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People, Places, and Mathematics

A Memoir

  • Book
  • © 2023

Overview

Authors:
  1. Thomas Ward

    1. Durham, UK

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  • A compelling look back at a mathematician's career
  • Provides candid reflections on higher education from an insider’s point of view
  • Explores how early influences shape an academic career

Part of the book series: Springer Biographies (SPRINGERBIOGS)

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Dorset and Ghana

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 1-21

  3. Lusaka

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 23-46

  4. Swaziland

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 47-76

  5. Dorchester

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 77-81

  6. Coventry

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 83-108

  7. Seattle, Shuffleboard, Vitaly

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 109-111

  8. College Park, Maryland

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 113-119

  9. Columbus

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 121-129

  10. Norwich and Graham

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 131-133

  11. Columbus Revisited

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 135-139

  12. Norwich Revisited

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 141-163

  13. Two New Roles in Norwich

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 165-206

  14. From Sillery to the Office for Students

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 207-241

  15. Durham

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 243-268

  16. Leeds

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 269-291

  17. Newcastle

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 293-298

  18. Looking Back

    • Thomas Ward
    Pages 299-309

  19. Back Matter

    Pages 311-349
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Keywords

About this book

This memoir chronicles the journey of an academic, tracing a path from primary school in Zambia to a career in higher education as a mathematician and educational leader. Set against the backdrop of the 20th century, the book explores how early influences and historical events shape an individual's life and professional trajectory.
 
The author shares childhood experiences across three parts of Africa, providing an original perspective as a witness to the post-colonial period. Through personal reflections, the memoir delves into the emergence of ideas and collaborations in mathematics and how these shape career choices. It also offers candid observations on the major changes in British higher education since the 1980s.
 
Intended for a general audience, this book provides a compelling read for anyone interested in the experience of becoming a mathematician, and higher education in general.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Durham, UK

    Thomas Ward

About the author

Tom Ward has worked in ergodic theory and number theory, with a particular interest in algebraic dynamical systems. The second half of his career was spent in educational leadership on the executives of four different universities. He is the author of several monographs with Graham Everest and Manfred Einsiedler.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: People, Places, and Mathematics

  • Book Subtitle: A Memoir

  • Authors: Thomas Ward

  • Series Title: Springer Biographies

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39074-6

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-39073-9Published: 01 November 2023

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-031-39076-0Due: 02 December 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-39074-6Published: 31 October 2023

  • Series ISSN: 2365-0613

  • Series E-ISSN: 2365-0621

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVI, 349

  • Number of Illustrations: 20 b/w illustrations, 58 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Mathematics, general, Education Policy, Imperialism and Colonialism, Higher Education

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