BSHM-Gresham Lecture: Heritage and Heritage-making in Mathematics

Our annual joint lecture with Gresham College in the heart of central London. This year we will hear from Professor Caroline Ehrhardt (Université Paris 8), on: 

How Does Mathematics Last? Heritage and Heritage-making in Mathematics

How is mathematical knowledge recorded and preserved across generations? Contrary to the idea that mathematics itself is somehow ‘permanent’, in this talk we will explore heritage-making in mathematics, that is the people, institutions, and material objects that can give mathematical ideas longevity. We will explore the heritage-making found in two very different types of French nineteenth-century libraries: those of famous mathematicians and those of secondary schools. We will especially focus on how the recording – and forgetting – of mathematical ideas is influenced by their publishing, political, and intellectual contexts. 

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Booking to attend is now open: You can register through Gresham College here. 

Previous BSHM-Gresham Lectures can be watched online here: The Annual BSHM Gresham College Lectures.