The Christmas Lecture presented by the College of Science aims to inspire general audiences from age 5 to 105 with the curiosity and wonder of scientific inquiry. Modeled after the Royal Institution’s Christmas Lecture series, the College of Science invites a world-renowned scientist to Notre Dame to present a talk using the Faraday method of showing or demonstrating science, making complex scientific concepts accessible for all audiences.
The 2026 Christmas Lecture with Marcus du Sautoy
All are welcome to attend the sixth annual Christmas Lecture with Marcus du Sautoy, the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, at the Century Center in Downtown South Bend.
Join Marcus as he takes us on a mathematical journey across the centuries and through countries, continents and cultures in search of the games we love to play. He will explain how mathematics has always been deeply intertwined with games and investigates how games themselves can provide us with opportunities for mathematical insight into the world.
After the talk, enjoy festive refreshments and interactive, family friendly STEM demos, puzzles, and games in the Great Hall in the Century Center.
The Christmas Lecture is free and open to the public; seating for the lecture is first come, first served.
About Marcus:
Marcus du Sautoy is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. In 2016 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is author of nine books including his most recent books Around the World in 80 Games (Fourth Estate, 2023) and Blueprints: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity (Fourth Estate, 2025). He has presented numerous radio and TV series including a four part landmark TV series for the BBC called The Story of Maths, a three part series called The Code and programmes with comedians Alan Davies and Dara O’Briain. He has written and performed a new play called I is a Strange Loop which has been staged at numerous venues including the Barbican. His second play The Axiom of Choice toured the UK and India in 2024. He works extensively with a range of arts organisations bringing science alive for the public from The Royal Opera House to the Glastonbury Festival. He has consulted for the government on the impact of AI and gives regular talks on the potential this new technology offers for progress. In 2009 he was awarded the Royal Society’s Faraday Prize, the UK’s premier award for excellence in communicating science. He received an OBE for services to science in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List.