Kevin Houston

The Home of Hands-on Mathematics – opening in London in November 2025! Learn more at mathsworld.com

Not much change!

Talking Maths in Public 2025 has started! #TMiP25

Sign saying Maths Houses 1-6

Guess where I am! Which university has Maths Houses? Hint: where is #TMiP25 this year?

Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences The Isaac Newton Institute is a national and international visitor research institute. It runs research programmes on selected themes in mathematics and the mathematical sciences with applications over a wide range of science and technology.

Our event is very soon! Time to thank our wonderful sponsors again - thanks to @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social for hosting, and to @icms-edinburgh.bsky.social, @ima-maths.bsky.social, INI newton.ac.uk, MapleSoft.com and heilbronn.ac.uk for financial support with our event.

To celebrate our move to the Canal Wharf centre this Autumn we are offering 50% off of tickets for the final day in our current Leeds Trinity site!

Just go through the online booking process as normal for any slot on 31/08/25 and the discount will be applied automatically...

mathscity.co.uk

No wonder I didn't recognise you! I definitely remember the photo though.

I was there! Did we get to see the picture? If so which one?

Screenshot of email client which says Inbox - Exchange 0 Messages

Smashed it

Screenshot of email client that says Inbox - Exchange. 232 messages, 232 unread.

Been away on leave and only 232 new emails since I've been away -- which doesn't seem much!

YouTube video by Talking Maths in Public Animation Generation Collaboration Compilation June 2025

The compilation video for June's @tmip.bsky.social Animation Generation Collaboration Compilation is live! There were some lovely entries this month, and some techniques and software that are new to the collaboration. Thank you to everyone who took part! youtu.be/kri1aDjsgbo?... #MathsAnimationTMiP

I checked with STEM team. They have been physically displaced since Covid which has caused a difficulty in setting up a new loan process but they are revisiting this in the hope it can be reinstated.

Honestly, I'm rubbish at marketing.

I hate it. Putting stuff out there with the idea that people might not like it or want it, makes me feel all sick.

BUT I need to tell you about the open presentation workshops I'm doing in aug.

More info here tinyurl.com/48mv76cy

My guess is that we still do this. Ruth Holland and I have discussed updating the Leeds Maths outreach activities but I hadn't spotted that the Roadshow was out of date (it comes under STEM so isn't organised within Maths). The email at the bottom of the page is still in use so can be written to!

A white woman with short brown and purple hair, a blue top and a headset mic stands in front of a white background

🌟 Beetlestone Award 2025 🌟

The Beetlestone Award Organising Committee is delighted to announce the 2025 winner of this prestigious Award, given for leadership and legacy in Communicating Science, is Dr Katie Steckles.

Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences The Isaac Newton Institute is a national and international visitor research institute. It runs research programmes on selected themes in mathematics and the mathematical sciences with applications over a wide range of science and technology.

TMiP wouldn’t be possible without the kind support of @icms-edinburgh.bsky.social & the Isaac Newton Institute https://newton.ac.uk, as well as the Heilbronn Institute https://heilbronn.ac.uk and our hosts @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social. Thanks to all of them for making it possible!

I haven't carefully checked either answer. What I find interesting is that superficially both look correct. I'd likely skip over either answer if I saw it in a book or from a student. It's plausible that the composition of two X's is an X and plausible that roots don't behave well under composition!

Claude seems to stick to its opinions when challenged while ChatGPT folds under the slightest pressure!

A prompt to ChatGPT says "I am studying Galois theory. If f and g are separable polynomials over K , then is the composition f(g(x)) also separable?". ChatGPT responds "Yes-over any field K, the composition of separable polynomials is again separable. Here's a quick proof using formal derivatives."

A prompt to Claude.ai says "I am studying Galois theory. If f and g are separable polynomials over K , then is the composition f(g(x)) also separable?". Claude responds "No, the composition f(g(x)) is not necessarily separable even when both f and g are separable polynomials over K. Here's a counterexample".

ChatGPT says yes. Claude says no. Maybe they should just agree to disagree. Who's to say which is right?

Want to give a Lightning Talk at Talking Maths in Public? Five minutes to tell everyone about your latest maths public engagement activity! Register for the event, then apply here (deadline 11th July): talkingmathsinpublic...

A photograph of the cover of Abstract Algebra by Marco Hein.

My obsession with Galois Theory continues. Have bought yet another book that has a large chunk about it.

YouTube video by Un-Natural Numbers Un-Natural Numbers: Episode 1

I am absolutely delighted to debut a new chat show all about numbers. Check out episode 1 of Un-Natural Numbers where @christianp.mathstodon.xyz.ap.brid.gy, @paddymaths.bsky.social and I chat all about the number 1.

#mathsky
#mathstalk
#un-naturalnumbers

youtu.be/9i5Y-nLY1Tw?...

Great to meet you too. And it's nice to hear that the book is still being read!

YouTube video by Un-Natural Numbers Un Natural Numbers Open Invite

Hey folks, I am starting a new project - a regular video discussion with mathsy people talking about our favourite facts about numbers. Put out as a YT video each fortnight.

And I would like YOU to get involved! Tell me you will join at forms.gle/m3TQxKs3kaSp...

#mathsky

youtu.be/qaAxh5MphgE?...

Anthropic Education Report: How University Students Use Claude AI systems are no longer just specialized research tools: they’re everyday academic companions. As AIs integrate more deeply into educational environments, we need to consider important questions…

The AI company Anthropic have issued a report on the use of their AI, Claude, by students. I don't think the report contains any big surprises but it is good to have some vague confirmation of what we suspected! Mathematics students seem to be early adopters.
www.anthropic.com/news/anthrop...

I'm delighted to be performing as part of Pseudorandom Ensemble alongside @colinbeveridge.bsky.social, @honeypisquared.bsky.social, Martin Harris and Gavan Fantom at Clopen Mic Night on Thursday. Good mathematical fun and free to watch!

Just received Snezana Lawrence's new book A Little History of Mathematics. @snezanalawrence.bsky.social

We’re pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for our 2025 Talking Maths in Public conference #TMiP25! Join us for ~e days of networking, panels, keynotes and discussions about communicating maths in a variety of ways. Details and booking info at talkingmathsinpublic...

Green?

The compilation video of clips from our March #MathsAnimationTMiP Animation Generation Collaboration is ready! Find out more and join in with this month's prompt at talkingmathsinpublic... www.youtube.com/watc...