Tag: mathematics

Charity sparks passion for Maths with Masterclass Series

  • Aberdeen charity, TechFest, concluded their Masterclass series this weekend, designed to encourage, inspire and engage young people in the art and practice of mathematics.
  • The eight-part ‘Maths Masterclass’ series, held at the University of Aberdeen, offered S2 pupils across Scotland a chance to explore mathematics beyond the classroom.
  • The project, sponsored by Serica Energy, wrapped up with the ‘The Million Dollar Equation’ masterclass presented by Oxford Mathematician and Youtuber Dr Tom Crawford at the University of Aberdeen.
  • Martha Gavan, Deputy Managing Director of TechFest, said: “Mathematics is the heart of STEM, and our mission is to show it’s more than numbers, it unlocks ideas, fuels innovation, and solves real-world problems. But it’s not enough for young people to simply hear about what’s possible, we want them to experience it firsthand, ask the questions that matter, and help them become the next generation of STEM leaders.”

Aberdeen charity, TechFest, concluded their Masterclass series this weekend, aimed at encouraging, inspiring, and engaging young people in the art and practice of mathematics.

The eight-part series aimed at 13–14-year-olds, covered a huge range of mathematical areas and topics, including diverse applications such as art, cryptography, programming, modelling and knot theory.

Taking place on Saturday mornings during term time, all classes featured 2.5-hour interactive sessions led by various STEM lecturers and presenters.

Among the speakers were Youtuber Tom Rocks Maths, Professor Mirela Delibegovic and Professor Ben Martin from the University of Aberdeen and Upstream Business Manager at Enquest, Adrian McBurnie.

The topics highlighted how math shapes the real world, from predicting tennis match outcomes and securing online transactions through cryptography, to advancing life sciences, including drug discovery and diabetes research.

The programme was a partnership between TechFest and Serica Energy, a UK-based independent energy specialist, further continuing TechFest’s mission to host fun initiatives that make STEM education more engaging and inclusive to young people throughout the country.

The Maths Masterclass series saw 14 schools from Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire region take part. All students participating in the initiative had the chance to dive into each topic individually or in small groups, with guidance from the speaker and helpers to ensure accessibility for all.

The final masterclass, The Million Dollar Equation, was held at the University of Aberdeen by Oxford Mathematician and Youtuber Dr Tom Crawford which explores seven unsolved maths problems, each worth $1 million, from quantum mechanics to prime number patterns.

Martha Gavan, Deputy Managing Director of TechFest, said: “Our Maths Masterclasses are all about giving students real, personal connections with people who’ve been in their shoes, industry professionals who share their stories, their challenges, and the exciting paths they’ve taken in STEM.

“These sessions aren’t just university visits, they’re a chance to feel at home in an academic setting, to build the confidence to step into new opportunities, and to see that universities and careers in STEM aren’t just for ‘other people’, they’re for them.

“But more than anything, we want them to leave feeling inspired, capable, and excited about what lies ahead.”

The series encouraged students to take the opportunity to speak with a range of STEM figures and role models, learn about their career journey, challenges and find out the wide range of opportunities that are open to them with a career in STEM.

Students were invited to attend all eight masterclasses and provided with the opportunity to earn their CREST Discovery Day Award while completing the series.

Chris Kay, Chair of Serica’s Education outreach committee said: “We’re delighted to work with TechFest on the Maths Masterclasses, to help inspire young minds and prove that STEM learning can be both fun and engaging.

“The masterclasses offered opportunities for both teamwork and individual challenges, and it was great to see pupils growing in confidence as they worked with peers outside their usual friendship circles.

“This experience will not only help them build ambition but also equip them with valuable skills for their future careers.”

Heriot-Watt scientist receives €2 million funding to help predict the unexpected

A mathematician who specialises in quantifying uncertainty has won a €2 million funding award from the Italian government.

Lorenzo Pareschi, Chair of Applied Mathematics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, will use the funding to try to better understand and predict complex phenomena such as epidemics, traffic, the economy and even how opinions spread on social media.

Professor Pareschi said: “This research could potentially impact many sectors, including clean energy production and space exploration. But the tools we develop could also be applied to situations closer to our daily lives, like the spread of epidemics, the way opinions develop on social media and the progress of elections.”

The award is an Advanced Grant from the Italian Science Fund (FIS), which was established by Italy’s Ministry of University and Research to support research excellence in Italy.

The University of Ferrara in Italy, where Professor Pareschi is a Professor of Numerical Analysis, said the award underlines the “central role of applied mathematics in understanding and predicting the scientific and technological challenges of modern society.”

Professor Pareschi is also the only mathematics researcher in Italy to receive Advanced Grant funding from the Italian Science Fund, the University of Ferrera added.

Professor Sara Lombardo, Executive Dean of Heriot-Watt’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, said: “We are delighted to see Lorenzo’s work recognised with this prestigious award.

“His research is already making important contributions to science – and raising awareness of the crucial role of mathematics in making sense of the world.”

Professor Pareschi leads the research project ADAMUS, which develops advanced mathematical tools to analyse complex systems from epidemics to environmental and societal dynamics.

The project identifies interconnected dynamics in seemingly different phenomena—dynamics that often cannot be effectively studied using conventional methods. ADAMUS was created to develop new mathematical frameworks capable of describing, analysing, and predicting such phenomena with greater precision and efficiency.

Professor Pareschi explained: “We are essentially using mathematics to uncover and describe the hidden laws governing certain phenomena. This is becoming increasingly important as risks associated with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, continue to grow.

“For example, we know that social media can influence political elections, shape public opinion, and even affect consumer behaviour. Developing predictive tools for these dynamics can also help mitigate the spread of fake news, enabling us to better understand, control, and navigate these complex phenomena.”

Professor Pareschi received his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Bologna, Italy, and subsequently held visiting professorships in the United States at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in France at the University of Orléans and University of Toulouse.

He was previously Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Ferrara in Italy and holds awards including a 2023 Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship, which awards long-term funding to senior researchers in the UK

Since joining Heriot-Watt University in 2023, Professor Pareschi’s research has increasingly focused on problems of uncertainty quantification, optimal control, global optimisation and machine learning.

Professor Pareschi is also member of the steering committee of the Italian Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIMAI), and member of the Committee for Applications and Interdisciplinary Relations (CAIR) of the European Mathematical Society (EMS).

Children’s TV legend counting on Scottish schools to register for NSPCC Number Day 2024

  • Children’s TV presenter, Johnny Ball, and TV personality, Emmauel Asuquo, are calling on schools and nurseries in Scotland to take part in NSPCC Number Day this year
  • Number Day – on Friday, February 2 – encourages children and teachers across the UK to enjoy maths-related activities and games to enthuse children about mathematics
  • Funding raised from the event will enable the charity to continue to provide its vital services, including Childline.

Children’s TV presenter and renowned mathematician Johnny Ball and financial expert Emmauel Asuqo are calling on schools and nurseries across Scotland to sign-up to the NSPCC’s annual maths fundraiser, which raises funds for children suffering abuse. 

They are also supporting the day with visits to schools to encourage youngsters to harness a love of maths, while raising vital funds for the charity.

Number Day takes place on Friday 2nd February, and the NSPCC hopes to see a record number of primary schools across the country taking part in a range of maths related activities and games, including ‘Dress up for Digits’. These activities aim to enthuse children about mathematics, as well as fundraise for the charity.

This Number Day, children will have the chance to take part in an exciting new adventure – ‘The Trophy Thief’ from Sums of Anarchy – a mathematics mystery adventure based in ‘Arithmetown’ where children need to solve the crime of the missing Golden Numeral trophy. 

Plus, there are new resources and activities from all the NSPCC’s partners including Maths Circle and Times Table Rock Stars, Maths on Toast, Oxford University Press, GoHenry and SchoolOnline.

Stephanie Coleman, community fundraiser at the NSPCC, said: “Number Day is an annual event that brings together whole schools and nurseries in a celebration of mathematics and numbers.

“We love hearing from pupils and teacher who have found a creative way to embrace the day, whether that’s dressing up as numbers or challenging students to think about how maths enters our everyday lives.

“The money raised by Number Day goes towards our vital work in supporting children across the UK who experience abuse. It’s a pleasure for us to see so many schools get involved in a day of fun that – down the line – helps children contact Childline or access our support services.

“We’d like to thank everyone who takes part.”

Johnny Ball said: “I’m delighted to support the NSPCC’s annual Number Day once again. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get children excited about maths from a young age in a fun and engaging way.

“Maths can be a daunting subject for many so it’s crucial that we foster a healthy understanding that maths is not just numeracy, but that it underpins everything we do in life including all our activities in the arts and sciences.

“Number Day also encourages youngsters to engage, as a whole school, with fundraising which is so vital for the NSPCC to continue its wonderful work.”

Registration for Number Day 2024 is free and open to schools and nurseries now. Once a school is registered, the NSPCC will provide resources that can be used in the classroom, including new games, quizzes and activities, and free curriculum-based activities such as Dress up for Digits where children and staff can wear an item of clothing with a number on it and make a donation to the NSPCC.

With around 90 per cent of income coming from supporters, including schools, events such as Number Day are crucial to enable the NSPCC keeps its vital services running, including Childline, its Helpline for adults to call if they are concerned about a child, and the charity’s Speak Out, Stay Safe programme, which sees the NSPCC visit primary schools and teach children how to recognise signs of abuse and neglect, and who to talk to if they are worried.

Schools can get involved with Number Day by registering online. 

Further information about Dress Up for Digits and ideas for costumes can also be found on the NSPCC’s website.

Please remember to share your Number Day posts and photos on social media and to include the hashtag #NumberDay.

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk. Any adults concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact the NSPCC helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000.

Amazon offering free resources to help families with home learning

As the country remains in lockdown with millions of parents, carers and students facing weeks of remote learning, Amazon is offering free and inspirational learning essentials to help while schools are closed. 

Below we have listed a range of educational resources freely available from today across Science, Mathematics, English and Physical Education.

More information can be here: https://blog.aboutamazon.co.uk/in-the-community/home-schooling-resources-for-parents-carers-and-children-during-lockdown 

What is Amazon offering?

Maths 

·       Amazon Maths4All now offers hundreds of free maths games, apps and challenges on Alexa, worksheets for Kindle and Fire Tablets, and caters for a range of ages across primary and secondary school, learning styles and abilities.

·       Students can tune into a maths lesson from Rachel Riley, Countdown presenter and the nation’s favourite mathematician, who joined our Very Important Breakfast Clubs to play the numbers game and show that maths is ‘easy as Pi’.

·       You can even involve Alexa in learning from home. Get started by saying, “Alexa, ask the Maths Coach to start a test”, or “Alexa, ask the Maths Coach for a hard addition test”.

·       Amazon has injected some fun into times tables lessons with free games available to download on Amazon Fire Tablets. Older students can try out Timestables Rockstars while younger learners can play ‘Meet the Numberblocks!’.

Science

  • The Hour of Code Dance Party is the perfect feel-good Friday finish after a long week of remote learning. This interactive dance-themed online coding tutorial gives students the opportunity to build their computer science skills while have some fun coding characters to dance to songs from leading artists. 
  • Dr Ranj Singh, the NHS doctor and BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, is providing a short brain-busting lesson in biology. Children in years 1 -7 can learn about the growing brain and how to keep your brain healthy.
  • Amazon Future Engineer is our comprehensive childhood-to-career programme designed to inspire, educate and enable children and young adults from lower-income backgrounds to try computer science. Earlier this year, Amazon Future Engineer launched free virtual coding programmes to help young people build computer science skills while learning at home.
  • Those aged 11-16 can enter the Amazon Longitude Explorer Prize, which challenges students to develop technological innovations to help solve some of the world’s biggest issues (entries close 12th February 2021)

English

·       Young people and parents can listen to stories at Stories.Audible.com, with specially curated categories such as ‘Littlest Listeners’ and ‘Elementary’ offering free audio books. Get whisked away to Alice In Wonderland (read by Scarlett Johansson), Jane Eyre (read by Thandie Newton), Anne of Green Gables (Read by Rachel McAdams) and Frankenstein (read by Dan Stevens). 

Physical Education

·       As breaktime moves from the playground to indoors, students can practise their football freestyle flair with Lia Lewis, British freestyle footballer and TikTok superstar, who will teach neck stalls, knee blocks and how to do a cross catch in her lesson.

Systemic change needed to address disadvantage in STEM subjects, says Holyrood committee

Disadvantages as a result of deprivation, gender and rurality need to be addressed to improve learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), according to a new Holyrood committee report. Continue reading Systemic change needed to address disadvantage in STEM subjects, says Holyrood committee

The science of rock and roll! The rock music milkshake maker

The epic guitar riffs just as capable of mixing you a delicious drink as any kitchen utensil are identified using sound energy …

 

  • Stirring invention by The Big Bang Fair (www.thebigbangfair.co.uk) marked registrations opening
  • Scientists* identified that classic shredding tunes from Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon worked best for mixing drinks
  • The Rock Music Milkshake Mixer will be on display at The Big Bang Fair 2018 where guests will have the opportunity to pick up the axe and mix a milkshake for themselves
  • Schools across the country can request to have the RM3 sent to them for a unique way to demonstrate the science of cymatics ** 

The Big Bang Fair challenged a team of inventors, scientists and musicians to make a delicious beverage with music.  The result was the world’s first ever milkshakes mixed entirely with sound energy from live music!

The music-made beverages were not the result of mellow pop tunes by Justin Bieber or Ed Sheeran however, but the raw power of rock music. Indeed, during the unusual experiment, the team found they would have the greatest success in their musically moving milkshake endeavours by turning to powerful guitar riffs from stadium bands Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon and even Blink-182. 

So how is it possible to make these delicious shakes solely through the power of sound energy? With a standard electric guitar and a somewhat less standard madcap contraption that was one-part guitar amplifier and one-part kitchen blender, that’s how. 

Bringing together the worlds of education, science, music and kitchenware in a way never seen before, The Rock Music Milkshake Mixer (or the RM3 for short) has been created to mark registrations opening for The Big Bang Fair 2018. The Big Bang Fair is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people in the UK. For more information visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk 

Beth Elgood, Director of Communications at EngineeringUK, who organise The Big Bang Fair, said: “Going into its tenth year in 2018 The Big Bang Fair continues to be a great source of STEM inspiration for young people, representing an amazing opportunity for young visitors, their teachers and parents to get hands-on with a wide range of activities, workshops and shows. With this in mind, we’re delighted to unveil the unique Rock Music Milkshake Mixer prototype today, which is sure to be another popular interactive exhibit at this year’s show.”

 So how does the RM3 work? First pour powdered milkshake and milk into the jug and screw the top on tight. Next, plug in an axe (that’s a guitar), ready your plectrum and start playing some crunching riffs at max volume (ideally volume 11). 

Now marvel as cymatics (that’s the visualisation of sound through a physical medium – in this case milkshake) allows you to witness the hard rock sound waves, emitted from the speaker, coming into contact with the milkshake mixture and vigorously vibrating it. Soon enough, you’ll have a deliciously thick drink, made entirely through the power of sound energy. 

Year 7 students at Westminster Academy in London were the first to try the revolutionary new prototype earlier this week, where it was officially launched by The Blowfish, the world’s only heavy metal marine biologist. 

The Blowfish commented: “Metal music and science are two of my biggest passions, so when I was offered the chance to launch the Rock Music Milkshake Mixer, it was an absolute no-brainer. I’m a big believer in finding new and innovative ways to get kids excited about science and the world around them. What better way of achieving that than by harnessing the epic power of rock music to make a tasty, delectable treat?” 

The RM3 will be on display, and free for guests to try out at The Big Bang Fair 2018, which is due to take place at the NEC in Birmingham in March next year. For more information visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk

 

 

Planting the STEM seed at Craigie

STEM: That’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths – but you knew that, of course!

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A team of employees from Edinburgh electronics company Leonardo (better known to us old-timers as Ferranti’s!) are planting a ‘STEM’ seed that could lead to improved career prospects for Craigroyston Community High School pupils. Continue reading Planting the STEM seed at Craigie

It all adds up: Making Maths Count

Stronger focus on Maths in schools

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Efforts to drive maths attainment in schools and refocus Scotland’s attitude to maths learning are to be stepped up in a new government-led programme.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance has announced greater support will be given to secondary-school level maths teachers through a new group established to prepare and share resources.

In addition, a group with responsibility for raising the profile of maths and numeracy as an essential skill for learning, life and work, will be set up.

The establishment of both groups marks the first steps of Making Maths Count, a Government-led programme with the aim of improving maths and numeracy attainment in primary and secondary school.

This work follows the Scottish Government launch of Read, Write, Count campaign last month, to encourage greater parental involvement in supporting early literacy and numeracy skills of P1-3 pupils, and the launch of the Scottish Government’s £100 million Attainment Challenge to support learning in disadvantaged communities.

Earlier this week, the First Minister announced the establishment of a National Improvement Framework, with national standardised assessments in literacy and numeracy for pupils in P1, 4, 7 and in the third year of secondary school.

Ms Constance said: “Maths has a vital place at the heart of our curriculum and maths and numeracy are one of the gateways to success in work, learning and life. As Education Secretary, I want to see attainment in both improve at all ages and stages.

“While we are already investing heavily and taking forward a range of actions to support primary and secondary-level learning, it is clear from our national attainment data that improving numeracy is an urgent area for action.

“That’s why I am launching Making Maths Count. The two groups I am announcing today will have important and distinct remits.

“We have already provided a package of resources to teachers to support delivery of maths teaching within Curriculum for Excellence. Today I am pleased to announce that a teacher-led group will take that work further. They will consult directly with the maths teaching workforce in secondary schools to assess what more can be done to ensure both teachers and pupils get the support they need. The group will be formed next month and will present an interim progress report to me by the end of the year.

“And while the world around us is continually evolving, the role of maths and numeracy in our labour market, our economy and our day-to-day lives will be here forever. It will only become more important as sectors such as digital technologies continue to grow.

“We need to promote greater enthusiasm for and confidence in maths and numeracy amongst young people and their parents and redress some of the cultural assumptions that are holding back our potential.

“I will be setting the new group the challenge of making maths matter more to Scotland. I want them to provide new ideas on promoting the benefits of maths and numeracy and how this can improve the quality of education and raise attainment. It will have a strong focus on understanding attitudes and promoting maths and numeracy and how we can address the myths and assumptions that surround maths and numeracy.

“It will be important that this new profile-raising group for Mathematics and Numeracy will involve partners and engage widely with young people, parents, business and academia as well as teachers.

“I will say more about further work to be taken forward through Making Maths Count in coming weeks, including at the Scottish Learning Festival, but our vision is clear. By building a strong base of robust and consistent evidence, we can take big strides towards improving Scotland’s relationship with maths, strengthening attainment performance in schools and supporting our future economy.”