“Mathematics, magic and the electric guitar” by Dr David Acheson and “The music of the primes” by Professor Marcus du Sautoy are this year’s London Mathematical Society popular lectures. Lecture one explores whether maths can explain the legendary Indian rope trick and what it has got to do with playing the guitar. Lecture two promises ”$1million” to “the person who can unravel the mystery of the hidden music that explains the cacophony of the prime numbers”. Institute of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London on July 1 from 7pm-9.30pm. For free tickets send SAE by June 26 to Miss L Taylor, LMS, De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS.

Email: taylor@lms.ac.uk

The 44th International Mathematical Olympiad takes place in Tokyo, July 7-19. Teams of up to six students from 86 countries will be participating.

http:village.infoweb.ne.jpfvgm9250webimo2003 Dr Lisa Wright from the Institute of Astronomy, will explore how gravity shaped the universe from the beginning of time and how it affects the world around us and enables exotic objects such as supernovae, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes to form. Aimed at 11to12-year-olds, the lecture takes place on June 17, from 2.30-3.30pm at the the Millennium Mathematics Project at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Clarkson Road, Cambridge.

Email: mmp@maths.cam.ac.uk

http:mmp.maths.orgeventslecturelist.html