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KS5 Maths Day

Each year in March/April we offer a KS5 Maths Day.  Currently this is available for school groups accompanied by their teachers.

Spend a day with us at the University of Leeds experiencing a range of mathematical activities with an optional tour of the campus and talk about studying mathematics at university. The day culminates with the W. P. Milne lecture in celebration of a former Professor of Mathematics who joined the University in 1919.

This year the event will take place on Thursday 21 March 2024.

KEY STAGE 5 MATHS DAY

Our morning programme is still to be confirmed but there will be various options for morning activities.

The following is an illustration of what might be possible.

Choose one of the options below and then attend our W. P. Milne Sixth Form lecture.
You will be asked to rank the options in order of preference and where possible you will be given your preferred session. If you would also like a campus tour in the break before the lecture please let us know.
The day is suitable for maths A Level students. Students should bring packed lunches.

OPTION A - Hands-on mathematics, talk and tour

Activities include creating chaos and exploring the maths of soap bubbles in a 'hands-on mathematics' session, an optional campus tour, and a talk about studying mathematics at Leeds.
11:00 - 14:20

OPTION B - A mathematical workshop

Here is an example of the sessions we will offer

Untangling knot theory
It's not only mountaineers, scouts, and sailors who study knots, but also mathematicians. In fact, knot theory has turned out to be an extraordinarily deep subject – the fundamental question of determining whether two knots are the same turns out to be surprisingly difficult. This subject also has numerous and diverse applications, from the knotting of our own DNA to quantum physics. In this session we will meet several mathematical techniques for analysing and classifying different knots.
10:30 - 12:30 or 11:00 - 13:00

Simulating the behaviour of bacteriaThe behaviour of bacteria is useful to know in a variety of contexts. However, due to their minute size and the complexity of the processes involved it is very difficult to accurately predict what a bacterium will do or when it will do it. To incorporate this randomness we use a stochastic model when analysing the behaviour mathematically.This session introduces the concepts of stochastic models and their applications. We will use a computer program to investigate the results of an example model, find relevant statistics from the produced data and discuss the conclusions we can make from this information.
10:30 - 12:30

OPTION C - A talk and a tour

A talk about studying mathematics at Leeds and a campus tour led by current undergraduate students.

Flexible timings: 11:00-12:30, 11:30-13:00, 12:00-13:30, 12:30-14:00

OPTION D - A visit to MathsCity in Leeds City Centre

Leeds City Centre is home to MathsCity - a mathematical playground produced by MathsWorldUK.
This option would be a visit to MathsCity (within 10am-1pm) before coming up to campus to join us at the W. P. Milne Lecture.

OPTION E - W. P Milne Lecture only

If you can't make the morning activities don't worry.  Select this option to just attend the W. P. Milne lecture (details below).

THE 2024 W. P. MILNE LECTURE

We are excited to welcome Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE CMATH FIMA CSC, president of the Mathematical Association, to deliver the W. P. Milne lecture.

Mathematics is Indisputably the Greatest Subject in the World

Thursday 21st  March  14:30 - 15:30

In this and some other countries, it is a badge of honour to say that you are no good at maths.
In some quarters, mathematics is seen as boring, irrelevant and useless. However, there is a saying if you go down deep enough into anything you will find mathematics.
Indeed, the future is bright, the future is mathematical.

The W. P. Milne lecture is held in collaboration with the Yorkshire Branch of the Mathematical Association and can be booked independently of the morning activities (Option E above).

How to book

The applications are now closed and places allocated.

Please complete this survey, if you wish to be added to the waiting list, in case of a cancellation.

For more information please contact Ruth Holland.