughout the day. The meeting will be held in person only\, and will be held in English. \nBookings for this event have now closed. If you would like to join a waitlist\, please contact the meetings co-ordinator at brigitte.stenhouse@bshm.ac.uk. \nProgramme \n10.30 Arrival \n10.50 BSHM Welcome \n11.00 Rui Yuan (Sphere/Université Paris Cité)\, From Philology to Mathematics: What are the relationships between the marks and annotations borne by the earliest extant manuscript of the Chinese mathematical treatise Sea Mirror of the Circle Measurements and the late 18th-century editions of the work? \n11.30 Emma Baxter (University of Oxford)\, Anxiety and Crisis in Late Imperial Russian and Early Soviet Mathematics\, 1900-35 \n12.00 Petra Stanković (University of Oxford)\, Between Science and Politics: The 1970 Nice International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) \n12.30 Elinor Flavell (Open University)\, A Whistle-Stop Tour of the First 159 Days of my PhD. \n12.45 Stephen Dorman (Open University)\, Undergraduate Essay Prizewinner\, Mollie Orshansky and the Moral Arithmetic of Poverty \n13.00 Lunch (provided) \n14.00 Megan Briers (MPIWG/TU Berlin)\, Gender\, Observers’ Bodies and Nineteenth-Century Measurements of the Distance to the Sun \n14.30 Thomas Glasman (University of Oxford)\, Private Correspondence and Public Writing on the Paradoxes of Set Theory \n15.00 Ties van Gemert (Tilburg University)\, Gerrit Mannoury (1867-1956) on the Politics of Mathematical Logic \n15.30 Shaivi Darsi (Queen Mary University of London)\, Undergraduate Essay Runner Up\, From Dice to Derivatives: How 17th-century Gambling Shaped Modern Financial Mathematics \n15.45 Refreshment Break \n16.15 Tinne Hoff Kjeldsen (University of Copenhagen)\, John Fauvel Invited Lecture\, A Problem-Oriented Multiple Perspective Approach to History of Mathematics Illustrated by Examples from the 20th century: How can it fill “lacunas”? \n17.15 Close of Meeting \nPosters \nPablo Gómez Samper (Bergische Universität Wuppertal)\, Paolo Bonasoni’s Algebra Geometrica (c.1580s\, MS. 314 Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna). \nMaría de Lourdes Ortega Méndez (Johannes Gutenburg-University Mainz)\, Abstraction and Material Aids in the History of Mathematics: Mechanical Harmonic Analyzers (1890-1925). \nLukas Schievelbusch (Bergische Universität Wuppertal)\, The Expansion and Differentiation of the Mathematical Community in the Cold War US (1945-1991)\, measured by earned PhDs. \nResearch in Progress Book of Abstracts 2026. \nIf you would like to take advantage of the BSHM Member pricing\, membership starts from just £18 a year and can be purchased via the BSHM website. \nThe day before this meeting the ICHM will be holding a satellite meeting\, also in Oxford\, to celebrate honours recently awarded to historians of mathematics. Find out more. \n 
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/research-in-progress/
LOCATION:The Queen’s College Oxford\, The Queen's College\, Oxford\, OX1 4AW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1024px-Oxford__Queens_College_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_7182530.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Brigitte Stenhouse":MAILTO:brigitte.stenhouse@bshm.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260306T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260306T170000
DTSTAMP:20260227T095000Z
CREATED:20260118T154610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260227T095000Z
UID:1013-1772805600-1772816400@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:ICHM: Celebration of honours recently awarded to historians of mathematics
DESCRIPTION:The International Commission on the History of Mathematics are holding a meeting to celebrate honours recently awarded to historians of mathematics. The event will take place at the Mathematical Institute\, Oxford (full details at the bottom of the page). \nRegistration for this event is now closed.  \n(This event is followed by the annual Research in Progress meeting of the BSHM on March 7th\, also in Oxford: find out more). \nProgramme \n14:00-14:45 Ursula Martin (University of Oxford) – DBE 2025\nAda Lovelace at 210: new research and open questions \n14:45-15:30 Henning Heller (University of Bonn) – ICHM Montucla Prize 2025\nMellen Woodman Haskell (1863–1948): An American mathematics student of the Wanderlust generation \n15:30-16:00 Break \n16:00-16:45 David E. Rowe (University of Mainz) – ICHM Kenneth O. May Medal and Prize 2025\nWhat Riemann learned from Gauss: When and How \n16:45-17:30 Jan Hogendijk (University of Utrecht) – ICHM Kenneth O. May Medal and Prize 2025\nApplied mathematics in Ottoman Palestine: The treatise by Taqi al-Din on sundials \n17:30-18:30 Drinks reception \n  \nAbstracts \nHenning Heller (University of Bonn)\, Mellen Woodman Haskell (1863–1948): An American mathematics student of the Wanderlust generation\nIn the late nineteenth century\, interest in mathematical research grew rapidly in the United States. As university-level mathematics was only beginning to take shape\, many aspiring scholars sought opportunities abroad in order to take their first steps in research. A central figure in this academic Wanderlust was the German mathematician Felix Klein\, who actively encouraged international students to study and work under his supervision. Among the earliest Americans to do so was Mellen Woodman Haskell. A Harvard graduate\, Haskell went to Leipzig in 1885 and subsequently followed Klein to his new post in Göttingen. He completed his doctoral dissertation under Klein in 1889 before returning to the United States\, where he was soon appointed professor at the newly founded University of California. There\, he played a central role in establishing and shaping the mathematics department until his retirement in 1933. This presentation examines Haskell’s formative years in Germany from both biographical and mathematical perspectives. His case illuminates the emergence of the United States as a leading nation in mathematical research and illustrates the wider dissemination of Klein’s vision of mathematics among both national and international scholars. The work presented here contributes to a recently published collaborative study of Klein’s international students. \n  \nJan Hogendijk (University of Utrecht)\, Applied mathematics in Ottoman Palestine: the treatise by Taqi al-Din on sundials\nTaqi al-Din ibn Ma`ruf was a capable Ottoman mathematician astronomer who was the director of the astronomical observatory in Istanbul between 1575 and 1580. Around 1567 he wrote a handbook on the constructions of sundials when he was qadi (Islamic judge) in Nablus\, now on the West Bank. The handbook has been preserved in circa 15 Arabic manuscripts (of which two important ones are in Oxford)\, but it has never been studied in modern times. In it\, Taqi al-Din explains detailed computations of sundials on planes of arbitrary position\, provided with a stylus parallel to the celestial axis. I will try to give an overview of the handbook\, and an impression of its style\, and then discuss its relevance for the relationship between science in Europe and the Islamic world in and after the Renaissance. \n  \nUrsula Martin (University of Oxford)\, Ada Lovelace at 210: new research and open questions\nIn 2015 Oxford mathematics celebrated Ada Lovelace’s 200th birthday with a symposium devoted to all aspects of her life and work. Lovelace is best known for her 1843 account of Charles Babbage’s design for an early computer\, his unbuilt Analytical Engine. Core to the celebration was the first scholarly investigation of the exchange of letters with Augustus De Morgan where she learned advanced mathematics. Hollings\, Martin and Rice demonstrated that\, contrary to earlier claims\, she possessed considerable mathematical knowledge and insight.\nIn this talk we discuss some further developments and open questions. Surprisingly\, Lovelace’s 1843 paper has been little analysed. While its technical descriptions are  vague in places\, it is a remarkable piece of science writing.  Over the past ten years Babbage’s designs for the analytical engine have been pieced together by the Plan 28 project\, and are now said to be in a  “useably publishable state of completion”.\nRecent work of Brigitte Stenhouse and others looks at the role of households in 19C mathematical work\, prompting questions about how Lovelace’s mother learned mathematics\, and the content of archive material related to her children’s studies. Drawing on recently unearthed letters between  Lovelace and John Herschel\, Louisiane Ferlier has studied Lovelace’s only other published work\, footnotes to her husband’s papers on climate in relation to husbandry.  Ferlier shows that Lovelace’s contribution went far beyond “footnotes”\, shaping the paper’s contribution through mathematical analysis\, data visualisations\, and ideas about novel instrumentation. \nDavid E. Rowe (University of Mainz)\, What Riemann learned from Gauss: When and How\nRiemann met Gauss in 1846/47 during his first year of studies in Göttingen. He then left to spend two eventful years studying mathematics and physics in Berlin\, before returning to Göttingen in 1849. Several clues suggest that by then he had already begun to develop some of the main ideas for his dissertation\, which he completed in 1851. Some of these ideas were directly inspired by Gauss\, but the question we will consider here concerns when and how he learned about them. Ideally\, one would like to understand the nature of Gauss’s influence on Riemann at that time. The circumstances surrounding his dissertation strongly suggest that he had few substantive personal interactions with Gauss\, who only learned about his thesis work after Riemann had submitted the text. Without entering deeply into the mathematics\, I will attempt to offer a plausible explanation for the ways in which Gaussian ideas influenced the young Riemann’s work.
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/ichm-celebration-of-honours-recently-awarded-to-historians-of-mathematics/
LOCATION:Mathematical Institute\, Oxford\, Andrew Wiles Building\, OX2 6GG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T173000
DTSTAMP:20260413T120428Z
CREATED:20260228T145310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T120428Z
UID:1289-1772640000-1772645400@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:SIGMA\, Upside-Down Cuneiform: The Depiction of Babylonian Mathematics in Games
DESCRIPTION:The SIGMA project based at the University of Edinburgh are hosting the forthcoming seminar by Dr Erica Meszaros. Joining instructions are below. \nUpside-Down Cuneiform: The Depiction of Babylonian Mathematics in Games \nBabylonian mathematics may seem like an esoteric topic; yet if you’re a gamer\, chances are you’ve run into the language at some point. From action-adventure platformers to open-world mystery games to collectible card games\, games slip in Babylonian references for seemingly myriad reasons. \nThis talk will introduce the basics of Babylonian mathematics\, including the sexagesimal system and the cuneiform script\, as a stepping stone to examining how this field is represented within games. In addition to showcasing examples from different gaming genres\, this talk presents a brief history of how later peoples have used and “misused” ancient scripts and numbers in ways that accrete meaning. Ultimately\, I am particularly interested in how the depiction of Babylonian material in games has shifted in recent history\, from early video games like Prince of Persia to the rise of escape rooms and tangible cuneiform puzzles. \nI argue that using Babylonian mathematical material “incorrectly” — say\, upside-down or as an alphabet — helps shape a new meaning that is in line with how earlier cultures also re-interpreted this content. \nZoom Joining Instructions \nhttps://edin.ac/4bbnEUX\nPasscode: nakkisu1
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/sigma-upside-down-cuneiform-the-depiction-of-babylonian-mathematics-in-games/
LOCATION:Zoom (Online)
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/sigma_erica_seminar.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T153000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260304T163000
DTSTAMP:20260220T085252Z
CREATED:20260209T114123Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T085252Z
UID:1205-1772638200-1772641800@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Jesper Lützen: A History of Mathematical Impossibility
DESCRIPTION:Professor Jesper Lützen (University of Copenhagen) will deliver a seminar at The Open University on A History of Mathematical Impossibility\, focusing especially on Arrow’s Impossibility Theorem (all ranked-choice voting procedures have spoilers). \nIf you would like to attend\, either in-person or via Microsoft Teams\, then please contact Dr Brigitte Stenhouse no later than February 25th via: brigitte.stenhouse[at]open.ac.uk. \nThe History of Impossibility Theorems and Arrow’s impossibility theorem in particular \nIn modern mathematics\, impossibility results occupy a prominent place. Famous examples include Fermat’s last theorem\, Gödel’s theorem\, the impossibility of squaring the circle with ruler and compass and the impossibility of solving the general quintic equation by radicals. I shall begin my talk by giving a survey of the historical development of such theorems. In particular\, I shall argue that such theorems were at first considered as unimportant compared with positive theorems\, and that they only gradually obtained the status of real mathematical results within mathematics having earlier been considered a kind of meta results about mathematics. The last part of my talk will deal with the history of Arrow’s surprising impossibility theorem stating that in an election with three or more candidates\, it is impossible to design an election procedure satisfying a few desirable and innocent looking requirements. Arrow’s proof (1950) of his impossibility theorem initiated the so-called theory of social choice. \n  \n  \n 
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/jesper-lutzen-a-history-of-mathematical-impossibility/
LOCATION:The Open University\, Walton Hall\, Milton Keynes\, MK7 6AA\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Non BSHM
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://bshm.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/lutzenimpossible-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251206
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251207
DTSTAMP:20260301T203530Z
CREATED:20260224T191803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260301T203530Z
UID:1275-1764979200-1765065599@bshm.ac.uk
SUMMARY:BSHM 2025 AGM
DESCRIPTION:The relevant documents for the 2025 AGM can be viewed below. \nAGM 2025 Council Candidate Biographies.docx \nAGM_Agenda_06_Dec_25.docx \nAGM_Minutes_06_Dec_25.docx \nBSHM Report and Accounts 2024.pdf
URL:http://bshm.ac.uk/event/bshm-agm-2025/
CATEGORIES:BSHM
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END:VCALENDAR