Mathematics in Action at the Institute of Education

Twenty lucky Year 12 and 13 mathematic A-level students from GMS visited the Institute of Education in London to hear a number of lectures under the umbrella name of ‘Mathematics in Action’.

The day was invaluable because it gave students an insight into what it is like to listen to a number of lectures over a stretch of several hours. The day began at 10.45 and finished at 4pm, with a break for lunch.

The five lectures covered very different topics. All of them entertaining and informative.

The day began with a reflective look back to ancient times with a talk entitled ‘What the Greeks Did for Us.’ This was followed by a lecture called ‘Geometry’. The next three lectures heightened the students’ awareness of how widely mathematics is used in the wider world. Mathematics and Medical Research; Mathematics and Weather Forecasting; and Statistics and the News. All the talks gave fascinating insights into the practical application of mathematics in big organisations.

The students made their way home from the Institute of Education, the same way as they arrived, on their own. The whole experience has opened their eyes to a world of possibility.