EUROMATH 2012 Presentations Programme (updated 7 March 2012)

 EUROMATH 2012 Opening Ceremony

WORKSHOP 1

Ingenius Mathematical Gadgets and Instruments

by Dr Michael Lambrou, Professor of Mathematics, University of Crete, Greece

Summary: The most common and simplest geometrical instruments are the ruler and compass, with which we can plot straight lines and circles. It turns out that these are far from being the only instruments used in mathematics. In fact, mathematicians have designed a variety of ingenious other instruments to plot more complicated curves or to help them with their calculations. In this workshop, we will discuss in a hands-on fashion some of the delightfully clever yet simple gadgets mathematicians have invented to help them with their work, either theoretical or applied to real life. The ultimate objective of the workshop is to show how to make Maths a fascinating topic.
WORKSHOP 2

Math and Science Communication for mathFACTOR "Math made Simple"

by Dr Myrtani Pieri, Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Cyprus and 2011 International FameLab Winner

Summary: This Masterclass aims to help improve and perfect students' communication skills in presenting a scientific phenomenon of their choice to a non-specialized audience. It also aims to help young people find ways to promote and excitement for their topic of interest, be comfortable on stage and make the best out of their presentation. Finally, supply them with tips that they can use throughout their lives when communicating their own research to non-specialists, an essential skill for most scientific careers.

Specific Topics:

  1. Basic tips preparing your presentation
  2. Basic tips of presenting-Face to Face with the public (use of props to help explain science, use of voice and body language, interacting with your audience, building confidence in presentations)
  3. Examples of Science Communication (the Fame Lab experience)
  4. Stress relieves exercises-Breath in, breath out!
  5. Question-Answer session regarding presentations, practice presentations, video feedback to help improve skills (depending on time)
  6. Promote interaction, education, the exchange of ideas among the participants
  7. Booklets with Science Communication tips to take away

 


 

WORKSHOP 3

The computer as heuristic tool in mathematics investigations

by Professor Sava Grozdev and Dr Veselin Nenkov

Summary: Some demostrations will be produced how new mathematical facts and generalizations could be obtained by computer dynamic media. Starting from well-known standard school curriculum problems, students and teachers will have the opportunity to feel the investigation process in Mathematics, to learn important elaboration strategies and to formulate scientific hypotheses. The particular examples will be connected with remarkable points in triangles and polygons, common points and points of intersection of lines, circles and difference conics.
WORKSHOP 4

Learn mathematics by "Bulls & Cows"

by Professor Sava Grozdev and Dr Svetlozar Doychev

Summary: Take a 4-digit number with different digits and compare it with another 4-digit number with different digits. If n digits of the second number coincide with digits of the first one by value and place, we say that there are n "bulls". Also, if k  digits of the second number coincide with k digits of the first one by value only and not by place, we say that there are "cows". The goal is to guess the initial number by announcing 4-digit numbers with different digits and getting information about the corresponding number of "bulls" and "cows". Some strategies will be discussed in connection with interesting and important facts from Number Theory and Combinatorics.
WORKSHOP 5

Making mathematics easy to learn and fun, using cartoons

by Sotos Voskarides, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus

Summary: Many pupils as well as parents, unfortunately consider Mathematics as difficult and boring subject. This wrong impression causes to students anxiety, insecurity and many other negative feelings which result in antipathy for the subject.

In this workshop funny cartoons and drawings, comics and funny stories are used as the main tool and medium to convey mathematical ideas in an easy and funny way, thus helping a lot of pupils to convert the anxiety and the negative approach inherited from older students, teachers or relatives, to real happiness and satisfaction.

The objectives of this workshop are:

(1) to show how easy it is to use alternative methods and tools such as cartoons and humor to improve dramatically student motivation in learning mathematics.

(2) to make learning more attractive and enjoyable for all students and thus strengthen students‘skills for creative thinking. 


 

WORKSHOP 6

How to film and be filmed for science

by Kostas Karpouzis, National Technical University of Athens

An important part of communicating science is designing and filming science films, often portraying one’s work or work of group of scientists. The advent of Web 2.0 services, such as YouTube, has enabled a new form of this medium, called webcasts, with shorter duration and fewer, if any, visual effects. Purpose of this workshop is to prepare 3-minutes webcasts on popular science subjects, concentrate on body language and speech prosody to communicate messages in a “lightweight”, yet concise manner and focus on the few points which can fit in a 3-minute video. Participants will be filmed and the comment on their, as well as their peers’ performance. 


 

COLLABORATORS & SPONSORS
European Mathematical Society
Munich Re
VUZF
Union of Bulgarian Mathematicians