Fermat's Last Theorem: A Mathematical Obsession?   National Science Week Special for Sydney supported by the British Council: Dr Simon Singh, cryptographer and author, and Professor Alf van der Poorten of Macquarie University will discuss Fermat's Last Theorem: a mathematical obsession? - over a beer or two. Thursday May 18th 2000, 7:00-9:00pm Harlequin Inn, 152 Harris Street, Pyrmont, Sydney Science in the PubTM celebrates National Science Week yet again by taking a look at the most famous question in mathematical history. During the 1630s, Pierre de Fermat scribbled in the margin of his copy of Diophantus - Arithmetica what came to be known as Fermat's Last Theorem. He failed to leave behind the proof he claimed to have had to show that it is impossible to split a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into two fourth powers, or any higher power into two like powers. This prompted three and a half centuries of mathematical enquiry. Discussing this will be our panellists Dr Simon Singh, author and TV producer, and Professor Alf van der Poorten, author and mathematician at Macquarie University. Our compere for tonight is none other than the impeccable Wilson da Silva, ABC Quantum reporter and journalist. Simon Singh was born and grew up in England and went on to study physics at Imperial College (London University). He completed his Ph.D. in particle physics at the University of Cambridge, his main research being the search for one of the fundamental constituents of matter, the top quark.... which he did not find. He spent two years at the European Centre for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva. After leaving particle physics he taught mathematics and science at schools in India and KwaZulu, South Africa and eventually returned to London in 1990 to join the BBC's science department. For five years Simon worked on the popular science programme Tomorrow's World. His films covered subjects as diverse as the invention of the everlasting light bulb to the fixing of the Hubble Space Telescope, from cyber crime in New York to the scientific explanation of Italian miracles. In 1997 he directed the Emmy-nominated documentary Fermat's Last Theorem, which aired on the BBC and on PBS as part of the NOVA series. That same year he wrote Fermat's Last Theorem, an international best-seller, recounting the story of Professor Andrew Wiles and his quest to solve the world's most notorious mathematical problem. Fermat's Last Theorem has now been translated into 25 languages. In 1999 he published his second book, The Code Book, a history of cryptography from Ancient Greece to the Internet. This has now become an international best-seller. As well as being an author and TV producer, Simon is also a freelance journalist. Alfred Jacobus van der Poorten was born in Amsterdam in 1942 and spent the war as Fritsje Teerink, believing himself to be the youngest child of the Teerink family in Amersfoort. His true parents, David and Marian, were among the few who returned from the camps. Alf's family migrated to Sydney, Australia when he was eight years old. He quickly learned to barrack for St George and, a little later, to support Carlton. Were it not for [the] commonsense [of his wife Joy], he would quite probably be a politician. Alf survived Sydney Boys' High School 1955-59 and, in accepting the bribe of a university cadetship, chose to study mathematics at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, obtaining a BSc with first class honours and a PhD degree. He avoided the compulsory general studies subjects of the science degree by pursuing a concurrent major sequence in philosophy, which he later converted to a BA with honours. Lest his education be totally impractical, he then proceeded to complete an MBA degree. Alf verifies the definition that "a professor is a person who goes to university and never comes out''; he did not leave UNSW until he took up a chair of mathematics at Macquarie University, Sydney, in 1979. Alf has been a thorn in the side of successive university administrations. That was exacerbated by his being elected to represent the academic staff on the Council of Macquarie University. He is now a member of Macquarie University's Senior Executive and an ex officio member of the University Council. Alf van der Poorten has a worldwide reputation as an outstanding expositor of mathematics for mathematicians. His 1996 book Notes on Fermat's Last Theorem (Wiley-Interscience) was awarded the Association of American Publishers Professional /Scholarly Publishing 1996 Award for Excellence in Mathematics. Wilson da Silva, journalist and film producer is our compere tonight. Formerly a reporter/producer for the ABC TV science show, Quantum, he has worked as Sydney correspondent New Scientist, as editor of the magazines 21C and Science Spectra, as a journalist on The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, as well as a foreign correspondent for Reuters. He has won a number of journalism prizes, including the Human Rights Award, the Daley Award for Science Journalism and the Munster Award for Freelance Journalism. True to the tradition of Science in the Pub, both Alf and Simon have presented their - abstract - in verse & From Simon & To prove a conjecture, lemma or theorem, You must halt any tendancy to fear'em, Mathematicians are not zeroes, But courageous young heroes, And I think that we all ought to cheer'em. Author Simon Singh Sir Wiles wrote home to his mama And said, "I've improved Taniyama." His mother replied, "I am filled with such pride . . . And to think, I once changed your pajamas." Author: Jonathan Matte "My butter, garçon, is writ large in!" a diner was heard to be chargin'. "I HAD to write there," exclaimed waiter Pierre, "I couldn't find room in the margarine." Authors: Everett Howe, Hendrik Lenstra, and David Moulton. Roses are red, violets are blue, Fermat is dead, but his theorem is true. Author: Anonymous And from Alf & Genesis: A theorem apparently new Has long been believed to be true It's implicit in Gauß And some work of Landau's That unity doubled is two. Author: Martin Huxley Detail: I'm starting to see the attraction, In deformation 'n complete intersection. I no longer fear 'em, 'cause Fermat's Last Theorem Demands that they have our affection. Author: Alf van der Poorten Closure: When Fermat Vapours clog our loaded Brows, With furrow'd frowns, when stupid downcast Eyes Th'external Symptoms of some Gap within Our Proof express, or when in sullen Dumps With Head Incumbent on Expanded Palm, Moping we sit, our Gauloise snuffed, deform'd, Sing then, Oh Wiles, and Taylor, Wiles! Oh trio: put Fermata to our Toils. Author: Barry Mazur Science in the PubTMä is an initiative of the Australian Science Communicators (NSW). Regular sessions are staged from 7.00 9.00 pm on the last Wednesday of every even month (Feb  Nov) at the Harlequin Inn, 152 Harris Street, Pyrmont in Sydney. We can organise Science in YOUR Pub anywhere in Australia, or the world! Please contact Robyn Stutchbury, phone: 02 9427 6747; fax: 02 9427 6767; email: rstutch@bigpond.net.au Visit our website at www.scienceinthepub.com Admission costs $5 worth of raffle tickets, your chance to win one of many excellent prizes! Future Science in the Pub sessions (see the website for full details) Friday 19 May at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane at 4:30-6:00pm This session has been commissioned for the Cooperative Research Centre Association (CRCA) conference (see www.crc.conf.au) and ASC AGM (see www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/asc/ The theme is Innovation.com or Innovation.con? with panellists, Dr Gael Jenning, Science Broadcaster, Dr David Perry, CRC for Catchment Management, and Dr David Barbagello, DSTC, all talented Communicators. They will dig deeply into some of the very significant issues surrounding communication with end users and marketing R&D. Dr Paul Willis ABC Quantum Reporter will be the compere, assisted by Ms Bernie Hobbs, ABC Science Online and Triple J Wednesday 28 June, Harlequin Inn, Sydney. Cheats or Champs the use of drugs in sport. A special event for Chemistry Week with Ray Kaslauskas, Director of the Sports Drug unit at AGAL. Wednesday 30 August, Harlequin Inn, Sydney, in collaboration with the Australian Biotech Association. Medicines for the next Millennium: natural or engineered? A discussion on the future of medicine.
Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.