Patterns & People
2017
Koru
The fractal repetition of koru patterns in an uncoiling fern frond link mathematics with biology, and have a strong New Zealand connection.
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
A mathematician ahead of her time, Augusta Ada King, (Countess of Lovelace), worked with Charles Babbage on the first theoretical computer, and is credited with writing the first algorithm for computers. Some writers recognise her as the first computer programmer.
2018
Girih Tiles
Islamic art dating from 1200, Girih tiling has strong similarities to non-repeating Penrose tiling patterns. The pattern shown is more modern, from the Tomb of Hafez in Shiraz, Iran (built 1935).
Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212BC)
Mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer and inventor, Archimedes contributed a great deal to 'algebraic thinking' before modern algebraic notation was in place. Imagine trying to find the centre of gravity of a parabola without our modern calculus and algebra toolbox! Archimedes had a lot of complicated calculus figured out before calculus was figured out...
2019
Twistor theory
Sir Roger Penrose introduced twistor theory as a way to explain quantum gravity, and the field has since expanded into its own field of theoretical physics. This is a close up of a diagram related to twistor theory, from the background of an early picture of Sir Roger.
Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850-1891)
Russian mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya was the first woman in the world to break the barriers of patriarchal academia to gain a doctorate in mathematics. Her doctoral thesis introduced ground-breaking new ideas about the solutions of partial differential equations and the modelling of rotating bodies (such as Saturn's rings).
2020
Tudung Saji
The Five States weaving pattern on a tudung saji (traditional Malay woven conical food cover) with 5-fold symmetry in a triaxial weave. The symmetries of the pattern can be linked to finite simple groups.
Alan Turing (1912-1954)
Alan Turing was an English mathematician, cryptanalyst and logician. He is considered the father of artificial intelligence and was pivotal in cracking Nazi codes during WWII. His remarkable breadth of research introduced new ideas in statistical modelling, formal mathematics, theoretical computer science and mathematical biology.
If you have suggestions for mathematical patterns or mathematicians to include in future certificates, please let me know.