#68 Hunting through higher dimensions with Zhouli Xu
Send us a textWelcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.org– you can find all the content from the collaboration here.On May 30th 2024 seminar goers at Princeton University witnessed a thrilling moment. The mathematician Zhouli Xu of the University of California, LA, announced that, together with colleagues he had sorted out the 126th dimension. Not in general, but in regards to a problem that has taunted mathematicians since the 1960s. The problem involves strange shapes and is called the Kervaire invariant problem, after the mathematician Michel Kervaire.In this episode, Zhouli takes us on a trip into higher dimensions, giving us a gist of what this long-standing problem is all about and retracing some of the long, and sometimes arduous, journey towards a proof. We met Zhouli when he visited the Isaac Newton institute for Mathematical Sciences (INI) in Cambridge to take part in a research programme called Equivariant homotopy theory in Context.To find out more abut the topics discussed in this podcast see:Maths in a minute: TopologyThe hypersphere in four dimensionsTelescope topology
-------- Â
34:10
--------
34:10
#67 The meaning is in the arrows with Adina Goldberg
Send us a textWelcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.orgIn this podcast we hope to give you some interesting information. This information is encoded in terms of 0s and 1s – the classical bits in your computer or phone. But what if instead we were using a quantum computer? Then we'd be dealing with quantum bits, or qubits, opening up exciting new possibilities. And quantum information theory is the area of mathematics that explores how we can do that. Adina Goldberg was one of the participants at a recent research programme in this area at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences. In this episode we speak to Adina about her work and how her intriguing motto – "the meaning is in the arrows" – applies to her research, her career path, and the way she looks at life.You can find out more about quantum information in this short introduction and delve into the details of information theory in this collection of content.  Make sure you visit
-------- Â
22:26
--------
22:26
#66 A conversation with Sarah Hart
Send us a textWelcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.orgIn this episode we spoke to Sarah Hart, a mathematician interested in not just the maths itself, but also its connections to other areas of literature and art. She's done an amazing number of things throughout her career — from research in pure mathematics and heading up a maths department, to being the first woman Gresham Professor of Geometry and President of the British Society for the History of Mathematics. Sarah has also written a fascinating book, called Once upon a prime: The wondrous connections between mathematics and literature, and she gave a talk at this year's Cambridge Festival, with the intriguing title Life in Lilliput – The Mathematics of Fictional Realms that was held at the INI. Sarah also participates in the Modern History of Mathematics research programme that is currently taking place at the INI.In this episode, Sarah tells us many things she has done and how they all fit together, and gives some advice for budding mathematicians of all ages: "keep pursuing all the things you love doing, and one day it may turn out that they all fit together."To find out more about some of the things mentioned in this podcast see the following links:Sarah Hart: Once upon a prime — In this episode of Maths on the Move podcast Sarah talks about her book and the connections between maths and literature.Maths in three minutes: Groups — This article gives a brief introduction to Sarah's research area.Life in Lilliput – The Mathematics of Fictional Realms — Click this link to watch a recording of Sarah's Cambridge Festival talk at the INI.
-------- Â
24:39
--------
24:39
#64 Communicating mathematics with the INI and Hannah Fry
Send us a textWelcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.orgIn this episode, we dive into the importance of communicating mathematics to a broader audience, a growing priority within the maths community. Sara Khan, Communications Manager at the Isaac Newton Institute, shares how the INI is championing mathematics communication. Then, Rachel Thomas and Marianne Freiberger, editors of Plus.maths.org, revisit their conversation with Hannah Fry, who has recently taken on the role of Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. To learn more about the organizations and events mentioned in this episode that support mathematics communication, check out the following links:The Mathsci-comm network, funded by an INI Network grant, connects individuals working in or with an interest in communicating complex mathematics and data science to non-expert audiences. The network is managed by Plus.maths.org editors Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, alongside Maha Kaouri from the Newton Gateway to Mathematics.The Communicating Mathematical and Data Sciences — What Does Success Look Like? workshop, organized by the Mathsci-comm network, was held at the INI in November 2024. It was at this event that Hannah Fry announced her move to Cambridge.The Graduate Training Workshop for the Mathematical Sciences, hosted by the Newton Gateway to Mathematics, took place at the INI in February 2025, with a key focus on communication. This session was led by Plus.maths.org editors Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, along with Alison Kiddle and Katie Steckles, and followed a pilot event in October 2024.The Talking Maths in Public (TMiP) conference, held biennially in the UK, brings together those who work in or contribute to communicating mathematics to the public. TMiP 2025 will be held at the University of Warwick from 28th to 30th August 2025, with an option to attend online.
-------- Â
28:40
--------
28:40
#65 Diving into maths with Emmy Noether
Send us a textWelcome to the latest episode of Living Proof, our podcast produced in collaboration with Plus.maths.orgIn this episode, we talked to famous Maths historian, David E. Rowe, who provided scientific advice for the play Diving into math with Emmy Noether, which was staged as part of the Modern History of Mathematics research programme and the Inclusivity in the Mathematical Sciences workshop at the INI. We dive deep into the life and work of Emmy Noether, and about what it's like putting mathematics on stage.The play is produced by Portrait Theater Vienna in co-operation with Freie Universität Berlin, directed by Sandra Schueddekopf, and features Anita Zieher as Emmy Noether.Read article Emmy Noether: a creative mathematical genius produced by Plus magazine as part of their collaboration with INI.
About Living Proof: the Isaac Newton Institute podcast
The Isaac Newton Institute is the world's foremost mathematical research centre. Living Proof aims to highlight the diverse people and interconnected topics linked to its many activities. Interviewees range from visiting academics and lecturers to mathematicians, other scientists, musicians, artists, students, and prominent figures within the University of Cambridge and beyond. The podcast typically involves mathematical themes, but is specifically aimed at a general audience. The focus is on the subjects being interviewed and the social stories they have to tell, not just on the significance and details of the research they may be undertaking. We hope there is interest and inspiration here for everyone.- The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences (UK) is an international research centre based in Cambridge, UK. A part of the University of Cambridge, it has been hosting research programmes on mathematical themes since July 1992.Visit > www.newton.ac.uk/news/ini-podcast
Listen to Living Proof: the Isaac Newton Institute podcast, Making Sense with Sam Harris and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
South Africa