Dispelling fears about Mathematics

Mathematics often elicits a shudder from people who found it difficult in school. Offering a fresh perspective, ‘Mathematics of Planet Earth,’ is giving visitors a peek into the marvels of the subject.

The exhibition which commenced at Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum here on Friday seeks to dispel misconstrued notions about mathematics. An enthusiastic crowd of young and old flooded in to admire the displays and partake in the interactive exhibits.

Renowned scientist Prof Roddam Narasimha inaugurated the exhibition that will be on till January 12, 2014. Exhibition coordinator A Apte of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) and Centre for Applicable Mathematics (TIFR) said the aim of the exhibition was to demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of Mathematics using four themes: structures, networks, optimisation and waves.

“We want to show that mathematics is present everywhere, it's used everywhere and it has a language that describes so many vastly different phenomena,” Apte said. The exhibition is aimed showing people mathematics was not a topic to be afraid of. “Many adults take pride in saying ‘I hate mathematics’ or ‘I can’t do mathematics’, those are very commonly-used phrases. We want to excite people to try to learn more about it.” The exhibition had something for all age groups.

Abhiram, 7, was enjoying throwing a marble through a maze-like structure in an interactive display demonstrating the concept of permeability.

Prof Ayse Erzan from Istanbul Technical University was in Bangalore attending the World Academy of Sciences meeting where she heard about the exhibition through some friends. “I'm really enjoying what I see because this is precisely the kind of thing I am rooting for, that scientists should go to their public and try to raise science literacy and get children enthusiastic for doing science,” Prof Erzan said.

 ICTS-TIFR had organised six workshops in different colleges to expose the topics to honour students, who were volunteering at the exhibition explaining each display.