Skip to content The Open University

  1. Study at the OU
  2. Research degrees
  3. Research areas
  4. Mathematics
  5. History of mathematics

History of mathematics

On this page
An image to illustrate studying history of mathematics with The Open University

The History of Mathematics Group conducts internationally recognised work in several areas of the history of modern mathematics, and collaborates with many historians of mathematics in Europe. A long-running interest in celestial mechanics has recently led to an investigation of the network of astronomers in the years around 1900, and an overlapping international project on the role of mathematics and mathematicians in the First World War. Another project concerns the work of G.D. Birkhoff and the development of topological dynamics.

We also study analysis and geometry in the 19th century. A joint project with a colleague in Milan on the history of complex analysis is concluding, and we expect to embark on another project shortly, which will take up aspects of the history of geometry and the work of Hermann Weyl.

Qualifications available:

PhD or MPhil

Fees:

For detailed information on current fees visit Fees and funding.

Entry requirements:

Minimum 2:1 (or equivalent)

Potential research projects

  • Geometry and analysis in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
  • History of celestial mechanics in the nineteenth century
  • History of dynamical systems

Current / recent research projects

Our current PhD students are working on:

●  Forest Ray Moulton’s Periodic Orbits and his quest for a new Lunar Theory
●  Selected correspondence of Leonhard Euler.

Potential supervisors

  • Dr June Barrow-Green
  • Professor Jeremy Gray

Further information

If you have an enquiry specific to this research area please contact:

Name:
Mathematics and Statistics Research Secretary
Email:
mcs-mathematics-enquiries@open.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 (0)1908 655552

For general enquiries please contact the Research Degrees Team via the link under ‘Your questions’ on the right of the page.

Links