’Mathematics helped me overcome boredom’

Christopher Deninger loves his subject and organises heavy-metal concerts in his spare time

One thing before we begin: although Prof. Christopher Deninger turned 65 this year, he will be staying on at the University as a senior professor until he reaches 70. Minimum. "My preference would be to carry on working right into old age and suddenly drop down dead one day: in my office - with the door closed, so that no one gets a fright," he adds with a laugh.

Christopher Deninger laughs a lot, with a twinkle in his eye. Being a Professor of Mathematics is his dream job. He is an expert on arithmetical geometry, and working with colleagues, mathematics itself (of course), the beauty of abstraction - these are all things he really enjoys. ...