Uploads from Oxford Mathematics Plus

Currently Playing: Research on the theory of elastic surfaces - Laura Monk

1 April 2026 marked the 250th birthday of Sophie Germain, who is remembered for major contributions to mathematics, ranging from advances in number theory related to Fermat’s Last Theorem to foundational results in elasticity theory. She was also the first woman to win a major competitive research prize in mathematics. This talk was part of a celebratory day on 1 April. Links to the other talks below: The life of Sophie Germain - Lukas Brantner: https://youtu.be/i6_8TjPvyG4 Sophie Germain’s favourite problem - Ana Caraiani: https://youtu.be/OZ5kAWBE5vg Demonstration of Chladni figures - Dan Plane: https://youtu.be/rX4Lwlo_Fkg Sophie Germain and prime numbers - James Maynard: https://youtu.be/yq4zHsdOy54