Highlights from MathsJam

It's already two weeks since the wonderful MathsJam conference: once again the most exciting maths event of the year.  I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to post about it.  There is so much I could write about from the talks and conversations - a number of unusual proofs of Pythagoras's Theorem, various interesting games, some nice problems, lots of ideas.

Here are just three outstanding memories:

• Tarim's demonstration of the Dr Nim mechanical robot from the 1960s which plays a version of Nim's game perfectly.  This was particularly timely: Dr Nim will feature in my talk at the Science Museum Lates on the evening of 27 November.
• Derek Cozens showing how to tie a tie one-handed.  i didn't manage to do it - but perhaps with some practice...
• Pedro Freitas's demonstration of how to untangle a braid with a clever use of rational numbers

I intend to write a further post about Dr Nim when I have more time.