KS5 Maths Day

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

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 bacteria
The 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

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

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.

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

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).