The McDowell lecture is an annual public lecture and we welcome everyone and in particular schools, alumni and current students. It is given in honour of the late Professor Coulter McDowell (former Head of Mathematics at Royal Holloway) and this event celebrates Professor McDowell’s achievements and contributions not only to Royal Holloway but also to the wider field of Mathematics.

The 2026 lecture is on Tuesday 27th January 2026 and will take place in Shilling Auditorium.

Speaker: Deborah Kent (St. Andrews)

Title: Mathematicians (mostly) in the zone of totality

Summary: :  Eclipse observation is one example of how 19th-century mathematicalwork helped shape modern mathematics. Startin in the the mid 19th century, mathematicial practioners criss-crossed the globe, chasing solar darkness in quest for scientific glory. The high-stakes astronomical expeditions provided opportunities to test mathematical accuracy and to refine new observational tools that promised to reveal secrets of the solar corona. Connections forged beneath the Sun's shadow sustained networks of communication and set precedent for government funding to support mathematical activity. This talk will explore some triumphs and tribulations encountered by 19th-century mathematical practioners and their connections to today.