A presentation shared at Heritage Show + Tell, Leeds http://heritageshowtell.wordpress.com/

1. John Bibby jb43@york.ac.uk
Our Aim: to do for mathematics what the National Science Museum does for science
Our Method: one large iconic centre, plus a nationwide outreach network (partnering
with existing institutions)
Key Themes: active engagement, “everyone is a mathematician”, maths is everywhere
(science and arts; history, geography, outer and inner space)

2. Launch: January 2012

3. FAQs
and some provisional answers
What are you trying to do?
We want to change attitudes to mathematics, so
maths becomes cool and a “CanDo” subject, not
something that frightens. We want to improve
perceptions, confidence and skills.

4. How do you intend to do this?
Via a national centre and a nationwide network
of “mathetariums” (maths museums).
These will do for mathematics what
planetariums do for the solar system and outer
space - inspire, excite, educate and amaze,
providing everything from fun and a great day out to serious understanding and
guidance and follow-up for people at all levels of understanding.

5. What will this network consist of ?
(Maybe) one big national centre
and 5-10 regional hubs.

6. Where will the regional hubs be?
They will be located so that 90% of the UK
population is within 1 hours travel.
Some will be in existing institutions – museums,
science centres etc.; some will be new-builds; and
some will develop heritage buildings (unused
schools etc.) in development areas.
We will be inviting bids from institutions
that wish to become a regional hub.

7. We will be inviting bids from
institutions that wish to
become a regional hub.
Please speak to me or email me if you are interested
jb43@york.ac.uk
You can sign up for the MWUK newsletter at
MathsWorldUK.com/contact/

8. What’s already out there ?
Moebius architecture
National Library of Kazakhstan
http://www.archdaily.com/33238/national-
library-in-astana-kazakhstan-big/

10. Birmingham ThinkTank

16. Science Museum - London

17. “Woolly Thoughts”
(mathematical knitting)

26. Mathematikum ! (Giessen)
Prof. Beutelspacher

30. Maths Museum at Al Quds University Palestine

34. You have 18 bottles and a 6 x 4 milkcrate.
Put an even number of bottles into every row and column.

35. You have 18 bottles and a 6 x 4 milkcrate.
Put an even number of bottles into every row and column.