Department for Continuing Education Open Day 2012

Professor Marcus du Sautoy - mathematician, footballer and amateur musician - shows how mathematicians have contributed to our understanding of the world around us for millennia. We are all taught how fundamental maths is to the world we live in. But did you know that Wayne Rooney solves a quadratic equation every time he connects with a cross to put the ball in the back of the net? That we use prime numbers when we shop on the Internet? In this lecture Professor Marcus du Sautoy - mathematician, footballer and amateur musician - shows how mathematicians have contributed to our understanding of the world around us for millennia. Mathematician Professor Marcus du Sautoy is our Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science.

Marianne Talbot takes participants on a romp through the nature of philosophy for complete beginners discussing some of the BIG questions of life: does God exist? How should we live? What is truth? Does space come to an end or is it infinite? Philosophy deals with the BIG questions of life: does God exist? How should we live? What is truth? What are numbers and do we need them? Does space come to an end or is it infinite? In this 45 minute slot Marianne Talbot will take participants on a romp through the nature of philosophy for complete beginners. Philosopher Marianne Talbot is our Director of Studies in Philosophy, and is well-known as an author and the creator of two hugely popular Philosophy podcast series.

The 25 years up to the 2007-8 global credit crunch were ones of privatisation, deregulation, financialisation and, in the UK, demutualisation. Professor Jonathan Michie will discuss the causes and consequences of the global credit crunch. The 25 years up to the 2007-8 global credit crunch were ones of privatisation, deregulation, financialisation and, in the UK, demutualisation. Many claimed that we had entered a new era of prosperity, with the end of 'boom and bust'. Others argued that the form that globalisation was not inevitable, and that the increasing inequality was a policy choice that could and should be resisted. This talk will discuss the causes and consequences of the global credit crunch. Economist Professor Jonathan Michie is Director of the Department for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College. He specialises in mutuals and employee-owned companies and globalisation.

The Dark Ages are traditionally seen as nasty, brutish and short - a cultural and intellectual waste land, with virtually nothing worthy of art historical consideration. But Janina argues this is far from the truth. The Dark Ages are traditionally seen as nasty, brutish and short - a cultural and intellectual waste land, with virtually nothing worthy of art historical consideration. But Janina argues this is far from the truth - by exploring the imaginative world of the Anglo-Saxons, and thinking ourselves into the rich fabric of visual and verbal riddles, we can unravel some of the most enigmatic works of art this nation has produced - from the spectacular Lindisfarne Gospels to the complex Ruthwell Cross. Come learn some techniques for revealing the profound beauty of this overlooked period. Art historian Dr Janina Ramirez is our Course Director for the Certificate in History of Art, and is well known as a BBC4 documentarian and presenter.

Dr Elizabeth Gemmill introduces the most remarkable monarch, Henry II, whose dominions stretched from the south west of France to the north of Britain. His achievements have lasted until our own times, but his reign was marred by tragedy too. Henry II's dominions stretched from the south west of France to the north of Britain. His achievements (and his reputation) have lasted until our own times, but his reign was marred by tragedy too. In this taster session Dr Elizabeth Gemmill introduces this most remarkable monarch and the twelfth-century world that was his stage. Local Historian Dr Elizabeth Gemmill is Director of the Certificate in Higher Education and the Weekly Classes Programme.