Events for schools and families

Open University Mathematics Christmas Lecture

Each December students from local schools and sixth form colleges are invited to The Open University Walton Hall campus for an interactive Mathematics Lecture.

Previous titles have included: "Mathematics, Chocolate and the Electric Guitar", "Boomerangs, Bouncing Balls and other Spinning Things" and "The Music of the Primes". Speakers have included Professor Marcus du Sautoy, Simon Singh and Rob Eastway.

The 2020 Christmas lecture will be given online by Zoe Griffiths from Think Maths.  

Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses

The Open University is responsible for organising four Royal Institution secondary mathematics masterclass series held at: Bletchley Park, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the University of Bradford and the University of Worcester.

For six weeks, children in year 9 from local schools are invited to participate in exciting mathematical workshops, such as: Games, Goats and Gold and Infinity: Friend or Foe? The aim of the series is to stimulate and encourage young people in the art and practice of mathematics, to develop a sense of enjoyment in the subject.

You can read about one of our Bletchley Park masterclass here.

You can find out more about future series and how to get involved here.

The Winton Mathematics Gallery, Science Museum, London.

Open University academic June Barrow-Green, Professor of History of Mathematics, played a key role in the development of the new mathematics gallery at the Science Museum in London, acting on the External Advisory Board.

The bold and thought-provoking gallery, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, examines the fundamental role mathematicians, their tools and ideas have played in building the world we live in.

From war and peace to life, death, money, trade and beauty, the objects in Mathematics: The Winton Gallery reveal how mathematics connects to every aspect of our lives. The exhibits display maths thematically, including ‘life and death’, ‘form and beauty’ and ‘trade and travel’.

Find out more and plan your visit to the Winton Gallery here.