After two days in Madrid, Ann Dooms, 47, still hadn’t managed much sightseeing: only a quick visit to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium with her daughter. She was staying at the Residencia de Estudiantes, where she gave a talk at the invitation of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Public outreach is only one of the many tasks that occupy Dooms. She also leads the Mathematics and Data Science research group at the Free University of Brussels (VUB, by its Dutch initials), where she is a full professor, and chairs both the Belgian Defence Scientific Council and the Education Committee of the European Mathematical Society.

Seguir leyendo

Sir Francis Drake was a pirate — according to the Spanish — an honorable mariner — according to the English — commanded by Elizabeth I of England to destroy the cities, fortresses, fields, farms, or subjects of Philip II wherever they might be. Drake launched his attacks across both hemispheres without warning. He could strike against Santo Domingo, the Canary Islands, or Patagonia. There were no limits. One of the ports he successfully attacked was Cádiz in 1587.

Seguir leyendo