PhD Research Series

Observing Mathematics in the Making

Thomas Harriot observing the Moon with a telescope. Painting by Rita Greer.

Photo: Rita Greer

Thomas Harriot studied the motion of falling objects independently of Galileo, discovered Snell’s law of refraction before Snell, pioneered interpolation before Newton, and invented binary before Leibniz. Stefano Farinella studies the notebooks of this remarkable and still remarkably unknown figure.

By Stefano Farinella

I Have a Spell for That!

Manuscripts from the Wellcome Collection

Photo: Wellcome Collection

In West African manuscript cultures, written artefacts were produced to address all kinds of life problems, offering their owners relief if used correctly. PhD researcher Jannis Kostelnik investigates what these manuscripts can tell us today about the lives of their owners and colonial history.

By Jannis Kostelnik

Beyond Print: Unlocking Multilingual Secrets in Tamil Classical Manuscripts

Palm-leaf manuscript UVSL 5, p. 50, Grantha in l. 3, mid-nineteenth century CE

Photo: Swaminatha Iyer Library

Early Tamil poetry, rich with tales about journeys, patrons, and cultural exchange, reveals a vibrant blending of languages. PhD researcher Maanasa Visweswaran explores how Sanskrit influences and the use of Grantha script shaped these classical Tamil manuscripts.

By Maanasa Visweswaran