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International Day of Mathematics on March 14th a.k.a. Pi Day

by Bernd Sing -
↓ Breaking News ↓ Mark your Calendar ↓

Announcement "Counted Out"

As in previous years, we will celebrate this year's International Day of Mathematics, informally known as Pi Day, on March 14, 2025, with exciting activities. 

We start the day with a Total Lunar Eclipse (total eclipse between 2:26am and 3:31am, and so the maximum is at 2:58am Barbados time) - how exciting!

Lunar eclipse

For an overview, simulation and schedule for this eclipse, see here.

On campus, we will kick-off Pi-Day celebrations at Noon in ALT (Arts Lecture Theatre) by joining the Illustrating Mathematics Seminar Online on Zoom for a talk by Prof John Baez (UC Riverside) entitled "Visual Insights". 
Abstract: For several years I ran a blog called Visual Insights which was a place to share striking images that help explain topics in mathematics. In this talk I'd like to show you some of these images and explain some of the mathematics they illustrate.
 
Afterwards, at 1pm, we meet at ALT to start a Mathematical Scavenger Hunt, organized by the UWI MathClub, across campus. Discover object of mathematical nature around UWI!
 
At 3:15pm, we then assemble again in MSLT (Medical Sciences Lecture Theatre). Dr Bernd Sing, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, will give the Pi Day talk "Mathematics in Art".
Abstract: We will explore the connections between mathematics and artistic expression. We will discover the beauty of mathematical visual and textile art, and get inspired to engage in our own creative mathematical projects, e.g., by creating ambigrams.
 
From 4pm onwards, we will turn MSLT and the area around in into a Mathematical Fair and Poster Session. You will be able to play Nim, explore Möbius strips, do some Origami folding, etc. Some of our Student Societies will show how they use math in their respective disciplines. And you can also view posters from the Calculus B course. Please join us for all these activities — there will also be some give-aways!
 
The highlight of the day will then be the screening of "Counted Out" at 7pm in MSLT. Don't miss this new hard-hitting documentary that shines a light on math as the foundation of democracy and economic opportunity. Watch the trailer
Don't miss this screening — please join us for this thought provoking film!
 

Pi Day 2025 Schedule

Pi Day Announcement

You can also see the program at Eventbrite.

Rubik's Cube Competition is coming to Barbados

by Bernd Sing -

The First Official World Cube Association Rubik's Cube Competition in Barbados will take place on January 18, 2025!

After its 50th birthday, the Rubik's cube is finally coming to Barbados! Did you know that sppedcubing is "the retro hobby that can help boost your happiness (say scientists)". Also, have a look at

To celebrate this event, the Discipline of Mathematics is planning to host a workshop at UWI facilitated by delegates from the World Cube Association (WCA) on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 3:30pm in the Shell Suite at the Solution Centre (building no. 7 "SCR" on the campus map).

 Flyer for the Rubik's Cube Workshop

Let's put some names in all these empty tables at https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333/single?region=Barbados!

Online registration for the Speed cubing Competion on Saturday, January 18, 2025 will close on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM AST. The base registration fee for this competition is $20 (Bajan Dollar). For details, go to https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/competitions/Barbados2025

Flyer WCA competition Barbados 2025

MAA Distinguished Lecture Series presents Bruce Buffett - Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7PM

by Bernd Sing -

The Origin of Magnetic Fields in Terrestrial Planets

Magnetic fields are generated by fluid motion in the liquid metal cores of terrestrial planets. While numerical models offer valuable insights into the process, many of the details are still poorly understood because the models operate at conditions that are very far from the planetary setting. Historical observations on Earth cover a time interval too short to provide much help, so we turn to geological observations to understand the origin of the dipole field. The geological observations suggest that dipole trends are asymmetric in time. Increases in the dipole field are more rapid on average and occur less frequently than decreases in the field over timescales of several tens of thousands of years. This behavior is compatible with a field-generation mechanism that departs from standard arguments. Numerical models partially support the modified generation mechanism, although the level of asymmetry in the models is much weaker than that suggested by the geological observations. Speculations about future improvements in the numerical models suggest a convergence of models and observations as more realistic conditions are achieved.

Watch live on YouTube
Bruce Buffet

About the Speaker

I was an undergraduate at the University of Toronto and completed my PhD in Geophysics at Harvard (with astronomer Irwin Shapiro as my advisor). I spent two years as a postdoc with Herbert Huppert at the Institute of Theoretical Geophysics, which was then part of DAMTP at the University of Cambridge. My first faculty position was in the Department of Geophysics and Astronomy at the University of British Columbia. I moved to the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and later moved to UC Berkeley in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science.

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