Maths Craft's Jeanette McLeod will give a public talk on the Four Colour Theorem at Nerd Nite in Christchurch on 1 April 2026.
Title: Four colours and a twist
Speaker: Dr Jeanette McLeod (University of Canterbury and Maths Craft New Zealand)
Abstract: Why did a simple question about map colouring cause more than a century of mathematical trouble and why did it lead to one of the most controversial theorems in mathematics? Join us on a mathematical journey from maps to Möbius strips as we colour outside of the lines and right off the page.
Bio: Dr Jeanette McLeod is the Director of Maths Craft New Zealand, Senior Lecturer (Above the Bar) at the University of Canterbury, and Principal Investigator with Te Pūnaha Matatini. Beyond Maths Craft, Jeanette is a researcher in pure mathematics, specialising in graph theory, and an avid crafter. In recent years, Jeanette and her mathematician partner Phil Wilson (University of Canterbury and Te Pūnaha Matatini) have successfully woven Maths Craft into their research and teaching as part of their ongoing mission to integrate engagement and academia. Their outreach efforts have been widely recognised, earning numerous awards, including the NZMS Gillian Thornley Award and the NZAS Cranwell Medal for science communication.
