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
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.
MathsJam is here!
MathsJam is a monthly opportunity for like-minded self-confessed maths enthusiasts to get together in a pub and share stuff they like. Puzzles, games, problems, or just anything they think is cool or interesting. See how to join in at mathsjam.com!
MathsJam
mathsjam.com
September 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
MathsJam is here!
Today my son (10) had his first lesson on what he called “BODMAS”.
Me: “What’s that?”
Him: “Brackets. Order. Division. Multiplication. Except you can do those two in either order as you go through.”
“What do you mean ‘go through’?”
#tmwyk
Me: “What’s that?”
Him: “Brackets. Order. Division. Multiplication. Except you can do those two in either order as you go through.”
“What do you mean ‘go through’?”
#tmwyk
September 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Today my son (10) had his first lesson on what he called “BODMAS”.
Me: “What’s that?”
Him: “Brackets. Order. Division. Multiplication. Except you can do those two in either order as you go through.”
“What do you mean ‘go through’?”
#tmwyk
Me: “What’s that?”
Him: “Brackets. Order. Division. Multiplication. Except you can do those two in either order as you go through.”
“What do you mean ‘go through’?”
#tmwyk
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
Breaking: Leeds @waterstones has a copy of The Mathematicians' Library!
I'm in Leeds for a couple of days: buy it and I'll sign it for you if we can arrange to be in the same place at the same time.
I'm in Leeds for a couple of days: buy it and I'll sign it for you if we can arrange to be in the same place at the same time.
September 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Breaking: Leeds @waterstones has a copy of The Mathematicians' Library!
I'm in Leeds for a couple of days: buy it and I'll sign it for you if we can arrange to be in the same place at the same time.
I'm in Leeds for a couple of days: buy it and I'll sign it for you if we can arrange to be in the same place at the same time.
I spotted a pic of the wrong George Green being used and speculated FindAGrave might be the original source of the error. I reported it to them & wrote an article.
FindAGrave moved slower than the speed of academic publishing but have now corrected the error! Here www.findagrave.com/memorial/208...
FindAGrave moved slower than the speed of academic publishing but have now corrected the error! Here www.findagrave.com/memorial/208...
A photograph of George Green? A case study in historical misconception
George Green (1793–1841) was a miller and mathematician from Nottingham who developed revolutionary theories in mathematical physics. It is possible to find online a photograph of Green. No such pi...
www.tandfonline.com
September 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I spotted a pic of the wrong George Green being used and speculated FindAGrave might be the original source of the error. I reported it to them & wrote an article.
FindAGrave moved slower than the speed of academic publishing but have now corrected the error! Here www.findagrave.com/memorial/208...
FindAGrave moved slower than the speed of academic publishing but have now corrected the error! Here www.findagrave.com/memorial/208...
From time to time I see a picture purporting to be of George Green, the Nottingham mathematician. There is no such picture, so how did this come about?
Get free access (temporary) to an article I wrote about this historical misconception. Also see how I worked in a Terry Pratchett citation!
Get free access (temporary) to an article I wrote about this historical misconception. Also see how I worked in a Terry Pratchett citation!
A photograph of George Green? A case study in historical misconception
George Green (1793–1841) was a miller and mathematician from Nottingham who developed revolutionary theories in mathematical physics. It is possible to find online a photograph of Green. No such pi...
www.tandfonline.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:49 PM
From time to time I see a picture purporting to be of George Green, the Nottingham mathematician. There is no such picture, so how did this come about?
Get free access (temporary) to an article I wrote about this historical misconception. Also see how I worked in a Terry Pratchett citation!
Get free access (temporary) to an article I wrote about this historical misconception. Also see how I worked in a Terry Pratchett citation!
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
I can highly recommend the #pod. Cool and insightful conversations and great content overall, featuring @steckl.es and @peterrowlett.net among others.
Did you know TMiP has a podcast, in which maths communicators share ideas, thoughts and stories about how to communicate maths well? All six episodes of our first series are online at https://tmip.uk/podcast
August 14, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I can highly recommend the #pod. Cool and insightful conversations and great content overall, featuring @steckl.es and @peterrowlett.net among others.
Reposted by Peter Rowlett
Do you like interesting maths people and/or hanging out with them? Join the Finite Group for access to our Discord community, and paid members can also watch monthly livestreams (and recordings of them) where we chat about maths, sometimes bringing in special guests! More 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
August 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Do you like interesting maths people and/or hanging out with them? Join the Finite Group for access to our Discord community, and paid members can also watch monthly livestreams (and recordings of them) where we chat about maths, sometimes bringing in special guests! More info at finitegroup.co.uk
I wrote about Mary Everest Boole’s curve stitching, string art, and Bézier curves in this weekend’s New Scientist.
August 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I wrote about Mary Everest Boole’s curve stitching, string art, and Bézier curves in this weekend’s New Scientist.
I had a lovely morning in a local primary school doing some pi approximations so the kids can take part in Moon Pi. Recommended!
Teacher sign up info is here:
Teacher sign up info is here:
Moon Pi: we're going to calculate pi on the Moon
Matt Parker is going to calculate pi on the moon. But he needs your help. Join the Kickstarter to become a Mathstronaut and have your name sent to the Moon (and potentially receive your own value of L...
pi.space
July 23, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I had a lovely morning in a local primary school doing some pi approximations so the kids can take part in Moon Pi. Recommended!
Teacher sign up info is here:
Teacher sign up info is here:
I realised it’s ten years to the day since I submitted my first journal peer review! In that time I’ve done 85 reviews for 19 journals.
July 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I realised it’s ten years to the day since I submitted my first journal peer review! In that time I’ve done 85 reviews for 19 journals.
Today I am delivering my one hundredth schools workshop/talk. 🎉
Before today I’ve delivered 98 sessions at 55 events (32 of which were school visits), almost all since 2022.
peterrowlett.net/communicatio...
Today’s 33rd school visit includes three workshops and a talk.
Before today I’ve delivered 98 sessions at 55 events (32 of which were school visits), almost all since 2022.
peterrowlett.net/communicatio...
Today’s 33rd school visit includes three workshops and a talk.
Maths communication | peterrowlett.net
peterrowlett.net
July 22, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Today I am delivering my one hundredth schools workshop/talk. 🎉
Before today I’ve delivered 98 sessions at 55 events (32 of which were school visits), almost all since 2022.
peterrowlett.net/communicatio...
Today’s 33rd school visit includes three workshops and a talk.
Before today I’ve delivered 98 sessions at 55 events (32 of which were school visits), almost all since 2022.
peterrowlett.net/communicatio...
Today’s 33rd school visit includes three workshops and a talk.
Big news!
We are pleased to announce that Dr @peterrowlett.net will be the next Editor of The Mathematical Gazette, taking over from Dr Gerry Leversha.
Read more here: buff.ly/KttDt7E
Read more here: buff.ly/KttDt7E
July 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Big news!