When the Maths Society met Tim Harford
The Maths Society has started our first competition — The ‘I love maths’ Competition.
This competition has finished. See the results on the story here.
On Sunday 21 May, it was time again for the annual Maths Festival, very generously put on by the Oxford Institute of Mathematics. With talks from prominent mathematicians, economists, coupled with other sessions, including maths-related board games, and walking the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Maths Department.
On this occasion, we met economist, statistician and author Tim Harford, who incredibly kindly signed a Maths Society poster and a copy of his latest book, as well as three Oxford Institute of Mathematics badges, for what would become the ‘I love maths’ Prize. His talk was also riveting, as he described Florence Nightingale’s flower diagrams, Arthur Conan Doyle’s fairy obsession, the science behind conformation bias, and all the other best bits of his new book, The Truth Detective. We would definitely recommend the event to anyone interested in maths.
So how can you win the ’I love maths’ Prize? Well, it’s actually quite simple. Can you finish the following sentence in the most original manner:
I love maths because…
This will be judged by the Maths Society Committee, and at our meeting at 2.00pm on Tuesday 23 May, the ‘I love maths’ Prize, consisting of the signed copy of The Truth Detective, a signed Maths Society poster and an Oxford Institute of Mathematics badge, will be presented to the winner. The Committee will also decide on two Runners-up, who will also receive badges.
Stay tuned for more precise information on how to enter.
We look forward to seeing your responses!
Economist and author Tim Harford OBE presents More or Less on BBC Radio 4, a programme about real life statistics. His books explaining economics and statistics include The Undercover Economist, How to Make the World Add Up, and most recently The Truth Detective.
