History of Mathematics Colloquium

The origins of the Colloquium can be found in the weekly Friday lunches of the history group of the mathematics department, where attendees often share what they are working on or interesting sources they have found. The History of Mathematics Colloquium is a way to make these exchanges more official as well as to open them to external presenters and a wider audience. Still, the spirit that the Colloquium grew out of remains: an informal gathering to share research and discuss interests with like-minded colleagues.

If you are interested in attending, finding out more, or joining the group's mailing list please contact the organiser Mireia Martínez i Sellarès: m.martinezisellares@uu.nl

List of past talks:

  • Mireia Martínez i Sellarès, “On the history of affinity in mathematics” (10 July 2026)
  • Nicolas Michel, “Concepts, words, and signs: Eduard Study and the algebraization of geometrical mechanics” (18 May 2026)
  • Bas Griffioen, “Beautiful mistakes” (10 April 2026)
  • Bram van den Berg, “Future predictions in early medieval manuscripts on chronology” (20 March 2026)
  • Jeanine Daems, “Derdegraads vergelijkingen oplossen met kegelsneden met Stampioen” (6 February 2026)
  • Rob van Gent, presentation and workshop “The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry and the Medieval Perpetual Calendar” (16 January 2026)
  • Marieke Gelderblom, “The graphic method in 19th-century Dutch statistics” (28 November 2025)
  • Jan Hogendijk, “The manual on sundials by Taqi al-Din ibn Ma`ruf (ca. 1570)” (3 October 2025)
  • Rienk Vermij, “Copernicanism and astrology in the work of Nicolaus Biesius” (1 August 2025)
  • Michael Korey, presentation “Of wondrous planets and heavenly machines: Princely astronomy and innovative geared mechanisms in the 16th century” and workshop “BEHIND THE STARS – an interactive educational app for teaching naked-eye astronomy using historical astronomical instruments” (24 June 2025)
  • Rob van Gent, “Predicting Eclipses in the Late Medieval and Early Modern Period” (21 February 2025)
  • Frank Verbunt, “Van Babylon naar Alexandrie: het begin van wetenschappelijke sterrenkunde” (24 January 2025)
  • Anne van Weerden, “The strange case of Sir William Rowan Hamilton, en waarom ik dat zo nodig moest doen” (13 December 2024)
  • Jan Hogendijk, “Taqi al-Din's text on sundials” (8 November 2024)