Can art and mechanics come together to teach mathematics? A group of Senegalese high school students think so thanks to a hands-on harmonograph project.
Last year, the Museum of Black Civilisations in Dakar hosted a science exhibition. The event was initiated by TerangaMath, a Senegalese non-profit led by members of the diaspora, dedicated to promoting maths among young people through outreach, experimentation and inclusion.
Bringing together more than 2500 students and visitors, the event featured 25 interactive stands highlighting mathematics through games, hands-on experiments, historical narratives and digital tools. Among them, one project stood out: a fully functional harmonograph (see photo) built by students.
A student-built harmonograph
The harmonograph was developed by eight students on the science and engineering track (15–16 year olds) at Seydina Limamou
