Maths Week 2023 is gearing up to captivate minds and spark imaginations from Saturday 14th – Sunday 22nd October. This eagerly anticipated event, now in its 18th year, promises a multitude of engaging activities and thought-provoking experiences.
Maths Week is a comprehensive, island-wide initiative occurring every October, with activities involving online platforms, schools, and various venues across the island. Last year, approximately 500,000 participated, including 464,468 students, 2,741 educators, 2,159 schools, and an array of organisations, including universities, institutes of technology, libraries, training colleges, and employers.
Maths Week is sponsored by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Programme and the Department of Education. The annual event is coordinated by Calmast, the STEM Engagement centre at South-East Technological University (SETU), with the core objective of fostering awareness and a positive attitude towards maths and its practical applications.
‘Maths in The City’ will visit Dublin and Belfast city centres, inviting the public to take part in numerical activities. Talks and events will take place in venues across the island, including those organised by partnering Higher Education Institutes, while pupils and students in thousands of primary and post-primary schools across the island will enjoy maths quizzes and challenges throughout the week.
A wide range of engagement events will take place including ‘Puzzles in the Park’ - in green spaces and public places. From the iconic Botanic Gardens and Merrion Square to vibrant spots like Mountjoy Square, Dun Laoghaire People’s Park, Kilkenny Castle, and parks in Castlebar, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Belfast, Derry and Cork, these activities will help bring maths to life for people and families out and about during the week.
‘Maths Week TV’ – an online video platform offering a gateway to the world of numbers for those unable to attend in-person events – is back by popular demand. With captivating content and interactive sessions for schools and the general public, this ensures that everyone can partake in the mathematical extravaganza.
Maths Week is committed to fostering inclusivity, highlighting the benefits that maths and numbers create for all of us in our daily lives. This year’s event is more determined than ever to break down barriers by also bringing the magic of maths to disadvantaged and underserved groups, including working with various community groups and partnering with organisations such as FoodCloud.
Launching Maths Week 2023, Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, said: “The newly launched mathematics curriculum for primary schools and special schools places an emphasis on creativity, playfulness, and the role of maths in the wider world. Maths Week 2023 includes these themes and is all about unveiling the remarkable potential that mathematics holds, reaching out to those who might not have easy access to maths, and empowering them with the language of logic, problem solving and creativity. From classrooms to parks, screens to city streets, Maths Week 2023 will help make maths accessible and engaging for everyone.
“I welcome the ongoing collaboration between schools, teachers, universities, and institutes of technology during this significant week. I extend my best wishes for the success of this year's event and look forward to its continued growth and success.”
Cathy Foley, Programme Manager, Education and Public Engagement said, “SFI is delighted to once again support Maths Week 2023. The festival is not just about numbers; it’s about forging new connections, sparking curiosity, and making maths a beacon of empowerment for anyone and everyone. I encourage people from all ages and walks of life to get involved in some way, and I look forward to seeing the exciting activities taking place this year across the island.”
Eoin Gill, Maths Week Ireland Co-Ordinator concluded, “Maths Week 2023 is an invitation to discover the great impact of maths on our world. By strengthening ties with underserved communities and introducing captivating events, we’re unlocking the potential of maths to inspire and empower. Through partnerships and innovation, and the love of numbers, we aim to cultivate a generation of young people who believe in the limitless power of their own potential. Whether young or old, novice or expert, there’s something for everyone in this celebration of the universe’s most captivating language – maths!”
The full programme and details of how to get involved are available on the Maths Week website www.mathsweek.ie. Follow @MathsWeek on Facebook, @mathsireland on instagram, @mathsweek on TikTok and @mathsweek and #mathsweek2023 on Twitter.
