Maths in the Wild

Maths in the Wild consists of workshops designed for primary and secondary school students. Participants engage in interactive experiments and mathematical calculations, allowing them to experience firsthand how maths and science, mainly neuroscience, are applied in exploring and understanding our surroundings.

These workshops were created by Dr Nicole Beisiegel and Dr John Butler, who both teach mathematics at Technological University Dublin. John combines his knowledge of mathematics and neuroscience to create experiments and analysis techniques that let us explore the world. Nicole combines her knowledge of mathematics and the oceans to understand the natural world. The workshops were initially written for the TU Dublin Access and Outreach programme.

For teachers: Each workshop on this site is self-contained and ready to use. You'll find a lesson plan, presentation slides, student worksheets with solutions, and a multiple choice quiz with solutions. Workshops are designed to run in a double class period (60–90 minutes) and require no specialist equipment beyond a projector. Download the lesson plan first to see exactly what's involved. There are two worksheets a long one and a two page one that is more appropriate for a students below transition year.