Events

The Stirling Lecture 2011

Simon Singh - FERMAT'S LAST THEOREM

 This is a public lecture on the most famous problem in mathematics, delivered by the well-known author, Simon Singh.

After completing his BBC documentary about Fermat’s Last Theorem (the most notorious problem in the history of mathematics), Simon Singh wrote a No.1 bestselling book on the same subject. Why is the story of Fermat’s Last Theorem so compelling? And how do you turn complex mathematics into a compelling story. As well as showing clips from the documentary and discussing how it was made, Dr Singh will also discuss science in the media more generally. As science impacts on society more than ever before, it is crucial that media reporting is accurate, insightful and informative, rather than distorted, scaremongering and sensationalist. He examines TV and print journalism to discuss the forces at work behind the scenes .

 The 2011 lecture follows last year's excellent presentation by Graham Formello on "Paul Dirac and the religion of mathematical beauty".

 The Stirling lecture is an annual series hosted by the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP) in honour of its Founding Director, Professor James Stirling CBE FRS.

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