Recreational Mathematics Colloquium III

“Recreational Mathematics” is a problematic expression. For some people, like most professional mathematicians, Mathematics is lots of fun; but for others, like some students, Mathematics can be a nightmare.

Historically, we know that some mathematical research areas are deeply linked to puzzles and games — probability and chance games, graph theory and the Brigdes of Königsberg come to mind.

The University of Azores and the Ludus Association will organize the Recreational Mathematics Colloquium III.

This initiative is accredited by the Scientific and Pedagogical Council for Continuing Education (CCPFC/ACC-73251/13) and by the Regional Directorate of Education of the Government of THEçores (Order No. 1567/2012), in teaching groups 230, of the 2nd cycle of Basic Education, and 500, of the 3rd cycle of Basic and Secondary Education.

Scientific committee
Organizing committee
Invited speakers

Wednesday, 3rd April

8:30 – Welcome and registration

9:15 – Opening Session

9:30 – Writing systems and games: a curious marriage in the western Pacific (BGS+RM)
_ Alex Voogt, American Museum of Natural History

10:30 – Counting with counters: Gerbert's abacus (BGS+RM)
_ Jorge Nuno Silva, University of Lisbon

11:00 – Coffee Break

11:30 – An update to the multilated chessboard (BGS+RM)
_ Colin Wright, Liverpool Mathematical Society (Invited Speaker)

12:30 – Quadratum (BGS+RM)
_ Helena Melo, University of Azores & CMATI

13:00 – Break for lunch

14:30 – Solving dotty problems – an introduction to graph theory
_Robin Wilson, Open University (Invited Speaker)

15:30 – Mathematics of soccer
_ Alda Carvalho, ISEL & CEMAPRE/ISEG

16:00 – Coffee Break

16:30 – The Humble-Ehrhends triangle mystery
_ Jorge Buescu, University of Lisbon

17:00 – Symmetry groups: identifying patterns in Azorean heritage
_ Vera Moniz, University of Azores

17:30 – The Golden Ratio – from Euclid to Almada Negreiros
_ Charlotte Simoes (Invited Speaker)

18:30 – Break Time

19:00 – 20:00 Welcome Cocktail

Thursday, 4th April

9:30 – Piet Hein & the murder of NIM (BGS+RM)
_ Thane Plambeck (Invited Speaker)

10:30 – What is a «good» board game? (BGS+RM)
_ Carlos Pereira dos Santos, ISEC

11:00 – Coffee Break

11:30 – Three new math-games for experiencing the interplay between algebra,
_ geometry, and symmetry (BGS+RM)
_ Oliver Labs, Universität des Saarlandes (Invited Speaker)

12:30 – Ancient Egyptian boardgames: an historical account (BGS+RM)
_ Joaquim Eurico Nogueira, New University of Lisbon

13:00 – Break for lunch

15:00 – Social

Friday, 5th April

09:00 – Order in the ranks (BGS+RM)
_ Pedro J. Freitas, University of Lisbon (Invited Speaker)

10:00 – Coffee Break

10:30 – Mathematical Circus (Open to All)
_ Ludus Association

11:10 – Presentation of Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 (Open to All)
_ Carlota Simões, University of Coimbra, Ana Paula Garrão, University of Azores

11:20 – Presentation of Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 (Open to All)
_ Jorge Nuno Silva, José Francisco Rodrigues, University of Lisbon

11:40 – Presentation of Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 (Open to All)
_ Ricardo Teixeira, University of Azores

12:00 – Magic Show (Open to All)
_ Lennart Green, World Champion close-up/card Magician (Invited)

13:00 – Break for lunch

14:30 – Lewis Carroll in Numberland
_Robin Wilson, Open University (Invited Speaker)

15:30 – Problem solving through crafts and challenges
_ Marie Stephanie Cabral, University of Azores

16:00 – Coffee Break

16:30 – Treason strategies
_João Cabral, University of Azores

17:00 – Parallel Game
_ Raquel Faria, University of Azores

17:30 – Can mathematical exhibitions be recreational?
_ José Francisco Rodrigues, University of Lisbon

18:00 – Contest «A story you tell»
_ Helena Melo, University of Azores & CMATI

18:30 – Interesting Announcements
_ Jorge Nuno Silva, Carlos Santos, Ludus Association

19:30 – Conference Dinner

Saturday, 6th April

09:30 – Game profiling (BGS+RM)
_ Richard Nowakowski, Dalhaousie University (Invited Speaker)

10:30 – “Zermelo's Theorem” is called “Zermelo's Theorem” ? (BGS+RM)
_ Lisa Rougetet, University of Science and Technology of Lille

11:00 – Coffee Break

11:30 – Vanishing area puzzles (BGS+RM)
_ David Singmaster, Retired from London South Bank University (Invited Speaker)

12:30 – Lasker and mathematics (BGS+RM)
_Jurgen Stigter, TWA

13:00 – Break for lunch

14:30 – Turning the lights out on graphs
_Antonio Machiavelo, University of Porto (Invited Speaker)

15:30 – Counting the number of sudoku's by importance sampling simulation
_Ad Ridder, University of Amsterdam

16:00 – Combinatorial games and Computability
_Urban Larsson, University of Gothenburg

16:30 – Closing Session

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Gallery Photos

Organization

Sponsors