The legacy of Bletchley Park on UK Mathematics

by Daniel Shiu

World War II, and Bletchley Park in particular, saw the introduction of academic mathematicians to the problems of cryptanalysis. The effect of mathematical thinking on cryptanalysis is well-studied, but in this talk we consider the opposite question: how did mathematicians’ experiences at Bletchley Park affect their subsequent mathematical work? We will consider three main themes: a shift in statistical thinking, the use of computers in mathematics, and the persistence of collaboration between individuals who met at BP.

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