Our Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses are super-curricular classes designed to stimulate and encourage young people in the art and practice of mathematics. Jointly organised with Edinburgh Napier University and Heriot-Watt University, our Royal Institution Masterclasses are designed to inspire keen and talented S2 pupils from all over Scotland. Classes are led by top experts from academia and industry, and cover a broad range of topics.The Edinburgh Mathematics Masterclasses series runs in the spring term, typically starting in January. Each session features a different speaker. Classes are highly interactive and a great opportunity for pupils to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.Royal Institution webpage How to take partSchools from across Scotland are directly invited to nominate S2 pupils to take part in the series. Parents cannot nominate their child directly, but are encouraged to speak to their child's teacher if they are interested. Pupils are selected based on their enthusiasm for mathematics and their work ethic rather than purely on their mathematical ability. 2026 MasterclassesPlease find the programme including speakers and topics that will be covered in the upcoming series listed below. This may change and participants will be notified via email if this is the case.2026 Programme24 January10:00 - 11:30Online via ZoomCharli Austin"Patterns in Animals"Have you ever wondered how a tiger gets its stripes, or a cheetah gets its spots? How can nature keep creating these random looking patterns over and over again? Well, famous mathematician Alan Turing had the same question and his answer all boiled down to some very clever maths (and a bit of biology). In this masterclass we’ll dive into so called “Turing patterns”, learning how maths can explain and replicate some of the patterns we see in animal fur and elsewhere in nature. We’ll talk about how the smallest change can turn one pattern into another and even have a go at creating some of the patterns ourselves, using the rules that nature gives us!31 January 10:00 - 11:30Online via ZoomGerben Olig"The Mathematics of Music and Black Holes"Abstract TBA 7 February10:00 - 11:30Online via ZoomErik Hormann"How Mathematicians See Infinity"Abstract TBA 28 February10:00 - 12:20Heriot-Watt UniversityJennifer Power"Spirographs"Abstract TBA 7 March10:00 - 12:20Edinburgh Napier UniversityStathis Tingas"Dynamical Systems" Abstract TBA 14 March10:00 - 13:00University of EdinburghAna Rita Pires "The Maths of 2D Surfaces" Abstract TBACertificate ceremony will follow the session Image The Edinburgh Maths Circle is kindly sponsored by the Glasgow Mathematical Journal Trust. This article was published on 2025-04-22
