Numbers, puzzles, aha moments
Calculate, analyze, understand: The Day of Mathematics at the University of Siegen focused on thinking in numbers. Over 460 pupils from the region, from Siegen to Betzdorf and Waldbröl, came to the Lower Castle Campus to experience math in a completely different way. The event was organized by the Department of Mathematics under the direction of geomathematician Prof. Dr. Volker Michel.
The occasion is International Pi Day, which is traditionally celebrated on March 14. The American spelling 3/14 corresponds to the first digits of the circle number Pi. The program offered a wide range of interactive formats. In addition to lectures on topics such as earthquake research, chance and artificial intelligence, participants were able to get hands-on in workshops. Whether building a paper clip computer, solving mathematical escape games, estimating in the "pi times thumbs" competition or puzzling over chess problems, mathematics became tangible and tangible.
Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese and Siegen's mayor Tristan Vitt also welcomed the participants at the opening. Some of them certainly feel the same way as University Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese, for whom math has always been a favorite subject. "Mathematics is fun and beautiful," she said, motivating the students. However, some of them also felt like Siegen's mayor Tristan Vitt, for whom math was more of a "compulsory program" at school. However, he agrees with the Rector that he would have enthusiastically taken part in a "Maths Day", as offered by the University of Siegen, when he was at school. And so the two of them stayed for the pack quiz to put their mathematical knowledge to the test.
Mathematics is everywhere, Michel explained and started with the first question. Linear and exponential growth? There was the first frown. But the professor solved it playfully: count, stand up, compare and the answer was easy. That's how it should be on Maths Day. Volker Michel and his colleagues from the Department of Mathematics are keen not to ponder over formulas and equations, but to get active, do things themselves and recognize connections.
The lecture by Prof. Dr. Franz-Theo Suttmeier and Katharina Suttmeier entitled "Cows, horses and goats: Learning to understand math together". In it, they vividly demonstrated how mathematical thinking can be promoted without technical aids. Their approach relies on joint discovery and simple approaches to create lasting understanding. A concept that Prof. Suttmeier also successfully implements in his seminars.
The enthusiasm on site showed that the concept works. People listened attentively in the lecture halls, discussed intensively in the seminar rooms and worked with concentration at the stations. The students were supported not only by professors, but also by academic staff and students.
"This is a new record," said organizer Michel, pleased with the high level of participation. The University of Siegen has been organizing the Mathematics Day around Pi Day since 2020 and with growing success.
