The David Poole Lecture welcomes the community to discover math in engaging, approachable ways. Featuring speakers who connect theory with everyday life, these talks welcome community members who enjoy learning, problem-solving, and seeing familiar ideas in new ways.

Upcoming Lecture

A Hard Days’ Math: The Connections Between Mathematics and Music

Dr. Jason I. Brown

Professor, Dalhousie University
Live performance by an alumni band

  • calendar iconThursday, November 12, 2026
  • time icon7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  • location iconMarket Hall, 140 Charlotte St, Peterborough, ON K9J 2T8

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Lecture Abstract

Music and mathematics are deeply connected, shaping how we analyze, create, and experience sound. This talk explores the math behind musical patterns, paradoxes, iconic songs, machine learning, and audio mysteries.

About Dr. Jason I. Brown

Headshot of Jason I. BrownJason I. Brown is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Dalhousie University and the author of more than 110 research articles in graph theory and combinatorics. His internationally recognized work using mathematics to uncover mysteries in the music of The Beatles has been featured by CBC, BBC, NPR, Wired, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has also authored several textbooks and Our Days Are Numbered, a book that explores mathematics in everyday life.

For more information email communityspeakerseries@trentu.ca.

Past Lectures

Past Lectures
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David Poole

About Dr. David Poole 

Dr. David G. Poole is a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Trent University and one of Canada’s most highly regarded educators in mathematics. He joined Trent in 1984 and served the university for more than three decades, including multiple terms as Chair of Mathematics and as Associate Dean of Arts and Science.

Professor Poole is a recipient of many of the country’s top teaching honours, including the 3M Teaching Fellowship, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award, and the Canadian Mathematical Society’s Excellence in Teaching Award. In recognition of his national impact on mathematics education, he was named a Fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society in 2018. His widely used textbook Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction is now in its fifth edition and has been translated into four languages.

Prof. Poole established the David Poole Lecture in 2021 to engage the Trent and broader communities in discussions about mathematics and mathematics education.