Mathematics has much more to offer than one might expect from school classes. Whether you’re planning to major in mathematics or simply enjoy spending your free time with math: The "Schüler*innenwoche", which takes place after summer break from September 10 to 12, is fun and provides an exciting glimpse into the subject. Exemption from regular school classes is required for Thursday and Friday, but experience has shown that this is not a problem.
This year’s topic is “John Conway’s Tangletanz—a mathematical bridge between topology and algebra.” In the Tangletanz, four people stand in a square arranged so that two dancers facing each other hold one end of a rope. Each person will hold onto their end of the rope until the end of the dance. The participants may now switch places according to specified rules. In this interactive workshop, the students will gradually discover that behind this dance—which at first glance seems very straightforward—lies an entire mathematical world waiting to be explored, offering insights into the mathematical fields of topology, geometry, arithmetic, and algebra.
In addition to sharing subject-specific knowledge, faculty and students from the University of Bonn will also answer questions about university life: What is a lecture, a tutorial, or a seminar? Or what do you actually do as a math degree student? There will also be a math pub quiz where teams can compete against each other to win the coveted yellow HCM T-shirts, as well as a guided tour of the Arithmeum. The concluding scavenger hunt across the Poppelsdorf campus offers the chance to get to know the university in a whole new way. The event is free, and refreshments will be provided. Registration is open until August 20.