◼️ Tom⇒maths

The wartime home of Colossus, one of a number of historical machines regularly given the title World's First Computer[1] was a fitting venue for 2026's GEM Conference with its theme Learning is Digital?

I've just got back from 2026's Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, having last attended in 2024.

In this review of Dreams of Amarna by Rachel Mary Wright, I explore how an art-based creative journey intersects with themes of archaeology, textile art, and unexpected mathematical thinking.

We are, I am reliably informed, near to that arbitrary point in our planet's orbit at which much of humanity habitually mark the end of one and the beginning of another.

Hello and welcome to December 2025's Carnival of Mathematics!

Castle keeps come in many shapes - circles, squares, rectangles, and other polygons - and these choices were not accidental.

In this post I explore how a Civil War mortar at Goodrich Castle illustrates mathematical ideas about angles and projectile motion - part of a broader “Maths in Museums” series.

For years I have been periodically prompted to think "ah yes, must go there one day" by signs for Bolsover Castle as I pass through the vicinity of Junction 29A on the M1.

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the book on the promise that I would write this review, but you have my word that what follows is my honest appraisal!

Many museums, galleries, and other heritage sector sites offer trails for visitors (including booked school groups and members of the public).

In the spirit of getting straight to the point without providing my entire life history, please click below for a list of books that are about maths, but not about teaching it.

My dad, Peter Briggs, died in the early hours of 25th June 2024 and we held his funeral yesterday, 22nd July. some of those who were able to attend have requested a copy of the eulogy and readings, and some of those who unfortunately could not join us in…

Edit: Since posting this, the Museum of London has re-branded itself as London Museum, meaning that the Museum of London Docklands is now London Museum Docklands.

On Saturday morning I crested a hill on the A303 just past Amesbury and my brain yelled something that I imagine a million and more brains, over thousands of years, have yelled before mine: "What the hell is that!?"

Here's one for you: Do even maths teachers argue about this?

The 5th movie in the Indiana Jones series was released in the UK on 28th June 2023.

A topic that pops up time and time again in an online community of maths communicators that I am a member of is who gets to call themselves a mathematician?

Greg Egan is an author I hadn't encountered until Albert recommended one of his books in response to my request for 'books with maths in them'.

It's not immediately obvious where Green's Windmill and Science Centre is in relation to the signposted car park, which is shared with a nursery school.

... and as if by magic Amazon have released an update for the Kindle Scribe.

Don't want the back-story & just came for the list?

In February 2023 I attended a training event hosted by the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University in Milton Keynes, designed to introduce us to VISITOR, a project aimed primarily at teachers but of explicit relevance to educators in the

A normal week has 168 hours in it.

The chances are you've heard of ChatGPT, but you might not know what it is.

I recently applied for a job 1 and in preparation for the interview I was told that I would be 'invited to talk for 5 minutes on why mathematics should be studied after GCSE'.

May 2022's fitness challenges are now complete: the results are in!