Maths and murder is just one of the topics being covered in the new series of public lectures at the University of Bath.
The General University Lecture Programme (GULP) kicks off this Wednesday (7 October) with How to Amaze Your Friends by Professor Chris Budd of the University’s Department of Mathematical Sciences.
Chris is a professor of applied mathematics at the University, a passionate populariser of mathematics, and one of the organisers of the annual Bath Taps into Science Festival.
He said: “This talk will take mathematics into the dark territory of murder, suicide, betrayal, love, sex and conquest as we look at the story of mazes from ancient times to the present day.
“I will tell the story about Theseus and the Minotaur. The story is about a Greek prince who has to rescue some young people from a creature called the Minotaur. In order to do this he has to crack a maze.
“I then hope to bring the subject up to date by showing how maths is used to crack mazes, something which is used in Google and on the internet.”
He added: “I will even go on to show how cracking a maze can be used to get a hot date at a party!”
Other lectures in the GULP series are:
- CSI unmasked – the facts about forensics - Kathleen Conabree, 14 October
- Charles Rennie Mackintosh – the Glasgow legacy - Stuart Robertson, 21 October
- The painted garden – Russell Bowes, 28 October
- Airfields: a phenomenon of the 20th century - Bob Clarke, 4 November
- Intimations of immortality: the changing face of death in an ageing society - Professor Malcolm Johnson, 11 November
- Lady Miller of Batheaston (1741-17810) – Martin Sturge, 18 November.
Lectures are free and open to the public. They all start at 5:15pm and will be held in Lecture Theatre 8 West 1.1
Parking is available in the west car park of the Claverton Campus.
For more information go to http://www.bath.ac.uk/lifelong-learning/gulp/ or call Helen Redfern on 01225 386587.