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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/H047638/1
Title: Everything and Nothing: a partnership for public engagement in mathematics through performance
Principal Investigator: Ker, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Allen, Dr K du Sautoy, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Music
Organisation: University of Sheffield
Scheme: Partnerships- Public Engage
Starts: 18 November 2010 Ends: 17 December 2011 Value (£): 98,418
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Algebra & Geometry
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
09 Mar 2010 Partnerships for Public Engagement 14th Call Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
This is a high-impact project to engage the public with mathematical concepts around the shape of the universe and the nature of infinity and to inspire audiences to engage with mathematics in new and positive ways. The project is timely in relation to contemporary mathematics and arts-science themes and will give excellent value for money by delivering an extensive programme of public engagement centred around performances of a new production. The mathematical focus is the Poincar Conjecture. We will use Borges' short story 'The Library of Babel' to thread a narrative through which we can communicate to audiences the key concepts of the Poincar Conjecture imaginatively and on a number of different levels using text, movement, sound and visual imagery. The project builds on a 2008 early development project (EP/G001650/1) and is led by an interdisciplinary team consisting of of composer Dorothy Ker (PI), sculptor Kate Allen and mathematician Marcus du Sautoy. The piece will be performed by a mathematician-actor and two musical performers and will be produced by a director recruited from the highly innovative physical theatre company Complicite in collaboration with the investigators. The show will visit ten UK venues targeting arts-going audiences, with the specific aim of engaging audiences not normally reached by science projects. Each performance will be primed with an interactive public engagement workshop in which participants can engage creatively with the mathematical ideas explored in the performances. Alongside the performances and workshops a website and blog will facilitate globally-reaching public engagement. Public engagement evaluation and monitoring will be undertaken through a range of innovative and proven methods including post-show discussions, questionnaires, interviews and case studies.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.shef.ac.uk