Podcast: Episode 31 - Matt Parker, Maths communication

These are the show notes for episode 31 of the Travels in a Mathematical World Podcast. 31 is the earliest and the only known case such that the sum of the divisors of two distinct numbers (16 & 25) is the same prime quantity (31), that is to say: 1+2+4+8+16 = 31 and 1+5+25 = 31. More about 31 from Number Gossip.

Not too long ago I spoke to the Maths Promotors Network about New Technologies, including podcasting. As part of this I made a live podcast recording with Matt Parker. Matt talked and gave examples of how he communicates maths to enthuse school students. After the 'show', Matt gave another example of an exercise he does with students and gave some advice on getting into maths communication and teaching.

During this recording Matt swallows helium and sulfur hexafluoride, which both affect the voice in comedic ways. For more fun with sulfur hexafluoride, check out "Ship floating on nothing!" You can find out more about maths humour (probably more correctly, math humor) in the Simpsons at SimpsonsMath.com. You can read an introduction to the UK National Lottery and its odds at Plus.

A good starting point if you are interested in teaching or the Student Associates Scheme is the TDA website. You can find out about more maths grads on the project website and see some of their output on the Maths Careers website.

You can find out more about my work with the IMA by following me on Twitter, reading this blog and visiting http://www.ima.org.uk/student/. Join the Facebook page.