Hamilton

CELEBRATING WILLIAM ROWAN HAMILTON, MATHEMATICIAN

The 167^th anniversary of Hamilton's discovery of quaternions takes place on Saturday 16^th October, 2010. This crucial day in the history of mathematics will be commemorated in the now traditional manner by the Hamilton walk from Dunsink Observatory to Broombridge, Cabra. In recent years, the walk has attracted participants in increasing variety and numbers, including post-primary students, the local community, mathematicians and those curious about quaternions.

This year, people will gather in Dunsink Observatory at 2pm. There will be a short talk relevant to the occasion, followed by the walk down the hill to the Royal Canal and along it to Broombridge (about 3:15). Walkers might expect to return to the city centre by about 4pm. Sensible attire is advised. See map showing approximate route.

Getting there: If you wish to attend the talk in the historic Meridian Room, you need to contact Dr Fiacre Ó Cairbre at (01)7083763. Anyone can participate in the walk. Just turn up at the observatory at 2:15. If there are sufficient numbers interested in leaving from St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, it is likely that transport will be arranged. Note that, for security reasons, it is not possible to leave a car at the observatory during the walk.

Getting back: It is not far to walk back to the city centre from Broombridge (about 40 minutes). Alternatively, you may wish to take the train from Broombridge to Connolly. According to Iarnród Éireann, this leaves Broombridge at 15:36 (or 16:34), taking 5 minutes to reach Drumcondra (or 10 for Connolly Station). Alternatively the 121 or 122 bus from Faussagh Avenue takes you back to town.

Related events and information:

	Photos from last year.
	MIT Sloan School of Management, Professor Robert Merton, will deliver the ninth Hamilton Lecture of the Royal Irish Academy in Trinity College, entitled Observations on Mathematical Finance in the Practice of Finance. Tickets are available for this lecture through the RIA (on-line booking).
	Twenty Years of the Hamilton Walk - article by Fiacre Ó Cairbre in IMS Bulletin.
	Seán O'Donnell's biography of Hamilton is available from Boole Press.
	Previous Hamilton Lectures were given by: Efim Zelmanov (2009), Lisa Randall (2008), Frank Wilczek (2007), Ingrid Daubechies (2006), Steven Weinberg (2005), Timothy Gowers (2004), Andrew Wiles (2003), Murray Gell-Mann (2002).
	The bicentenary of Hamilton's birth occurred in 2005 which was designated Hamilton Year.

page updated: 06 October 2010