‘A little History of Mathematics’ with author Snezana Lawrence | 16th April 2025 [SOLD OUT]

Snezana Lawrence, takes us on a fascinating journey through the lesser-known histories of maths.

On Wednesday 16th April, PubSci is delighted to welcome author and historian of mathematics, Dr. Snezana Lawrence, to examine why mathematics is so fundamental to our daily lives and explore just where it comes from.

Book now, or read on to learn more. Full details and booking on Eventbrite. [Update: This incredibly popular event is sold out. Please join the waiting list if you wish to attend in case of late cancellations. You can also follow PubSci on Eventbrite to be automatically notified of new events.]

Science, computing, economics – all of modern life relies on some kind of maths – but how old is maths? Where do numbers come from? And how did maths help our distant ancestors understand the world?

Snezana Lawrence addresses these questions and more in her wonderful new book, A Little History of Mathematics, which traces the fascinating history of mathematics from ancient Egyptians and the Babylonian empire to Renaissance masters and the enigma codebreakers.

Expect to hear about ancient Chinese Mathematical Art, Baghdad’s House of Wisdom, and geometrical theorems at Japanese shrines. Going beyond familiar names we learnt at school, she’ll reveal the prominent role female mathematicians played in the history of maths – a contribution that has too often been overlooked.

Copies of A Little History of Mathematics will be available to buy at the event.

Join us upstairs at the Old King’s Head on Wednesday 16th April. Places for this talk are limited and selling fast, so book now!

• • •

PubSci talks are pay-what-you-can – you can make a contribution when booking on Eventbrite or as a cash contribution on the night. Join us for another round of Sipping, Supping Science… in the pub.

Doors open at 6.30 for a 7pm start. Talks run for ~45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7pm, and the kitchen serves excellent pub grub.

• • •

About the speaker

Dr Snezana Lawrence FIMA is a historian of mathematics and senior lecturer in Mathematics and Design Engineering at Middlesex University.

She is passionate about inspiring young interest in her subject, helped reform the national curriculum for maths in 2013, and was the chair of the History and Pedagogy of Mathematics International Study Group between 2020 and 2024.

A Little History of Mathematics, her fourth book, is published by Yale University Press on 8th April as part of their celebrated Little Histories series. It receives its worldwide launch at Oxford Literary Festival on 4th April and her PubSci talk represents the book’s London launch following publication.

Snezana is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and is on X as @mathshistory. Learn about Snezana’s other books in the forthcoming PubSci blog post.

PubSci is delighted to welcome back Snezana as the fourth speaker in PubSci’s 2025 programme.

• • •

Keep Up With Future Events

To make sure you don’t miss out on future events, subscribe to our Google Calendar to be the first to know when new talks are scheduled, and follow PubSci’s events on Eventbrite to be notified when tickets are available. You can also sign up to our own mailing list on any page on this site.

Posted by Richard Marshall, PubSci organiser and host.

PubSci: Sipping • Supping • Science

• • •

• • •

About PubSci talks

PubSci is organised and hosted by science communicator, Richard Marshall, assisted by Mike Lucibella. Events are held upstairs at the Old King’s Head, near London Bridge tube. No specialist knowledge is required, just curiosity. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Talks run for ~45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7pm, and the kitchen serves excellent pub grub.

Support PubSci

There is no charge for attending PubSci talks, but we have a cash whip-round to cover expenses on the night – consider it “Pay What You Can Afford”. As few of us carry cash these days, you can make a donation when registering for ticketed events with Eventbrite. Please help us continue putting on events. PubSci has no other source of funding.

We aim to keep PubSci accessible for all, although it is unsuitable for under 18s as we meet in the function room of  a pub. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access. 

You can find all our links on our LinkTree.

• • •

We generally hold events on the third Wednesday of the month, upstairs at the Old King’s Head near London Bridge Underground (Borough High Street east side exit). Join us every month apart from December for a regular dose of Sipping, Supping & Science.

Address:

The Old King’s Head (upstairs room)
King’s Head Yard
45-49 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA