3rd IMA Conference on Maths Works

Date: Friday 20 June 2008
Location: The Royal Statistical Society, London

A conference introducing teachers to some of the areas where mathematics is used in the world of work.

Additionally for this meeting, we will look at some of the changes anticipated with the introduction of the new Functional Mathematics component of the GCSE. This is an important change in GCSE Mathematics, and those present will have the opportunity to discuss this with some of those working on the developing agenda in this area.

The conference is being organised by Chris Belsom (past ACME member, and Head of Mathematics, Ampleforth College) and Garrod Musto (MEI Industry Committee, and Head of Mathematics, Kingswood School, Bath). Speakers from previous conferences have considered how mathematics is used in the information industry, in the automotive industry, in weather forecasting and in transportation and defence.

This is a one-day conference, and will be of particular interest to teachers of mathematics, in both schools and colleges, who seek to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the many exciting and interesting applications of mathematics. It will provide an opportunity for those present to explore how mathematics is used in the workplace and how teachers might exploit this to stimulate further interest in mathematics in their classes. One session will advise teachers of the developments in relation to ‘Functional Mathematics’, and where it will fit into the GCSE programme.

The conference is open to both members and non-members of the Institute.

Programme

09.30 – 10.00	Registration
10.00 – 10.40	What have mathematicians done for us? Prof. Chris Budd (University of Bath)
10.40 – 11.00	Tea/Coffee
11.00 – 12.10	Functional Mathematics in Key Stage 4 Sue Pope (QCA) and John Threlfall (Leeds University)
12.10 – 12.50	Modelling Crowd Dynamics Prof. Dr. Keith Still (Crowd Dynamics Ltd)
12.50 – 13.50	Lunch
13.50 – 14.30	Discussion: Dull, damned dull, and statistics Prof. Spiegelhalter FRS (University of Cambridge)
14.30 – 15.10	Title TBA Celia Hoyles (Institute of Education, and Director, NCETM)
15.10 – 15.30	Tea/Coffee
15.30 – 16.10	“Showing You’re Working” A school based project encouraging the workplace into the classroom Garrod Musto (Kingswood School, Bath, and MEI Industry Committee)
16.10 – 16.30	Closing Remarks