We are the Cambridge University History of Mathematics Society. We exist to promote the study of mathematical history and related topics.
Our committee may be contacted at hom@srcf.net.
To access recent lecture recordings, please follow this link.
History of Mathematics
Dr P. Bursill-Hall
W. F. 4, Location TBC, concurrently streamed on Zoom
History of Science for Mathmos
Dr P. Bursill-Hall
Th. 4, Location TBC, concurrently streamed on Zoom
Lectures start Friday 11th October.
For up-to-date information about these lectures, join the associated mailing list.
This is a fairly relaxed overview of the history of mathematical ideas, from (western) ancient civilisations to the Enlightenment; a separate set of lectures (inevitably a little bit more technical) are occasionally given in Easter Term on some aspects of 19th century mathematics.
The course presumes no particular or strong mathematical background (but I do assume most of the students are mathmos or equivalent), and is more about mathematical ideas and styles, and the historical influences on, and influences of mathematics on its contemporary world. A good sense of humour is required. The traditional requirement that students bring food and drink to my lectures is maintained for Zoom lectures.
See here for a more detailed course introduction.
This year’s History of Science lectures will be on Ancient Science and Technology.
This is the first of a three-year cycle of lectures on history of science; this year will be on ancient and early science from the Babylonians and Egyptians down to the end of antiquity. It includes some philosophy of science, some technology, some history of medicine, and a considerable amount of chocolate, and will cover the usual cast of reprobates, like Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes, Galen, Ptolemy, pagans and Christians, alchemists and astrologers, doctors and physicists … but seen from a personal and non-standard point of view. Subsequent years will cover medieval to Enlightenment European science, and then a course on early Islam and early Islamic science and technology – just because it's interesting and you probably don’t know much about it.
Which sounds like a fair amount to keep us busy for far more lectures than we have scheduled, but alas we shall have to make do.
See here for a more detailed course introduction.
The society has a Discord.