Tag Archives: Maths

November PubSci news: Booking now open for Marcus du Sautoy

Posted on October 27, 2026 by MarshalledThoughts | Leave a comment

A quick post to alert subscribers that booking is now open for 18th November

Before I give you that link, huge thanks to Sheila Poole for her fascinating talk on Darwin’s research at Down House, into orchids, cross-fertilisation, mimicry, and insectivorous plants in Beauty, Sex and Death — Darwin’s botanical obsessions, in which she explored Charles Darwin’s fascination with botanical deception and carnivory.

A moth with a long tongue feeding on a white, star-shaped orchid — *Sphinx moth feeding on Darwin’s Orchid*

Now, to business:

November’s PubSci with Professor Marcus du Sautoy

If you’ve checked out our current events programme or follow our Google calendar, you’ll have noticed that November’s talk is a bit special.

Our speaker is Oxford Professor of mathematics and holder of the Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science, Marcus du Sautoy. Marcus is a regular guest on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time, and anybody listening to the Today Programme on Radio 4 on Monday 19th October will have heard him give his response to the huge AI backlash from some leading mathematicians.

He’s the author of nine popular science books, and his latest book, Blueprints: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity, was published by Fourth Estate in 2025.

On Wednesday 18th November 2026, Marcus will be exploring the amazing maths that subtly underpins much of art and creativity.

After the talk, Marcus will be signing copies of Blueprints – now out in paperback.

The event is already booking fast. You can head to our NEXT EVENT page for more information, or go straight to Eventbrite to reserve a spot.

Marcus is also my interview guest for next episode of The Science Show (see below), to be broadcast on Monday 2nd November. We’ll be looking at some of the nine popular science & maths books he’s published, discussing AI in maths, and exploring the amazing maths that subtly underpins much of art and creativity. If you miss the live broadcast, you can catch up on all episodes on Mixcloud.

The venue is PubSci’s regular home, The Old King’s Head near Borough Market, which offers a great range of drinks, has a happy hour before 7pm, and opens the kitchen serving classic pub grub especially for us. Doors open at 6.30 for a 7pm start. Talks generally run for ~45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. Full address on the booking page.

As most of you know by now, PubSci talks are pay-what-you-can: You can make a contribution when booking on Eventbrite. We have no other source of funding. There are two ticket options:

Book for one + Support PubSci (max 1 ticket) if you prefer to contribute when booking – this option also reserves you one spot at the event. You may need to scroll down to see this option on Eventbrite.

Book without donating (max 4 tickets) if you prefer to put cash in the pot on the night.

The Number 1 Science Podcast – again!

The Science Show is a magazine-style miscellany packed with news, interviews, chat and discussions, plus great music and cultural crossovers. Episode 11 was broadcast on Monday 5th October and is available to stream or download on Mixcloud.

Deborah Rowe joined me to discuss the science news while Danielle Green and I took a Random Walk though the miasma, mosquitos, gin and tonic, and a Soho water pump. Historian of mathematics (and former PubSci speaker) Snezana Lawrence discussed how future historians might look back on the AI explosion in the maths world.

Episode 11 of The Science Show hit the top spot in Mixcloud’s science chart within a day of release, and broke into the Top 10 of the overall Podcast and Talk charts for the first time. I’m delighted by this unexpected success but what matters more is what you think of it. Please give it a listen and follow the show. If you like it, do please tell your friends!

If you follow us there, you’ll be notified when Episode 12 with my interview with Marcus du Sautoy is available to stream or download from Mixcloud.

Well that’s it for this post. Hope to see you at the Old King’s Head on 21st October, and don’t forget to put Wednesday 18th November in your diary.

Richard (Science communicator and PubSci organiser/host)

19th October 2026

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

Posted on April 14, 2025 by MarshalledThoughts | 2 comments

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

An illustration of ancient geometers and details of the book

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.

Book Now

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.

Book on Eventbrite

• • •

About the speaker

*Historian of maths and senior lecturer, Snezana Lawrence*

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.

PubSci Events on Eventbrite

• • •

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

See what’s new on PubSci’s Evenbtbrite booking page

• • •

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

2 Comments

Posted in culture, Events, History, Maths, Maths, Popular Science, Pubsci, Science, talks

Tagged ancient-greeks, babylonians, baghdad, books, Events, Geeks and Nerds, History, London, mathematics, Maths, Public Talks, Pubsci, Science, stem

Maths, Murder, and Storytelling | 20th March, Ioanna Georgiou

Posted on March 7, 2024 by MarshalledThoughts | Leave a comment

Adventures and Misadventures in Mathematics: How true stories bring maths to life

On Wednesday 20th March, PubSci is delighted to welcome author and maths educator, Ioanna Georgiou, who specialises in bringing mathematical ideas to life through true tales from the times they were first emerging.

Oil painting ofa roman soldier threatening a mathematician with a sword.

“Do not disturb my circles”

Ioanna will talk about using narrative to make maths enjoyable and accessible for everybody, illustrated with examples from history, and will ask why we still learn Pythagoras’s theorem today.

Have you ever wondered why Archimedes was murdered, how a walk in Kaliningrad might connect to the London Underground, or what ancient bones tell us about counting in the distant past? From the earliest lunar calendars to the maps we know so well, historic narratives bursting with lively characters allow us to glimpse what maths has been doing for human society ever since our ancestors first learnt to count.

• • •

Whether you’re a maths fan or a maths-phobe, this talk will charm and entertain you. Join Ioanna for Maths, Murder, and Storytelling on Wednesday 20th March to find out how true tales from the past make maths meaningful today. [Continues below]

An engraving of a Roman soldier threatening Archimedes with a sword but Archimedes is too busy working

“Not now mate, I’m working…”

Join us on Weds 20th March upstairs at the Old King’s Head (near London Bridge tube). Doors open 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.

We use Eventbrite to manage numbers – reserve your place now! PubSci is free to attend but please consider making a donation with your reservation to help us cover our costs.

• • •

About the speaker

Ioanna Georgiou (Ιωάννα Γεωργίου – pronounced Yoana Yeoryiou) specialises in using storytelling to bring mathematics to life, drawing on tales from the times the ideas were first emerging. [Continues]

Ioanna has an MPhil in Education, is head of mathematics at a Senior Girls’ School, and has been presenting Masterclasses at the Royal Institution of Great Britain since 2013. She is author of two books (Mathematical Adventures and Peculiar Deaths of Famous Mathematicians), both of which will be available at the talk.

Information about Ioanna’s tutoring and coaching can be found on her website.

PubSci is delighted to welcome Ioanna as our speaker for March. Subscribe to our calendar to be the first to know what’s happening each month.

___

Support PubSci

There is no charge for attending PubSci talks, but we have a traditional whip-round to cover expenses – consider it a “Pay What You Can” event. Very few of us carry cash these days, so you can contribute digitally through our TipJar or make a donation when registering for ticketed events with Eventbrite. Please help PubSci 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.

Check out the Future Events page where you can also subscribe to our Google Calendar so PubSci events automatically appear in your own Calendar. You can find all our links on our LinkTree.

• • •

We used to meet on the first Wednesday of the month but PubSci is now on the third Wednesday. Join us upstairs at the Old King’s Head near London Bridge Underground (Borough High Street east side exit) 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

21st June 2023 | Eugenia Cheng: Is Maths Real?

Posted on June 1, 2023 by MarshalledThoughts | 4 comments

[Ticketed event – free, with optional donation]

On Wednesday 21st June PubSci is delighted to welcome the extraordinary mathematician, Dr Eugenia Cheng, whose talks and books bring maths to life in unexpected, powerful, even life-affirming ways. Reserve your place now.

On a mission to rid the world of maths phobia, Eugenia presents maths as you’ve never seen it before, revealing how profound insights can emerge from seemingly unlikely sources.

Want to learn maths while cooking food? Eugenia wrote a book about that.

Could maths could help us see the world more clearly and make a case for justice and human rights? Eugenia covers that.

Ever thought maths was hard, obscure, or simply not for you…? Eugenia is the person who can, and probably will, change your mind.

Eugenia Cheng makes the case for maths emerging from normal human curiosity, and shows that being the kid who asked “But, why does 1+1=2?” could be more important than being the kid who always got the right answers.

• • •

US-based Dr Cheng is curently promoting her latest book, “Is Maths Real? How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics’ Deepest Truths” and we’re delighted to be included in her UK tour. June’s PubSci offers a unique opportunity to hear this celebrated mathematician in the intimate surroundings of a London pub. Don’t miss this chance to see maths in a wholly new way!

“Is Maths Real?” is published by Profile Books on 1st June. Copies will be on sale on the night.

–

Join us upstairs at the Old King’s Head, near London Bridge station for an extraordinary evening of discovery and wonder. We anticipate a large turnout for this event and are using Eventbrite to manage numbers. Please reserve your spot ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7, and the kitchen serves excellent pub grub. The nearest tube station is London Bridge (Borough High St. exit).

• • •

Eugenia Cheng is a British-born mathematician, author, public speaker, columnist, concert pianist, composer and artist who wants to rid the world of ‘maths phobia’.

As a mathematician, Eugenia’s field is Category Theory – the study of connections between things – which she encountered at Cambridge University where she received her PhD.

Her acclaimed books for a general audience include “How to Bake Pi”, “Beyond Infinity”, “The Art of Logic”, “x+y: A Mathematician’s Manifesto for Rethinking Gender”, and “The Joy of Abstraction: An Exploration of Math, Category theory, and Life”. She has written two children’s books, “Molly and the Mathematical Mysteries” and “Bake Infinite Pie with x+y“.

Dr Cheng is Scientist In Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, won tenure in Pure Mathematics at the University of Sheffield and is Honorary Visiting Fellow at City, University of London.

She also writes the Everyday Math column for the Wall Street Journal and has completed mathematical art commissions for hotels and cultural spaces in the USA. She has been a guest on BBC Radio 4’s More or Less with Tim Harford and The Life Scientific with Jim Al-Khalili, as well as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the USA.

Eugenia’s YouTube videos have been viewed almost 15 million times.

Eugenia Cheng talking on maths and music

• • •

Support PubSci.

There is no charge for attending PubSci talks, but we have a whip-round to cover expenses. As so few of us carry cash these days, you can contribute digitally through our TipJar link or make a donation when registering for ticketed events with Eventbrite. Please help PubSci continue to put on events.

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.

Check out the Future Events page where you can also subscribe to our Google Calendar so PubSci events automatically appear in your own Calendar. You can find all our links on our LinkTree.

We used to meet on the first Wednesday of the month but PubSci is now on the third Wednesday.

Address:

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

4 Comments

Posted in Events, Maths, Popular Science, Pubsci

Tagged event, Geeks and Nerds, Maths, Popular Science, Pubsci, Science, science in the pub

Tag Archives: Maths

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

Keep Up With Future Events

Maths, Murder, and Storytelling | 20th March, Ioanna Georgiou

21st June 2023 | Eugenia Cheng: Is Maths Real?

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