The Eighth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture

Professor Marcus du Sautoy
42: the answer to life, the universe and prime numbers

Since 2003, Save the Rhino has held an annual Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture around the time of his birthday to raise money for rhino conservation projects. The lectures are in aid of both Save the Rhino International and the Environmental Investigation Agency, two charities supported by Douglas Adams. Douglas developed his deep-seated interest in wildlife conservation during a 1985 visit to Madagascar, which eventually resulted in a book (Last Chance to See) about the plight of species facing extinction. Douglas Adams died unexpectedly in 2001 at the age of 49. These Memorial Lectures continue to explore the themes in which Douglas was so interested.

On Thursday 11 March Professor Marcus du Sautoy gave the Eighth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture at The Royal Geographical Society.  He gave an extremely interesting talk about prime numbers and a very Douglas themed number - the number 42! Clive Anderson also very kindly was the MC for the night.

Listen to an interview with Marcus du Sautoy on The Pod Delusion (16:24):

Marcus du Sautoy is the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. He has been named by the Independent on Sunday as one of the UK's leading scientists. In 2001 he won the prestigious Berwick Prize of the London Mathematical Society awarded every two years to reward the best mathematical research made by a mathematician under 40. In 2004 Esquire Magazine chose him as one of the 100 most influential people under 40 in Britain and in 2008 he was included in the prestigious directory Who’s Who.

Marcus du Sautoy writes for the Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent and the Guardian and is frequently asked for comment on BBC radio and television. He has a regular column in the Times called Sexy Maths.

Thank you very much to both Marcus du Sautoy and Clive Anderson for giving up their time to talk at our event and thank you to everyone for attending, we hope you enjoyed the night.