News

MMG Interim Evaluation 4: Statistical Analysis, by Colin R. Reeves (Coventry University)
This report contains an analysis of the current situation regarding the factors affecting the number of graduates in Mathematical Sciences from UK universities. The main features evident are (a) an initial precipitous fall in the size of the pool of potential candidates after the introduction of Curriculum 2000, followed by a slow but steady increase in numbers; (b) a general increase in undergraduate numbers, especially in part-time students; (c) a general increase in the number of graduates in Mathematical Sciences; (d) a clear imbalance between the number of girls and boys studying Mathematics at post-16 level.
Download article (PDF, 22KB)

7th March 2009: First ever Leeds University Pop Maths Quiz (run jointly with Further Maths Network.)
The Pop Maths Quiz is a fun mathematical quiz which was suitable for Year 7 and 8. 2009 was the first year that the Pop Maths Quiz came to Leeds and we had a great turn out, with seventeen teams entering.  Well done to everyone’s efforts on the day.  A Pop Maths Quiz also runs successfully in Sheffield each year, attracting over 1500 students.

12^th August 2008: Maths and Science Fun Taster Day, Leeds University
While most people were having a well deserved break, August wasn’t only about holidays for a group of young people from the Leeds area. More Maths Grads had teamed up with the educational charity REEMAP in order to offer a summer taster day showing students the interesting opportunities which maths, science and engineering can offer. Feedback from the day was good, with nearly 60% of pupils saying that they are more likely to study the subjects further as a result of the day.

Research article: Enhancing Transition of Students of Mathematics by School - University Partnerships (by Farzana Aslam, Ewan Russell, Roy Bhakta, Sidney Tyrrell and Jim Tabor)
Abstract: School and universities are very different places when it comes to the teaching and learning experiences of students. As part of the more maths grads pilot project we have been working in local schools. This paper looks at activities to stimulate learning in schools and their applicability, or otherwise, to the university context. Download article

8th & 10th July 2008: Mechanics Days, Leeds University (In conjunction with the Further Maths Network)
Year 12 students from around West Yorkshire recently got to see Mechanics in action when they spent a day in the labs at Leeds University.   There were a range of practical experiments on offer, including loop the loop, collisions and motion in a horizontal circle, all of which were designed to extend or reinforce the mechanics which students already knew.  At the end of the day we were treated by some entertaining presentations from the different groups.

9th July 2008: Radio Station Challenge, Calderdale
Students at Sowerby Bridge High  School recently became young entrepreneurs for the morning when they competed to develop their own radio station with the help of ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Students used maths skills to influence their business decisions which needed to be updated during each simulated month.  Competition was intense, but at the end the “Club Life FM” team came out on top with a massive £24,000 profit.

6th May 2008: Maths Visit, Leeds University
Students from Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College were recently treated to some sunshine when they visited the campus of Leeds University.  On one of the nicest days of the year so far, the 50 Year 9 students took part in a range of activities, including a tour of campus and two maths workshops.  Students got to try 40 different problems from the FunMaths Roadshow as well as taking part in a Mathematical trickery workshop. Eight current undergraduates also came along for the day, providing first hand information about what university life is like.

28th April & 2nd May 2008- Be a Paper Mathemagician, Leeds
Two different Year 8 classes at Lawnswood School were recently treated to the delights of Liz Meenan's Paper folding workshop.  Liz has developed an exciting method of making flat nets pull up into 3D shapes using only string, a method which very few people are aware of.  She has also teamed up with design lecturer Briony Thomas from Leeds University who has developed beautiful patterns which Liz now uses to cover her pull up nets. Another good example of the many connections between maths and art!

April 2008:  New drive to make maths cool for pupils
Project Manager, Makhan Singh, talking about the more maths grads project in the Birmingham Post:

"It is an attempt to crack that old problem which is that kids don't know how maths is applied."

"The ultimate aim is to get kids and teachers to understand maths in a practical way and get them enthused and excited by it." 
..read full article here (or download scanned version here, PDF 120KB)

21st April 2008:  FunMaths Roadshow, Leeds
Over sixty Year 7 students from Lawnswood School spent a morning taking part in the FunMaths Roadshow which involved working in pairs on a range of 30 hands on problems.  Some were more difficult than others, but most students persevered until they found the answer. There was plenty of help on hand from a mixture of teachers, sixth formers, undergraduate Leeds mathematics students and of course MMG staff. In the words of one young puzzler: “It has made me realise that maths can be fun.” ..read more

10th April 2008: Cryptic Challenge - Workshop for National Science Week
Students from Grange Technology College competed to crack different ciphers in an MMG workshop for Leeds Festival of Science.  The activities showed that mathematics is at the heart of code breaking and gave pupils an insight into an interesting topic which they hadn’t come across before.  As the two hour session drew to a close the competition was fierce between the different teams, but eventually the winner was decided as they deciphered the final message.  The photo shows the winning team hard at work in the final round.

18th March 2008: Maths at Work Day for Year 10, Leeds University
Having good maths skills and qualifications opens up a wide range of exciting and interesting careers, but this is something which many pupils are often unaware of.  The first ever Maths at Work Day at Leeds University aimed to address this very issue and saw a hundred pupils engaging in workshops with employers from four different sectors. Two more of these days are running in the Summer Term; for more info please contact: moremaths[at]leeds.ac.uk  ..read more