Springfield’s finest family calculates the way

How does the world’s most famous cartoon family The Simpsons link with modern mathematics?

Over 100 Tees Valley sixth form students find out today when they meet stand-up comic and mathematician Matt Parker at Teesside University.

Matt is visiting the University as part of his national tour to engage people of all ages about maths. Matt uses a range of presentations and hands-on activities to communicate maths in an entertaining way.

His previous audiences include the Royal Institution and the BBC and Matt was the People’s Choice Award in the 2009 Famelab competition.

Matt recently moved into stand-up comedy and his maths presentation at Teesside University to lower sixth form students (aged 16 to 17) will include references to the USA’s most famous family, The Simpsons. Earlier in the week Matt also spoke to a large group of local year ten (aged 14 to 15) pupils.

The students have been invited to the University as part of Teesside’s widening participation activities. Sandra Johnston, Recruitment Assistant at the University, said: 'This is an exciting opportunity to have Matt speaking at Teesside University and the presentations are aimed at inspiring and exciting young people about mathematics. The lectures will look at the hidden mathematics jokes that can be seen in the background of many of the Simpsons episodes. The lectures will be fun, entertaining and informative.'

The lectures, funded by the Further Mathematics Support Programme, will be attended by over 400 Year 10 pupils (14 year olds) and over 100 sixth form students from across schools and colleges in the north east.

'We are delighted to be working with Matt and look forward to a really interesting and entertaining two days.'

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