Student Spotlight: Katie Tutty
MathsCity to Fluid Dynamics – A Journey Through Mathematical Discovery
This blog reflects on Katie's unexpected journey into fluid dynamics, shaped by hands‑on maths engagement, public communication, and discovery centres that make complex ideas accessible and joyful. From MathsCity Leeds to the launch of MathsWorld London, it explores how early experiences with outreach and exploration helped lay the foundations for my PhD and continue to influence my CDT journey today.
Meet Katie
I am a first‑year student on the Fluid Dynamics CDT, though my path here began long before my PhD officially started. During my Integrated Master’s in Physics at Leeds, I visited MathsCity Leeds with my family and was immediately struck by how joyful, hands‑on, and welcoming the space felt. It was the kind of place I would have adored as a child—and, as it turned out, still did as an adult. I joined the team shortly after, becoming part of the pilot programme to create the UK’s first national maths discovery centre. Working there shaped my understanding of how mathematics can be communicated, explored, and celebrated, and ultimately played a major role in my decision to pursue fluid dynamics.
MathsCity, MathsWorld UK, and the London Launch
MathsCity Leeds is part of the wider vision of MathsWorld UK, a charity led by Dr Katie Chicot and Margaret Brown OBE. Their mission is to establish interactive discovery centres across the country, showcasing the patterns, structures, applications, and people of mathematics. This autumn, I had the privilege of attending the opening of MathsWorld London—both as a long‑standing member of the Leeds team and as a representative of the Fluid Dynamics CDT.
The event felt like a milestone not just for the charity, but for everyone who believes mathematics should be accessible, playful, and celebrated in everyday life. It was also a full‑circle moment for me: the first fluid dynamics concept I ever engaged with was the CDT‑built wave tank we demonstrated at MathsCity during half‑term. I remember feeling slightly thrown in at the deep end as I attempted to explain eddy currents, vortices, and flow patterns—having begun the day ready to confidently inform families that “Eddie” was the guy who discovered currents! Yet that early experience was my first real glimpse of fluid dynamics, and of how complex ideas could be made tangible for the public through something as simple as a tank of water and paddle.
Since the London opening, I’ve become even more involved, taking on the role of schools’ coordinator down there remotely. The calendar is already filling rapidly, and it’s exciting to see how much appetite there is for mathematical discovery across age groups.
Reflections on the Event
The launch brought together a wonderful community of maths communicators and supporters. I continued conversations with James Grime, Matt Parker, and Ben Sparks, all of whom have contributed to both centres. Meeting Johnny Ball for the first time was a particular highlight—his book Think of a Number was my earliest introduction to mathematics beyond the curriculum, and it remains a favourite I still revisit.
Events like this reaffirm why discovery centres matter. They change perceptions, spark curiosity, and offer people—especially those who might not think of themselves as “maths people”—a new perception about what mathematics is and where it lives in the world around them.
My Journey
My journey from visitor to staff member, and now to CDT student, has been shaped by environments that make mathematics tangible and exciting. MathsCity and MathsWorld London embody that spirit, and being part of their growth while beginning my research career feels both grounding and inspiring. These centres remind us that mathematics is not just a subject—it’s something we all live alongside, whether we study it or not, quietly underpinning so much of the world we navigate every day.