Living proof: Codina Cotar and some amazing mathematical art
Earlier this year the the anomalous mathematical patterns sci-art competition attracted some jaw-dropping entries. The competition was held in connection to the Stochastic systems for anomalous diffusion research programme which took place at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences (INI) in Cambridge last year.
In this episode of Maths on the Move we talk to Codina Cotar, who co-organised the INI programme and helped put on the competition. Codina explains the maths which served as inspiration and discusses some of the winning entries. From coffee to quantum mechanics and from dance to diffusion, find out how mathematics, nature and art are inextricably linked.
Note that the in-person exhibition at the INI is now scheduled for March 2026.
The entries discusses in this podcast are shown below. To find out more about some of the mathematical topics mentioned in this podcast see:
- The Sci-art competition - This article explores some of the mathematics behind the competition, including randomness, diffusion, and many particle systems.
- The Fields Medals 2022: Maryna Viazovska - This article looks at the mathematics of sphere packings, which won a Fields Medal for the mathematician Maryna Viazovska.
- Maths in a Minute: Fluid dynamics - A very bried introduction to the mathematics of liquids and gases.
- A ridiculously short introduction to some very basic quantum mechanics - This article does what the title suggests.
- A brief history of quantum field theory - A deeper look at the theory that arose from quantum mechanics.
This content forms part of our collaboration with the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences (INI) – you can find all the content from the collaboration here.
The INI is an international research centre and our neighbour here on the University of Cambridge's maths campus. It attracts leading mathematical scientists from all over the world, and is open to all. Visit www.newton.ac.uk to find out more.
