David Acheson awarded National Teaching Fellowship

David Acheson at the NTF 2004 Awards Ceremony, with Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of HEFCE (left), and Sir David Watson (right).

Dr David Acheson has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship worth £50,000 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to learning and teaching. He was presented with his award at a celebration dinner in London on 9 September 2004.

Dr Acheson is well known for his innovative and inspiring teaching methods, which include playing an electric guitar in lectures to demonstrate the mathematical theory of vibrating strings. In addition to his teaching and research at Oxford, he has given a number of public lectures including the London Mathematical Society's 2003 Popular Lecture: Mathematics, Magic and the Electric Guitar. He has also appeared on BBC TV's Tomorrow's World presenting his 'upside-down pendulums theorem', and written 1089 and All That, a book that attempts to bring the joy of mathematics to the general public.

He aims to use his award to write an accessible and inspiring book on mathematics that is neither a conventional textbook nor a 'popular science' book, but one which draws on the best elements of both. He will also create web-based interactive software to accompany the book, to illustrate those aspects of mathematics that are best brought to life by moving images.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme was set up five years ago by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Employment and learning in Northern Ireland to recognise individuals who are excellent teachers and fund projects that will make a significant contribution to learning and teaching in Higher Education.
Dr Acheson is Oxford University's first winner of the award.

© From the Jesus College Record 2004, based on an article in the Newsletter of the London Mathematical Society