Ask A Scientist Mathematics Archive

Author:      nancy e hamilton
Are there any good placed to take a group of eighth graders for a mathemat-
ics field trip?

Response #:  1 of 2
Author:      asmith
If you can arrange it, visiting an engineering company to learn about how
they use math in their work might be very instructive.  Civil engineering
would probably be easiest to understand at the 8th grade level.

Response #:  2 of 2
Author:      tee
Probably more important than the particular application is finding the right
kind of ambassadors for mathematics.  Scout around for the opinions of
fellow instructors as resources.  Find out who they think may excite student
interest and have the patience to attempt to bring their applications down
toward the level of the classes involved.  In our co-operative degree (BS)
program in applied mathematics we have found a good variety of corporate 
employers to hire our students as they study mathematics, including big
names like GM, IBM, EDS, UPS, TRW and smaller firms in the a variety of
service, research, and industrial businesses.  It is clear that we can find
mathematics being applied almost everywhere there is an interface with the
economy.  It is less clear where will we will be able to find individuals in
that economy to pump up students about the applications and show students
that their is continued growth in the need for skilled individuals in
mathematics and related computing sciences.  For more information, write to
the Department in Michigan there is a visiting lecturer program supplying
college faculty for guest lectures.  Presentations at secondary schools run
by the Michigan MAA>.  This may be another alternative in your area.