How Alan Turing and a university in Yorkshire are helping inspire the next generation of mathematicians

His genius was to prove vital in bringing victory over Germany during the Second World War after he famously helped crack the Enigma code, Paul Jeeves reports.
By Paul Jeeves
Published 25th Mar 2021, 07:00 BST

Mathematician Alan Turing is known as the father of modern computing and as the codebreaker responsible for breaking the Germans’ ciphers in the 1940s.

But his talents also extended to a theory of using mathematics to explain biology – showing how animals get their distinctive markings.

Read More
How a Yorkshire scientist's deep sea discovery may help protect the food chain
Pictured, the Bank of England revealed Alan Turing as the new figure to be depicted on the 50 GBP note two years ago in Manchester, England. The general public were asked to 'Think Science' and nominate characters from the field of science for the next £50. Turing was selected from over 200,000 nominations for nearly 1000 eligible scientists. Photo credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesPictured, the Bank of England revealed Alan Turing as the new figure to be depicted on the 50 GBP note two years ago in Manchester, England. The general public were asked to 'Think Science' and nominate characters from the field of science for the next £50. Turing was selected from over 200,000 nominations for nearly 1000 eligible scientists. Photo credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Pictured, the Bank of England revealed Alan Turing as the new figure to be depicted on the 50 GBP note two years ago in Manchester, England. The general public were asked to 'Think Science' and nominate characters from the field of science for the next £50. Turing was selected from over 200,000 nominations for nearly 1000 eligible scientists. Photo credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Academics from the University of Sheffield are now launching a project to allow school pupils across the country the chance to explore how maths can be used to understand the world and nature, centred on Turing’s own theories.

Dr Natasha Ellison, who is based at the university and is leading the project, said: “I noticed as a teacher that lots of children develop anxiety around maths in primary school and aren’t aware of what maths can lead them to, or of any real life applications of maths.

“Although Alan Turing is well known as a codebreaker, his mathematical theories of biology are a great example to show children how maths can explain the natural world around us.

“We want to inspire the next generation of mathematicians, showing them that by solving basic maths problems, based on Turing’s ideas, we can see that maths is actually all around us, in patterns, animals and nature.”

Academics from the University of Sheffield are now launching a project to allow school pupils across the country the chance to explore how maths can be used to understand the world and nature, centred on Alan Turing’s own theories.Academics from the University of Sheffield are now launching a project to allow school pupils across the country the chance to explore how maths can be used to understand the world and nature, centred on Alan Turing’s own theories.
Academics from the University of Sheffield are now launching a project to allow school pupils across the country the chance to explore how maths can be used to understand the world and nature, centred on Alan Turing’s own theories.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The project, which has been developed in partnership with the Bank of England, is being launched to celebrate the new £50 note, which will feature an image of Turing.

His ideas show how patterns on animals, such as leopards, zebras and pufferfish, can be described using numbers.

Turing imagined that there are two chemicals inside an animal’s body and that their concentrations show where nature’s patterns develop.

His pioneering research revealed that certain mathematical equations can explain the way these chemicals react and how the patterns form.

Dr Natasha Ellison pictured in the Rivelin Valley last year. She was one of the experts from the University of Sheffield to use the models Alan Turing built to describe how animals get their spotted and striped patterns int he study of birds. Photo credit: Bruce Rollinson/ JPIMediaResellDr Natasha Ellison pictured in the Rivelin Valley last year. She was one of the experts from the University of Sheffield to use the models Alan Turing built to describe how animals get their spotted and striped patterns int he study of birds. Photo credit: Bruce Rollinson/ JPIMediaResell
Dr Natasha Ellison pictured in the Rivelin Valley last year. She was one of the experts from the University of Sheffield to use the models Alan Turing built to describe how animals get their spotted and striped patterns int he study of birds. Photo credit: Bruce Rollinson/ JPIMediaResell
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The high-level maths which Turing used can be broken down into thousands of smaller calculations using the methods of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.

As part of the lessons, children will complete calculations – cracking various codes – before submitting their answers to the next school to perform the next set of calculations.

The team from the University of Sheffield will then collate all the answers submitted from each school, which will unlock the pattern of a pufferfish.

Sir Dermot Turing, the nephew of Turing, said: “I’m certain that Alan Turing would have been delighted to see his work on patterns in living things being used to inspire young students with the potential of mathematics.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s marvellous that this part of Alan Turing’s work is becoming better known.”

Alan Turing worked for Britain’s code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park, in Buckinghamshire, during the Second World War.

He led a team who decrypted messages sent by the Germans using the Engima machine, helping hasten the end of the conflict.

He was charged with gross indecency in 1952, and he died aged 41 two years later in an apparent suicide.

He was granted a Royal pardon in 2013.

__________

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.

Related topics:YorkshireGermany