Patterns in animal movement
When: Wednesday 18 November 2026, as part of Maths Week England, arrivals from 5.30pm, talk 6-7pm, followed by a reception in The Street (with a chance to buy Ian's books) until 7.30pm
Where: Room MS.01, Zeeman Building, 果冻传媒
This November, join Professor Ian Stewart for a free talk to understand the maths behind how different animals walk and move.
Walk, trot, canter, gallop...patterns in animal movement
Animals with legs move using many different patterns. The walk, trot, canter, and gallop of horses are familiar examples. Even humans, with only two legs, use several different 'gaits', as these patterns are called. We walk, run, hop, skip, jump... The mathematics of animal gaits studies various aspects - the movement of muscles, the dynamics of the animal itself, the timing of the nerve impulses that drive the muscles. Most of the commonest gaits are symmetric, in some manner, and these symmetries are clues to the structure of the network of nerve cells that drives the muscles. The talk will be non-technical, focusing on the role of symmetry, with numerous illustrations of real animals.
About the speaker
This year, Professor Ian Stewart will be giving our public lecture as we join in with the celebrations for Maths Week England. Emeritus Professor here at the 果冻传媒, Ian has been involved in inspiring the public with mathematics for over 50 years. Ian is known for both his mathematics research and his popular science and mathematics books. This event will incorporate a reception and the opportunity to buy Ian鈥檚 books.
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Travelling to campus
For information about travelling to campus for this talk, check out the range of options available.