Being a Professional Mathematician

By Tony Mann and Chris Good

Natural Sciences Science & Medicine Education Business Careers Higher Education

What's Being a Professional Mathematician about?

Audio files from the project Being a Professional Mathematician, which produced worksheets and other resources for the undergraduate mathematics curriculum. www.beingamathematician.org

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Being a Professional Mathematician episodes:

05.31.2012
Hugh Everett III: Many Worlds of Mathematics
Tony Mann talks about the career of Hugh Everett III (1930 - 1982), famous for his "Many Worlds" interpretation of quantum theory. He talks about: introduction to Everett's career (time 0:10) Everett's work in...
05.31.2012
Florence Nightingale: "What use were mathematics to a married woman?"
Noel-Ann Bradshaw talks about Florence Nightingale (1820 - 1910), the first woman to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. We learn about: what you may not know about Florence Nightingale (time 0:21) ...
05.31.2012
James Joseph Sylvester (1814 - 1897): "An outsider breaking into the established societal norms"
Karen Parshall talks about the nineteenth-century mathematician James Joseph Sylvester. We learn about: Sylvester's family background and Jewish heritage (at time 0:27) being a Jew in Victorian Britain (1:21) his mathematical...
05.31.2012
Emilie du Chatelet: "A normal woman and a good scientist"
Patricia Fara, historian of science at the University of Cambridge, talks about Emilie du Chatelet (1706 - 1749), mathematician, translator and populariser of Newton's work in France. We learn about: du Chatelet's background and education (time 0:28) ...
05.31.2012
Thomas Harriot (1560 - 1621)
Jackie Stedall talks about Thomas Harriot, a notable mathematician who lived in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. She talks about Harriot's mathematics (at time 0:16) Was Harriot a "professional mathematician"? (0:42) ...
05.31.2012
Gwyneth Stallard: "That moment when suddenly things fit together"
Gwyneth Stallard is Professor of Pure Mathematics at the Open University. She talks about defining her profession (at time 0:29) teaching at the Open University (0:44) research in pure mathematics (1:40) ...
05.31.2012
Mason Porter: "I don't usually prove theorems"
Mason Porter is an applied mathematician who is a University Lecturer and Tutor at the University of Oxford. He talks about his work (at time 0:09) being a mathematician (1:04) how...
05.31.2012
Sue Merchant: "An ability to empathise with the client"
Sue Merchant is an independent management consultant. She is a past President of the Operational Research Society and Vice-President elect of the International Federation of OR Societies (IFORS). "Factors essential to survival as a working mum include a hugely supportive...
05.31.2012
Jay Jobanputra: "A mathematician will always stand out"
Jay Jobanputra talks about his career as a mathematician in the investment banking sector in the UK and abroad. He now works part-time in order to have time to develop an educational product to motivate children at a critical time...
05.31.2012
Peter Furness: I have "Mathematician" on my business card
Peter Furness, consultant in decision analytics, modelling and data mining, talks about his career. He discusses: how he describes himself (at time 0:08) the image of mathematics in his field of commercial consultancy (1:23) ...
05.31.2012
Rosemary Dyson: "A very very very applied mathematician"
Rosemary Dyson is a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of Birmingham and part of the Systems Science for Health initiative. She applies the principles of mathematical modelling to mechanical problems in biological and industrial contexts, generating novel insights...
05.31.2012
Nira Chamberlain: "You don't need anybody’s permission to be a great mathematician"
Nira Chamberlain is a mathematical modelling consultant. He talks about: His career (at time 0:10) The skills mathematical consultants need (1:37) Professional bodies and Chartered status (2:22) Doing...
05.31.2012
Danny Brown: How about physically making something?
Danny Brown is a mathematics teacher at Thomas Tallis School in Greenwich. He talks about: is he a "mathematician"? (at time 0:21) support and professional networks (1:32) the value of social media...

What's Being a Professional Mathematician about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Being a Professional Mathematician episodes:

Hugh Everett III: Many Worlds of Mathematics

Florence Nightingale: "What use were mathematics to a married woman?"

James Joseph Sylvester (1814 - 1897): "An outsider breaking into the established societal norms"

Emilie du Chatelet: "A normal woman and a good scientist"

Thomas Harriot (1560 - 1621)

Gwyneth Stallard: "That moment when suddenly things fit together"

Mason Porter: "I don't usually prove theorems"

Sue Merchant: "An ability to empathise with the client"

Jay Jobanputra: "A mathematician will always stand out"

Peter Furness: I have "Mathematician" on my business card

Rosemary Dyson: "A very very very applied mathematician"

Nira Chamberlain: "You don't need anybody’s permission to be a great mathematician"

Danny Brown: How about physically making something?