New directions in the history of mathematics: Research and Teaching

This one day meeting is to mark the significant contributions of the Open University's three emeritus fellows (June Barrow-Green, Jeremy Gray, and Robin Wilson) to the building of an academic community in history of mathematics in Britain. The day will also celebrate the recent appointment of Brigitte Stenhouse as Lecturer in History of Mathematics.

The theme of the day centres around how mathematicians excluded from elite institutions – such as women or working class practitioners – forged communities for themselves and pursed new mathematical knowledge. Moreover, it will bring together mathematicians and historians to discuss how this historical research can be used to support Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work within mathematics.

The meeting will be run in hybrid mode, on Microsoft Teams and in-person. If you would like to attend please contact brigitte.stenhouse@gmail.com for full details.

Programme

10.15 Welcome

10.30 June Barrow-Green (OU), Writing the history of mathematics a source-based approach: priorities and constraints, and the value of co-operation

11.15 Robin Wilson (OU), The early History of Mathematics at the OU

12.00 Trip to the OU Archive & Fauvel Collection

12.45 Lunch at The Hub (OU)

14.00 Thomas Morel (Wuppertal), Mathematics for the “Common Man”: Practitioners, Teachers and the Early Modern Mathematical Life

14.45 Christopher Hollings (Oxford), ‘Local Mathematics’ at the Literary and Philosophical Societies

15.30 Coffee Break

16.00 Brigitte Stenhouse (OU), Keeping it in the family: How marriage and kinship create mathematical community

16.45 Closing Remarks

17.00 End of Day