Winsten Day 2012

There are still places available at the Winsten Lecture from 5pm on 1st February 2012, which is free to attend!

Winsten Lecture, 5pm, Ivor Crewe Lecture Theatre (Hall A) by Professor John D. Barrow

Lecture: Maths and the Olympics                    

Prof. John D. BarrowA look at how some simple maths can illuminate what is going on in a variety of sports if you are a spectator and improve your performance if you are a competitor. Running, jumping, rowing, football, table tennis, and throwing are some of the sports we shall explore, along with the unusual scoring systems that many sports have created.

The key note speech from 5pm is free to attend and is open to the public. Seats may be limited, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

 

Winsten Day for Schools

1st February, Colchester campus

Prof. John D. Barrow

The Department of Mathematical Sciences will be hosting an annual Winsten Day, a free enrichment day for Year 12 students, in honour of Professor Christopher Winsten. Professor Winsten was an internationally respected probability theorist and former member of the Department, who passed away in May 2005. Christopher Winsten's reputation is based on his application of mathematical and statistical ideas to areas of economics leading to the eponymous Prais-Winsten transformation still used by modern economists today and to the groundbreaking Beckmann-McGuire-Winsten (1955) approach to transportation economics. Chris had an intuitive geometrical approach that found solutions to difficult analytic problems. He left the bulk of his fortune to further the reputation of Essex mathematics.

 

The day will start at 10:30am with a welcome talk, followed by an opening lecture On the Shortest Distance Between Two Points Separated in Space and Time by Dr Andrew Harrison from the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

At 1pm, there will be an opportunity to have a tour around the University campus, participate in a Maths Quiz, or simply have a bite to eat! *Please note that lunch will not be provided.

In the afternoon, there will be a series of smaller group talks open to visitors from schools. Dr Martin Griffiths, from the Department, will show us How To Win By Cheating and Dr Paul Baxter, from the University of Leeds, will examine the question Are Large Databases Good For Your Health?

There will also be a Student Panel featuring both Mathematics students and students from other Departments. This will give the audience an opportunity to find out what life at the University of Essex is like.

Interested in coming to the Winsten Day for schools?

Schools can make bookings via the booking form below. Although the day is free to attend, all bookings will be subject to a refundable booking fee of £50. Students must me accompanied by staff.

Please keep checking this page for updates or get in touch for more information.

For more information please contact Camilla Thomsen (cthomsj@essex.ac.uk). 

 

Last modified on 30 January 2012.