An author visit: Tom Briggs “Adventures in the Mathematicians' Library” | News and Newsletters | Pocklington School | Private School in Yorkshire

We all know that learning works especially well when it’s sprinkled with a bit of fun. And while everyday school life can’t be all games and giggles, special occasions, like an author visit, act like academic fireworks, sparking curiosity and sending students’ interests shooting off into unexpected corners of the curriculum.

Tom Briggs is a museum educator and maths enthusiast, who previously taught mathematics in a secondary school setting, and has also spent considerable time introducing the general public to the workings of the Enigma machine at Bletchley Park. His book, “The Mathematicians' Library”, explores how mathematical ideas have shaped human civilization and the way we understand the world. The book reflects Tom’s passion for sharing the beauty of mathematics, offering insights that inspire curiosity, wonder, and a deeper appreciation for the subject.

Tom’s visit gave our First to Third Years a chance to see maths from a completely fresh angle - not as a fearsome jungle of numbers, but as something woven into everything around them. Maths and music, maths and art, maths and literature… and that’s before we even tiptoe into the obvious world of maths and science. Let’s just say Shakespeare and I will be meeting on very different mathematical terms from now on! 

His blend of historical storytelling and clever nods to pop-culture favourites captivated students and staff alike. Apparently, Apple’s wizards didn’t invent the spreadsheet - its predecessor was already crunching numbers back in 1800 BCE! We journeyed through history with Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi and his “reunion of broken parts,” and discovered that the well-loved classic “wolf, goat, and cabbage” puzzle, existed at least in the 14th century.

The biggest surprise? Our school has been around longer than the mathematical symbol “equals” that we take for granted! The almost humorous story of Robert Recorde, whose laziness = genius, proving that sometimes shortcuts can make history.     

The authors whisked us away on a whirlwind tour through the mysterious origins and mind-bending scale of mathematics, and the forest of hands eager to volunteer as Babylonian Yays showed just how much fun the children were having. And I will be very much surprised if the parents of children who were in the audience did not hear about their little practice of fine motor skills in folding the fractal-curve shapes… “Jurassic Park” finally got the mathematical appreciation it deserves!   

Some students were keen to stay behind and talk with the author afterwards, peppering Tom with questions and asking for book recommendations, asking about correlation of maths and sports, and other rather interesting topics. Meanwhile, our crochet-club craft fairies are now determined to master hyperbolic crochet techniques after Tom’s sneak peek after the session. Well, maybe we will get our own crochet coral reef.

We were also delighted to welcome our visiting Year 6 pupils from St Mary & St Joseph Primary School. They participated enthusiastically in the session, and I suspect some of them would have happily stayed for another hour-and-fifteen-minute lecture if their teachers hadn’t called them away.
  
Tom’s statement, “If I am a mathematician—then you are all mathematicians!” seemed to resonate strongly with the children, and after exploring ancient number mysteries and folding their way through fractal curves, it was clear that maths can be turned into an adventure full of curiosity, creativity, and joy.