Summer course in Computer Based Maths (Day 1)

• Monday 20 August 2012
• 9.30am to 4.00pm
• Lecturers: David Vaccaro

Computing Maths Week 20 to 24 August 2012

Summer course in Computer Based Maths led by David Vaccaro  

In this week-long workshop, students will research a challenging and open ended question using mathematical computing software. All enrolled students will have access to Wolfram Mathematica software and training materials for the duration of the course.

Day 1  
By the end of the first day students will have decided what they wish to research over the course of the week. Sample topics could be:

•    What is the best strategy in games like Risk, Othello, and Connect 4? Is it possible to completely solve simplified versions of these games?
•    Is it possible to model or predict the weather, population growth or the spread of a disease?  
•    Is it possible to make money on the Stock Market or Currency Exchanges?
•    How can you tell whether a given medical treatment is safe or effective?
•    Are there any Mathematical patterns in art or music?

We will also introduce some of the basic computer programming skills and Mathematical ideas they will need to investigate their problem.

The course is suitable for KS5 (year11/12/13) students and costs £200 per student (£180 for Faraday Members) and lasts for 5 sessions, running from Monday 20 August to Friday 24 August in The Royal Institution L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre.