On Wednesday 1^st July, a group of A level mathematics students attended the School of Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics taster day at the University of Plymouth. The event provided an exciting opportunity for students to experience university-level study and explore a range of disciplines through engaging, hands-on workshops led by experienced lecturers.

 

Throughout the day, students completed workshops selected from a diverse programme of activities.  These sessions challenged students to apply their problem-solving skills, creativity and teamwork in new and exciting ways: 

 

• Mathematical Carousel where students tackled a series of short mathematical problems requiring them to identify which mathematical concepts and techniques were needed to reach a solution.  The workshop rewarded perseverance, logical thinking and resilience when faced with unfamiliar challenges.

 

• Bridge Building where students worked in teams to design and construct a bridge within a set budget.  Materials had to be carefully selected and purchased before construction began, with the ultimate aim of creating a structure capable of supporting the safe passage of a remote-controlled digger. This activity highlighted the importance of planning, teamwork and engineering design.  In this session, the team were able to secure additional funds through great mathematical problem-solving, and they were the first team of the day to successfully complete the challenge!

 

• Discovering Autonomous Vehicles had students learning about the principles behind self-driving technology before putting their knowledge into practice by designing a vehicle-following system.  The interactive session provided an excellent introduction to a rapidly developing area of modern engineering and computing.

 

• The Non-Euclidean Geometry workshop encouraged students to question some of their most basic assumptions about mathematics. By investigating alternative definitions of straight lines and triangles, students discovered surprising applications connected to subjects including art, air travel, and even the natural world.

 

• Fluid Mechanics in Action introduced students to the power of water in engineering applications.  Using the University’s state-of-the-art STEAM laboratories, students worked with the same equipment used by undergraduate engineers to investigate how fluid mechanics can be harnessed to solve real-world problems.

 

• In Decode & Defend: Your Cybersecurity Mission, students entered the fascinating world of cryptography and digital security. They explored how messages can be created, protected and decoded, gaining a valuable insight into the increasingly important field of cybersecurity.  In this activity, the group were the quickest to crack coded messages and also found creative ways to perfectly encrypt their message within the parameters of the brief – leaving other groups puzzled!

 

Alongside the workshops, students attended a course fair showcasing the wide range of degree programmes available within the University's School of Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics.  This gave them the opportunity to speak with enthusiastic and knowledgeable lecturers, who were eager to share their expertise and answer questions about university life and future career pathways.

 

The day was an excellent experience for all involved, exposing students to new concepts, ideas and opportunities while demonstrating the exciting possibilities that further study in STEM subjects can offer.  Our students represented PHSG exceptionally well and returned inspired by the experience.

 

Article provided by: 

Mr D Law, Teacher of Maths