Maths Week 2016

Maths Week returns on 15 October

Life
Pictured: Minister for Education & Skills Richard Bruton and Maths Week founder Shelia Donegan with Erin Whelan (11), Dáire Sheehy (11), Katelyn McCormack (11), Michael Sadbaatar (11), Anthony Smida (11) and Tameron O'Brien (10) from Rutland National School, Sean McDermott St

26 September 2016

The world’s largest festival of maths in the world, Maths Week Ireland 2016, will be running around the country from 15-23 October.

The all-Ireland event, organised in conjunction with partners including Science Foundation Ireland, the Dept of Education & Skills, universities, institutes of technology, teacher training colleges, visitor centres, libraries other groups and employers North and South of the border.

Highlights of the week include workshops for teachers, parents and the public; Spain’s best known mathematics professor, Fernando Blasco, will use magic to introduce students to prime numbers, knot theory, Sudoku and quick calculations; US Mathematician in Residence James Tanton will address 1,200; WIT lecturer Richard Burke will talk to students about maths and how to mind their money; and Mathemagician Andrew Jeffrey will be filling the Helix Theatre Dublin with his maths-magic show.

Eoin Gill, Maths Week Ireland Co-ordinator, said: “Over the past 10 years we have had over 1 million people engaging with Maths Week Ireland, mainly primary and post-primary children, while helping them to have a more positive attitude towards maths… It’s a true partnership of people working together for a common aim –  a very important aim – to promote mathematics for all.

“We started with just 13 partners and now we have over 50 groups including all of the universities and institutes of technology, teacher training colleges and many professional groups and visitor centres providing events and activities for all.

“Maths Week shows what we can achieve through a concerted effort by all working together. There is widespread realisation that improving Ireland’s proficiency of mathematics is vital for future wellbeing and it’s heartening to see a great improvement in interest in maths among our young people and Maths Week will continue to foster that interest as we enter our second decade.

“We simply would not be able to bring the positive message about maths to as many young people as we do reach, without the support of our sponsors, Dept of Education and Skills, Science Foundation Ireland, the Dept of Education in Northern Ireland together with ESB, Xilinx and CRH.”

Co-ordinated by Calmast at Waterford Institute of Technology, Maths Week Ireland is run as a partnership of over 50 public and private sector institutions and groups, including the universities and institutes of technology, professional bodies, libraries and visitor centres who are committed to promoting an interest in mathematics, as well as many of Ireland’s flagship employers. It is an all-island event.

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