Dr Katie Chicot
Senior Lecturer And Staff Tutor In Mathematics And Statistics
School of Mathematics & Statistics
Biography
Professional biography
Further infomration about my work is on this Open University page:
http://users.mct.open.ac.uk/kc2645/
Research interests
My research interests straddle Logic and Combinatorics. In particular I have worked with automorphism groups, the Small index property and transitivity properties all with respect to infinite designs.
I have also worked on gender and STEM research projects.
Teaching interests
As well as working on entry level modules I make materials for the university's open learning platform, Open Learn.
My OpenLearn articles are available on my OpenLearn Porfile.
- There is an aritcle about the the ubiquitous nature of mathematics and, amongst other things, information on a cunning way to gamble to win.
Impact and engagement
MathsWorldUK
In 2018 I became CEO of MathsWorldUK, a registered charity which aims to establish the UK's first interactive Mathematics Discovery Centre. The Centre will show that maths is to be enjoyed and explored by everyone and that it is at the cutting edge of innovation in most sectors. All information is at MathsWorldUK's website
Perplex
So that people could get their hands on some real problem solving and fun puzzles I created the app Perplex with the UKMT. The puzzle can be played online or via an app.
Beat the Brain!
In 2015 some members of the Maths and Statistics dept entered the BBC game show Beat the Brain. Unfortunately there is no video record of this historic moment!
Projects
City of Maths
Mathematics is a subject which inspires very mixed emotions. While many find it a useful tool in their approach to understanding the world, some people associate it strongly with negative experiences of struggle, confusion and defeat - often leading to a lack of mathematical confidence in everyday situations. But mathematical skills can be an incredible benefit, and the numeracy and problem-solving skills developed through mathematical thinking can be central to an individual’s prospects and wellbeing. The UK in particular suffers from cultural barriers that exclude so many people from the world of mathematics, and that in turn diminishes their potential and opportunities. We also have issues with teacher retention in mathematics, leading to often poorly motivated teachers working in under-resourced schools. The City of Maths project would be a cultural intervention aiming to address the UK’s lack of a positive relationship with, or culture of, maths. This negative attitude has impacts on both individual and societal levels, and addressing this issue - making maths something to be celebrated and embraced - is key to solving many of these problems.
Publications
Book Chapter
Journal Article
Four Math Museums Around the World: From Oldest to Newest (2024)
Creating a Mathematics Discovery Centre in the UK (2024)
Please do touch: maths you cannot resist grabbing (2024)
MathsWorldUK: Creating the UK’s first National Mathematics Discovery Centre (2021)
A Classification of Countable Lower 1-transitive Linear Orders (2018)
On sparse countably infinite Steiner triple systems (2010)
The small index property for countable 1-transitive linear orders (2005)
Presentation / Conference
Distance travelled: supporting women returning to STEM careers (2012)
