Write a commentWindsor Hill Primary School in Newry is just one of the schools taking part in a ‘maths with no borders’ workshop at Newry City Library tomorrow Thursday 17 October along with St Oliver’s National School, Carlingford.
Maths Week aims to promote a positive image of maths. Highlighting its importance in everyday life with events taking place throughout the week at schools, colleges, universities, libraries, and other centres throughout NI.
The all-island event, supported locally by the Department for the Economy, promotes a positive image of mathematics and its applications in everyday life.
To date over 300,000 people have registered across the island of Ireland to participate in hundreds of events and organisers are hoping to make the 2019 event bigger and better than ever before.
Sheila Donegan, who co-founded Maths Week alongside Waterford Institute of Technology colleague Eoin Gill, says we should act now to give children the best possible start to a successful future career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“Our children’s futures are reliant on a firm grounding in basic mathematics, so it’s important we promote a positive image and engage young people in maths-based activities in a fun learning environment from an early age,” she explains.
She emphasises the importance of promoting a positive “culture of mathematics” to provide encouragement for young people to help them realise their untapped potential.
“Mathematics is fundamental to our everyday lives. We should promote a positive culture of mathematics to encourage our young people to pursue high-skilled roles not only in the STEM sector but also in the creative industries.
A host of events are taking place across Northern Ireland during the week with event partners including Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Stranmillis University College, W5 and Armagh Planetarium.
Maths presenters showcasing their maths work and skills locally include maths entertainer Ken Farqhar, Bubby Maths clown Caroline Ainslie, Enigma, the Secret World of Codes expert James Grimes and maths educator and puzzle challenger Doug Buchanan. Also taking part is Izak9 founder Franz Schlindwein and Mark Saul, director of American founded Julia Robinson Festival of Maths who is presenting to schools at Queen’s University Belfast on Friday 18 October.
Maths Week Ireland takes place 12-20 October. For more information visit WWW.MATHSWEEK.IE
