The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a wide range of outreach workshops for both primary and secondary schools aimed at promoting the importance and real-world applications of mathematics.
Our Outreach Officer delivers these workshops out at schools and at the University, which are well-suited for STEM/DYW and Maths Week Scotland events. Details of the workshops can be found below. To arrange a workshop for your school, please contact our Outreach Officer.
Dr Jon Devlin works as a Teaching Associate and Outreach Officer in the Mathematics and Statistics Department at the University of Strathclyde.
He is responsible for arranging the Department Outreach activities and visits primary and secondary schools to deliver workshops to pupils.
We offer a number of workshops that can be delivered at your school:
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Primary Schools |
Secondary Schools |
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Science Murder Mystery |
Infectious Disease Modelling |
|
Network Theory |
Network Theory |
|
Learning to Code |
Cryptography |
|
Life of a Researcher |
Life of a Researcher |
Description of workshop: Pupils will work through a science murder mystery – mainly
consisting of mathematics problems and a simple chromatography experiment – to identify the
murderer in a line-up of celebrity suspects. A booklet containing the problems will be provided
for the pupils.
Level and class size: P5–7. One class at a time (approximately 30 pupils).
Length of workshop: 1.5 hours.
Note: Pupils will need paper and pencils for this workshop, which we kindly ask the school to
provide. The pupils are encouraged to work through the problems in small groups, so it would
be good if the workspace could accommodate this.
Description of workshop: This workshop will give an introduction to Network Theory (the
mathematical study of connections), its history and applications in the real world. This will be
presented through PowerPoint and includes activities that pupils will work through during the
presentation.
Level and class size: P5–7. No class size restrictions.
Length of workshop: 1 hour.
Note: The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and so must be run in a classroom or
hall which includes a Smartboard/projector. Pupils will need paper and pencils or whiteboards
for this workshop, which we kindly ask the school to provide.
Description of workshop: Pupils will learn the basics of computer coding by working through
a series of interactive problems in Google Blockly, a website aimed at teaching young children
how to code. The website contains other problems for the pupils to work through after the
workshop.
Level and class size: P6–7. One class at a time (approximately 30 pupils).
Length of workshop: 2 hours.
Note: This workshop requires the pupils to have access to computers and the internet. Pupils
can work through the problems on their own or in pairs, so it would be good if the workspace
could accommodate either set-up.
Description of workshop: This talk will introduce pupils to the world of mathematical
research by showcasing a piece of research on using mathematics to model cancer cell movement.
This will be presented through PowerPoint with time at the end for pupils to ask questions.
Level and class size: P5–7. No class size restrictions.
Length of workshop: 1 hour.
Note: The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and so must be run in a classroom or
hall which includes a Smartboard/projector. This workshop contains no activities, but allows
pupils to ask questions about mathematical research or university life in general.
Description of workshop: This workshop will give an introduction to the concept of mathematical
modelling and its applications in tackling the spread of infectious diseases. This will be
presented through PowerPoint and a practical activity that pupils will work though in groups.
Level and class size: S1–6. Two classes at a time (approximately 60 pupils).
Length of workshop: One period.
Note: The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and so must be run in a classroom
or hall which includes a Smartboard/projector. The activity requires pupils to be arranged
into small groups, with a maximum of 10 groups. Pupils will need paper and pencils for this
workshop, which we kindly ask the school to provide.
Description of workshop: This workshop will give an introduction to Network Theory (the
mathematical study of connections), its history and applications in the real world. This will be
presented through PowerPoint and includes activities that pupils will work through during the
presentation.
Level and class size: S1–6. No class size restrictions.
Length of workshop: One period.
Note: The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and so must be run in a classroom
or hall which includes a Smartboard/projector. Pupils will need paper and pencils for this
workshop, which we kindly ask the school to provide.
Description of workshop: This workshop will give an introduction to cryptography, its use
during World War II and its applications in today’s world. This will be presented through
PowerPoint and includes activities that pupils will work through during the presentation.
Level and class size: S1–6. No class size restrictions.
Length of workshop: One period.
Note: The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and so must be run in a classroom
or hall which includes a Smartboard/projector. Pupils will need paper and pencils for this
workshop, which we kindly ask the school to provide.
Description of workshop: This talk will introduce pupils to the world of mathematical
research by showcasing a piece of research on using mathematics to model cancer cell movement.
This will be presented through PowerPoint with time at the end for pupils to ask questions.
Level and class size: S1–6. No class size restrictions.
Length of workshop: One period.
Note: The presentation requires the use of PowerPoint and so must be run in a classroom or
hall which includes a Smartboard/projector. This workshop contains no activities, but allows
pupils to ask questions about mathematical research or university life in general.