Peter Rowlett
@peterrowlett.net
I teach maths at a UK university and work as a maths communicator. Sheffield/Nottingham based. Aperiodical blog, Mathematical Objects podcast. Part of http://finitegroup.co.uk
peterrowlett.net
peterrowlett.net
Merry Christmas!
I’ve enjoyed the @mscroggs.co.uk puzzle advent calendar - prizes to be won if you complete the puzzles this year www.mscroggs.co.uk
Something else I’ve enjoyed being part of: the Mathematically extra-complicated Secret Santa 2025 — @tomvii.bsky.social’s video:
youtu.be/4pG8_bWpmaE
I’ve enjoyed the @mscroggs.co.uk puzzle advent calendar - prizes to be won if you complete the puzzles this year www.mscroggs.co.uk
Something else I’ve enjoyed being part of: the Mathematically extra-complicated Secret Santa 2025 — @tomvii.bsky.social’s video:
youtu.be/4pG8_bWpmaE
Mathematically extra-complicated Secretest Santa 2025
YouTube video by suckerpinch
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Merry Christmas!
I’ve enjoyed the @mscroggs.co.uk puzzle advent calendar - prizes to be won if you complete the puzzles this year www.mscroggs.co.uk
Something else I’ve enjoyed being part of: the Mathematically extra-complicated Secret Santa 2025 — @tomvii.bsky.social’s video:
youtu.be/4pG8_bWpmaE
I’ve enjoyed the @mscroggs.co.uk puzzle advent calendar - prizes to be won if you complete the puzzles this year www.mscroggs.co.uk
Something else I’ve enjoyed being part of: the Mathematically extra-complicated Secret Santa 2025 — @tomvii.bsky.social’s video:
youtu.be/4pG8_bWpmaE
I wrote a puzzle in today’s Sunday Times. Also on the last page of this PDF: extras.thetimes.co.uk/web/public/p...
December 21, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I wrote a puzzle in today’s Sunday Times. Also on the last page of this PDF: extras.thetimes.co.uk/web/public/p...
New Mathematical Objects podcast episode: @steckl.es tells me about the maths behind a slice of pizza!
Mathematical Objects: Slice of pizza
A conversation about mathematics inspired by a slice of pizza. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.
aperiodical.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:41 AM
New Mathematical Objects podcast episode: @steckl.es tells me about the maths behind a slice of pizza!
"Editor's Choice" 👀
Our paper exploring whether engineering students prefer maths problems in context or not is in the new issue of Teaching Mathematics and its Applications.
doi.org/10.1093/team...
Our paper exploring whether engineering students prefer maths problems in context or not is in the new issue of Teaching Mathematics and its Applications.
doi.org/10.1093/team...
December 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
"Editor's Choice" 👀
Our paper exploring whether engineering students prefer maths problems in context or not is in the new issue of Teaching Mathematics and its Applications.
doi.org/10.1093/team...
Our paper exploring whether engineering students prefer maths problems in context or not is in the new issue of Teaching Mathematics and its Applications.
doi.org/10.1093/team...
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
As of Saturday just gone I'm a member of The British Society for the History of Mathematics's council. I was invited to join as someone who can provide a school teacher's viewpoint.
As such, I'm very interested to know who...
#Maths #History #HistoryOfMaths #MathsOfHistory #teacher #MathsToday
As such, I'm very interested to know who...
#Maths #History #HistoryOfMaths #MathsOfHistory #teacher #MathsToday
December 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
As of Saturday just gone I'm a member of The British Society for the History of Mathematics's council. I was invited to join as someone who can provide a school teacher's viewpoint.
As such, I'm very interested to know who...
#Maths #History #HistoryOfMaths #MathsOfHistory #teacher #MathsToday
As such, I'm very interested to know who...
#Maths #History #HistoryOfMaths #MathsOfHistory #teacher #MathsToday
You know that curve in the pattern of light in the bottom of your tea cup? @steckl.es and I speak to @dragondodo.bsky.social about cardioids!
New episode of the Mathematical Objects podcast.
New episode of the Mathematical Objects podcast.
Mathematical Objects: Cardioid with Dominika Vasilkova
A conversation about mathematics inspired by a light pattern in a tea cup. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Dominika Vasilkova. Cardioids in coffee cups – Cha…
aperiodical.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:48 AM
You know that curve in the pattern of light in the bottom of your tea cup? @steckl.es and I speak to @dragondodo.bsky.social about cardioids!
New episode of the Mathematical Objects podcast.
New episode of the Mathematical Objects podcast.
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
We'll be doing our final Finite Group Livestream of 2025 at noon uk time on 18th December - join me, @MScroggs.co.uk and @Ayliean.bsky.social for a festive feast of merry maths! Livestreams are for paid Finite Group members (from £4 a month, including some past recordings). Info at finitegroup.co.uk
Finite Group
Finite Group is a collective of cool maths people who want to have nice conversations about mathematical ideas.
finitegroup.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM
We'll be doing our final Finite Group Livestream of 2025 at noon uk time on 18th December - join me, @MScroggs.co.uk and @Ayliean.bsky.social for a festive feast of merry maths! Livestreams are for paid Finite Group members (from £4 a month, including some past recordings). Info at finitegroup.co.uk
I don’t know how these simple calculators work. My son has noticed if he repeatedly square roots, say, 0.7734 it converges on 0.9999998 but then just sits there. Why does it think √0.9999998=0.9999998?
December 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I don’t know how these simple calculators work. My son has noticed if he repeatedly square roots, say, 0.7734 it converges on 0.9999998 but then just sits there. Why does it think √0.9999998=0.9999998?
“It's nearly Christmas and something terrible has happened…”
Time for the famous @mscroggs.co.uk www.mscroggs.co.uk advent calendar! Good fun — but am I too busy, or will I keep it going this year? Only time will tell!
Time for the famous @mscroggs.co.uk www.mscroggs.co.uk advent calendar! Good fun — but am I too busy, or will I keep it going this year? Only time will tell!
December 1, 2025 at 7:56 AM
“It's nearly Christmas and something terrible has happened…”
Time for the famous @mscroggs.co.uk www.mscroggs.co.uk advent calendar! Good fun — but am I too busy, or will I keep it going this year? Only time will tell!
Time for the famous @mscroggs.co.uk www.mscroggs.co.uk advent calendar! Good fun — but am I too busy, or will I keep it going this year? Only time will tell!
At work I’m greeted by the @chalkdustmag.bsky.social with my article in, to learn I’m one of the items listed on the cover - above Taylor Swift (but below microbes)!
November 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
At work I’m greeted by the @chalkdustmag.bsky.social with my article in, to learn I’m one of the items listed on the cover - above Taylor Swift (but below microbes)!
Hear me and @steckl.es chatting about ancient Roman dodecahedra. What are these objects, what are they for? Also we get distracted talking about Roman games.
It’s the new Mathematical Objects podcast!
aperiodical.com/2025/11/math...
It’s the new Mathematical Objects podcast!
aperiodical.com/2025/11/math...
Mathematical Objects: Roman dodecahedron
A conversation about mathematics, history, games and more, inspired by a Roman dodecahedron. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.
aperiodical.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Hear me and @steckl.es chatting about ancient Roman dodecahedra. What are these objects, what are they for? Also we get distracted talking about Roman games.
It’s the new Mathematical Objects podcast!
aperiodical.com/2025/11/math...
It’s the new Mathematical Objects podcast!
aperiodical.com/2025/11/math...
Oh! It’s new @chalkdustmag.bsky.social day - issue 22, and I’m in it counting game tiles for a couple of games found in charity shops.
How many tiles does this game have? - Chalkdust
Peter Rowlett gets in a tangle ... KNOT!
chalkdustmagazine.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Oh! It’s new @chalkdustmag.bsky.social day - issue 22, and I’m in it counting game tiles for a couple of games found in charity shops.
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
I had fun joining @peterrowlett.net and @steckl.es recently on their mathematical objects podcast, talking about my wood puzzle collection. Most of the time was spent struggling desperately to describe a highly visual topic in an audio-only context.
open.spotify.com/episode/0rRM...
open.spotify.com/episode/0rRM...
Mathematical Objects: 3D wooden puzzle with Grant Sanderson
open.spotify.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I had fun joining @peterrowlett.net and @steckl.es recently on their mathematical objects podcast, talking about my wood puzzle collection. Most of the time was spent struggling desperately to describe a highly visual topic in an audio-only context.
open.spotify.com/episode/0rRM...
open.spotify.com/episode/0rRM...
New season of Mathematical Objects opens with Grant Sanderson @3blue1brown.com sharing his love of 3D wooden puzzles with me and @steckl.es.
Get it here, or wherever you get podcasts:
Get it here, or wherever you get podcasts:
Mathematical Objects: 3D wooden puzzle with Grant Sanderson
A conversation about mathematics inspired by a 3D wooden puzzle. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Grant Sanderson.
aperiodical.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:55 AM
New season of Mathematical Objects opens with Grant Sanderson @3blue1brown.com sharing his love of 3D wooden puzzles with me and @steckl.es.
Get it here, or wherever you get podcasts:
Get it here, or wherever you get podcasts:
November 2, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In 1832 the new university in Durham had academics from Oxford as examiners to ensure standards were equivalent in their degrees, from where the practice spread.
I was first confirmed as an external examiner 10 years ago today. I’ve been external for 9 of the 10 years since at 3 universities.
I was first confirmed as an external examiner 10 years ago today. I’ve been external for 9 of the 10 years since at 3 universities.
October 30, 2025 at 7:59 AM
In 1832 the new university in Durham had academics from Oxford as examiners to ensure standards were equivalent in their degrees, from where the practice spread.
I was first confirmed as an external examiner 10 years ago today. I’ve been external for 9 of the 10 years since at 3 universities.
I was first confirmed as an external examiner 10 years ago today. I’ve been external for 9 of the 10 years since at 3 universities.
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
Excitingly, Today's the opening day of MathsWorld, the new hands-on maths museum in London. I've really enjoyed visiting MathsCity in Leeds, but they've now got a London location too! Details at mathsworld.com
MathsWorld – London’s new Museum of Mathematics
MathsWorld is an interactive museum in London with innovative hands-on exhibits that explore the beauty, wonder, and everyday relevance of mathematics for visitors of all ages.
mathsworld.com
October 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Excitingly, Today's the opening day of MathsWorld, the new hands-on maths museum in London. I've really enjoyed visiting MathsCity in Leeds, but they've now got a London location too! Details at mathsworld.com
It’s Mathematics of Life week at New Scientist and my turn to write. I wrote about game theory and the evolution of cooperation in the iterative prisoner’s dilemma. In the magazine this weekend or on the website/app.
October 10, 2025 at 7:07 AM
It’s Mathematics of Life week at New Scientist and my turn to write. I wrote about game theory and the evolution of cooperation in the iterative prisoner’s dilemma. In the magazine this weekend or on the website/app.
Came home to find the MA’s Mathematical Angles, which includes a spread about me taking over as editor of The Mathematical Gazette.
October 8, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Came home to find the MA’s Mathematical Angles, which includes a spread about me taking over as editor of The Mathematical Gazette.
Tomorrow at 12 UK time is the latest Finite Group livestream - Katie @steckl.es and Hana Ayoob on maths of colour. I will be teaching, but there will be a recording available afterwards. Join to take part or watch later: finitegroup.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Tomorrow at 12 UK time is the latest Finite Group livestream - Katie @steckl.es and Hana Ayoob on maths of colour. I will be teaching, but there will be a recording available afterwards. Join to take part or watch later: finitegroup.co.uk
Today is the first day of teaching. I am teaching problem solving, pure maths, and proof to our first year mathematicians, and some neural network theory to computing master’s students. Plus helping maths project students consider their options for dissertation topic. It’s all go!
September 22, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Today is the first day of teaching. I am teaching problem solving, pure maths, and proof to our first year mathematicians, and some neural network theory to computing master’s students. Plus helping maths project students consider their options for dissertation topic. It’s all go!
Just found out Academia edu has taken it upon itself to copy one of my open access papers to its site and then used "our AI" to generate a podcast based on the paper. They've added this to settings and it was on by default, which is extremely yuck.
Also "AI-generated reviews"? Of my papers? Why?
Also "AI-generated reviews"? Of my papers? Why?
September 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Just found out Academia edu has taken it upon itself to copy one of my open access papers to its site and then used "our AI" to generate a podcast based on the paper. They've added this to settings and it was on by default, which is extremely yuck.
Also "AI-generated reviews"? Of my papers? Why?
Also "AI-generated reviews"? Of my papers? Why?
Had a lovely time yesterday at the Induction Course for New Lecturers in the Mathematical Sciences at the Isaac Newton Institute in Cambridge. I spoke about what we are aiming to do when we teach university mathematics and the different kinds of mathematical thinking we might develop.
September 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Had a lovely time yesterday at the Induction Course for New Lecturers in the Mathematical Sciences at the Isaac Newton Institute in Cambridge. I spoke about what we are aiming to do when we teach university mathematics and the different kinds of mathematical thinking we might develop.