Change Ringing: The Beautiful Intersection Between Math and Music, featuring Emily Russell

Emily Russell, Post Doctoral Fellow at ICERM.
The Beautiful Intersection Between Math and Music in the form of English bell ringing, a tradition from the early 1600's. The bell ringing tradition is very deeply rooted in the mathematics of group theory. In fact, there have been mathematical theorems proven which are very much drawn out of bell ringing.
Emily Russell completed her PhD in Physics at Harvard University under the supervision of Professor David Weitz. Her research interests lie in describing how local interactions drive the global structure and behavior of complex systems; during her PhD work, she examined such phenomena experimentally in charged colloidal systems, and she now focuses on combining her physical intuition with a mathematical understanding of more general systems.

[@Sunflowers159]

I live in Winchester in the UK and the cathedral here has 14 bells! I love hearing the ringers practising each week and then the bells pealing out on Sunday mornings or for special occasions. Visitors can go into the tower and see the ringing chamber and, further up, the bells themselves.

[@Londonfogey]

I knew someone who was so into the mathematics of bell ringing that she knitted hassock (kneeler) covers for the church with geometric designs based on change ringing patterns.

[@gailremp3628]

This is so interesting and joyful at the same time. Peace from Florida in 2019...

[@Steven_Rowe]

I have been change ringing for over over 50 and years and never really understood the maths. However it is all very fascinating and often wonder how rings compose a peal of 5040 changes and know it is true.

[@aeh5040]

Awesome job Emily!

[@matthewbergeron5432]

Excellent speech! That was very enjoyable.

[@apiemikey]

Where am i what is this place

[@elliottswanson9307]

Seems like the plain change round has many more basic permutations. Changes that begin with 3 or 4?

[@irenec4876]

I See Bitterne Park!