On Wednesday 22nd November, our Lower Sixth A Level and IB mathematicians attended a series of Maths in Action lectures at the University of Warwick focusing on how mathematics is used in real life applications.  

Students listened to five lively and enriching sessions that explored a variety of topics carefully designed to extend students’ knowledge. Talks ranged from how Professor Andrew Wiles worked in secrecy for seven years to crack the mystery of Fermat’s Last Theorem to Pokémaths – the maths behind the video game! Following the talks, the students engaged in exam masterclass sessions.

Hannah Chirayil (Lower Sixth) reflected: “The Maths in Action trip was very enjoyable. One of the most interesting talks was by YouTuber and Oxford professor, Tom Crawford, who looked at probability in Pokémon. Another talk I really enjoyed was given by Colin Wright. He introduced us to the field of topology and went further into the moebius strip and different shapes and patterns formed from it. The day was very interesting and gave me a different perspective on maths and how it can be applied in real life, outside of the classroom.”

Alicia Hui (Lower Sixth) said: “The Maths in Action trip was an interesting and eye-opening experience for me. Learning about the real-life applications of maths, it surprised me to find maths applied in such different ways, linking many unique areas in life. I was especially impressed by the last talk hosted by Oxford professor Tom Crawford, also known as @TomRocksMath on social media, where he introduced the use of probability in the popular game Pokémon Go. Although the equations look daunting at first glance, Tom incorporated Pokémon in complement to the maths theories, making the process approachable and fascinating. Overall, the trip was a rewarding experience.”

Izzy Cochrane (Lower Sixth) added: “I really enjoyed the Maths in Action trip. The speakers were very engaging and it was interesting to see the application of maths in different areas. I particularly enjoyed the talk on topologies by Dr Colin Wright. It was such an interesting area of maths and a very interactive talk. The trip has really fuelled my enthusiasm for maths and I am looking forward to continuing to pursue the subject throughout Sixth Form!”