GUEST SPEAKER - PETER FULLAGAR

Before introducing the speaker, Judy Ross explained that the Great South Coast Science and Engineering Challenge, regional finals, had just been held.  There were eight different activities.  She thanked Tony Austin, John Nisbet, Keith Mcleod, Doug Maclain, Phillip Ross, Anne Adams, Gordon Curran and Astrid, for their support. The aim of the programme is to encourage students to think about studying science.  It is a costly program and could not be run without the generous contributions from Telstra ($4000), the Uebergang Trust ($5000), Rotary District ($1800), East RC ($1000) and our club ($1000).  The State Super Challenge Final will be held at Deakin Cafe on August 13.  It is expected that the Great South Coast Science & Engineering Challenge will be held again next year.

 

Judy Ross then introduced the speaker Peter Fullagar.  Peter is from the University of Newcastle.  He said he is away from home for about 65 days a year, organising the Science, Engineering and Maths Challenges. Peter said in this area Brauer College has scored highest so far, and Timboon was second.                 

 

Peter then delivered a presentation on The Mathematics Challenge (Debunking the “Maths Myth”). He explained that professional positions which require university level Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education are experiencing the greatest skill shortage. Students are not undertaking advanced Maths.  Professional positions that are experiencing the greatest skill shortages include midwifery, sonography, physiotherapy, surveyor, valuer, mathematics teachers and statisticians. He emphasised that there is a need to focus on improving maths to combat Australia’s failing mathematics literacy.

 

One Science and Engineering Challenge activity that has been designed to get young people interested in Mathematics is Stringways.  Stringways is based on Network Theory, an area in mathematics, that examines the complex interactions of systems that can be represented as graphs.  Stringways is designed for years 9 and 10 students.  In the Stringways activity, students must develop the most efficient railway and aircraft transport routes across a new area of central Australia.  They are required to use string to connect towns using the shortest distance possible.  The more effective their routes, the shorter the length of string used.  The Challenge’s Stringways activity aims to show students that maths is useful and interesting, encouraging future maths study.