This week the topic was calculus and differentiation. We talked to Florencia Tettamanti, who’s a mathematician working on fluid dynamics. We talked about how Flo uses calculus to study the motion of fluids like air and water, and what it’s like to be a research mathematician. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Taking Maths Further Podcast

Episode 20: Calculus and fluid dynamics

This week the topic was mechanics and friction. We interviewed Dan Hett, who works for CBBC writing computer games for their website. We talked about his work and how he uses a lot of mathematics in modelling how characters move, and making sure that’s done in a realistic way. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 19: Computer games and mechanics

This week the topic was Fourier analysis. We interviewed Heather Williams, who’s a medical physicist and works with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, as well as other medical scanning devices. We talked about her work and how maths is important in converting data from the scanner into images that can be used to diagnose patients. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 18: Medical imaging and Fourier analysis

This week the topic was mathematical modelling and linear programming. We interviewed Rick Crawford from AMEC, who’s a mathematician studying decommissioning of nuclear reactors, and using mathematical models to determine whether it’s safe to continue using a particular reactor given that it may have degraded over time, but without actually building a physical model of it. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 17: Nuclear reactor modelling

This week the topic was statistical distributions and actuarial science. We interviewed Richard Harland, who works in risk management for an insurance firm. We talked to him about his work as an actuary, and how he uses statistical distributions like the normal distribution to predict the probability of risky events. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 16: Actuarial science and normal distributions

This week the topic was mathematics and money, and how maths is used in finance.We interviewed Sarah O’Rourke, who’s an accountant working on the problem of moving cash around to where it’s needed in cash machines. We discussed the ways she uses mathematical modelling to predict where demand for cash will be high, and also the other types of work that accountants do, and the different ways to become an accountant.Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 15: Accountancy and cash management

This week the topic was maths and art. We interviewed Edmund Harris, who spoke about his work using different media to engage people with mathematics, including his work creating art with a mathematical basis. We discussed his work with tilings and how he uses maths in his work. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 14: Maths and Art

This week the topic was vectors and matrices. We interviewed Dave Langers, who studies the human brain, and how it processes hearing signals. We talked about how Dave uses matrices and vectors to store information from brain scans, which allow him to manipulate the information more easily. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 13: Vectors, matrices and hearing

This week the topic was data analysis. We interviewed Judith Elgie from INRIX about her work as a data analyst, and how she uses computers to analyse and predict the movement of vehicles on the roads, to generate information about where traffic jams are and which roads are clear. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 12: Regression and traffic management

This week the topic was boolean algebra. We interviewed Robie Basak, who's a computer programmer at Canonical, about his work on the Ubuntu operating system, and how he and his colleagues use mathematics and mathematical thinking in order to write computer software. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 11: Programming and boolean algebra

This week the topic was types of numbers and infinity. We interviewed Dorothy Ker, who’s a musician and composer. We talked about the way Dorothy uses maths to inspire her creativity, as well as the types of maths that composers and musicians use. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 10: Numbers, infinite and music

This week the topic was coordinate geometry and structural engineering. We interviewed John Read, who’s a structural engineer, about his work and how he uses mathematics to design structures and buildings. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 9: Structural engineering and coordinates

This week the topic was the most efficient way to pack shapes in 2D and 3D space. We interviewed Jacek Wychowaniec, who’s a scientist studying applications of materials science to biology. We talked about how he uses many different types of maths in his work, and how he’s been developing substances which can be used to help regrow damaged nerves. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 8: Packing Shapes and graphene

This week the topic was trigonometry. We interviewed Stephanie Yardley, who’s a solar physicist. We talked about the research Stephanie does into activity on the surface of the sun, and how she uses trigonometry to analyse data from satellites and telescopes. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts

Episode 7: Astrophysics and trigonometry

This week the topic was exponential growth, and pension investments. We interviewed Simon Perera from Lane, Clark & Peacock about his work as an actuary, what an actuary is and how it involves predicting the growth of investments. Show notes and more episodes via www.furthermaths.org.uk/podcasts