Details announced for National Maths Week Ireland 2021

Maths Week 2021 has been launched by Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD. 

The world’s leading maths festival takes place every October and after the great online success of last year’s events, 250,000 pupils are already signed up to take part.   

This year will once again see plenty of virtual/online events available for schools and people all over Ireland, showcasing the benefits of mathematical thinking and the opportunities this creates for students, society, and the economy. 

Pupils and teachers will be doing special fun and challenging maths activities in schools the length and breadth of the island. An inclusive event, cross-border participation is an important part of Maths Week and activities will take place north and south for everyone to enjoy.

Now in its 16^th year, Maths Week Ireland continues to be the leading festival of maths in the world and has been replicated in England and Scotland. 

Whether you like maths, patterns and numbers, or even if you don’t, there’s something of interest for all during Maths Week. 

Similar to Maths Week 2020, activities will take place largely online and in schools in support of Covid-19 precautions. However, we will see the return of the Hamilton Walk as an outdoor socially distanced event. The walk from Dunsink Observatory to Broombridge along the Royal Canal in Dublin celebrates a famous mathematical discovery by Sir William Rowan Hamilton in 1843.  

This year will see the return of ‘MathsWeekTV’ which will broadcast live two daily shows online, one each for primary and secondary schools to pupils and classes across the island.

MathsWeekTV will feature entertaining presenters such as Dr Tom Crawford, mathematician, and creator of the award-winning website ‘TomRocksMaths’; Kjartan Poskitt, who has sold over 5 million ‘Murderous Maths’ books; well-known TV presenter and maths teacher, Bobby Seagull and children’s author and maths teacher Sally Lunt. 

Of course, maths is not just for school, it is for life and there are evening events for adults and weekend events for families all to be found on the Maths Week website. 

Notable Maths Week 2021 events include:

– Maths Week Magic workshops – schools across the island will have the chance to join in online workshops learning about the magic of maths.

– Nationwide Daily Maths Challenges will be taking place in schools across the country throughout the course of the week.

– Loving Maths: Maths for Pre-schoolers – This year we are delighted to have teamed up with a master storyteller for an adventure designed specifically for pre-school children and 3–6-year-olds.

– Maths Family Scavenger Hunts – Join the Maths week team for a fun, collaborative and energetic scavenger hunt that will have you competing with other families. 

– Maths Week Ireland Award Ceremony 2021 – The recipient of the Maths Week Award 2021 will be announced for their contribution to Raising Public Awareness of Maths. 

Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said: “I’m delighted to launch Maths Week 2021. Maths not only helps individuals develop skills including critical thinking and problem-solving, but also helps us makes decisions in our day-to-day life and encourages creativity. Ensuring that children are gaining mathematical skills from a young age is intrinsic to their personal growth and will serve them throughout life. Maths Week supports understanding of maths and numeracy in society through its many activities and is promoting a positive attitude towards the subject. 

“I encourage everyone to take part in Maths Week 2021 and I look forward to seeing the continued excellent collaboration of schools, teachers, universities, institutes of technology and partners north and south during this valuable week. I wish this year’s event every success and look forward to its continued progress.” 

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society, Science Foundation Ireland, said: “Science Foundation Ireland is delighted to support Maths Week 2021. Maths Week increases public interest in the subject and explores its positive effects in our world, as well as furthering our understanding of all walks of life through maths. Maths is essential to many jobs, the functioning of our society and the success of our economy, and I encourage everyone to get involved in the activities taking place across the island.” 

Eoin Gill, Maths Week Ireland Co-Ordinator, said: “The high levels of engagement and success of Maths Week 2020 have shown that we are able to deliver entertaining and interesting activities for schools and the public through a virtual platform, and this will continue during Maths Week 2021. 

“Maths will always be a part of our lives and Maths Week 2021 is a celebration of this. We’re really excited to deliver another action-packed programme full of events where participants can enhance their skills and interest in maths.” 

Maths Week is coordinated by Calmast, Waterford Institute of Technology’s STEM Outreach Centre and funded through the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme, the Department of Education and Skills, Matrix – the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel, ESB and Xilinx. It is run with more than 50 partner organisations including universities, institutes of technology, libraries, schools, training colleges and employers. 

Full programme and details of how to get involved are available on the Maths Week website www.mathsweek.ie with ongoing event and programme updates available in advance and throughout Maths Week via Facebook @MathsWeek2021 and Twitter @mathsweek and #mathsweek2021.