Attend the Second International Conference on Creative Mathematical Sciences in Chennai, India from 9–12 December 2014. Professor Ramaswamy Ramanujam (Jam) , Professor of Computer Science at the Institute for Mathematical Science Chennai (IMSC) is our local host. More details will follow.
All posts by Frances
Rainbow Serpent: Connecting Mathematics and Aboriginal Culture
by Mike Fellows and Frances Rosamond
Colouring a graph properly (no adjacent vertices can receive the same colour) is important in scheduling (classrooms, jobs, exams, resources). The vertices represent the jobs. An edge between two vertices indicates a conflict. Colours are the timeslots. Two jobs cannot be assigned the same timeslot or else they will be in conflict (both rely on a shared resource, for example).
Colouring a graph leads us to a Rainbow Serpent story. The snake has colourful stripes like a rainbow. Like a rainbow, no two colours are repeated (i.e., no two adjacent stripes have the same colour). Rainbow Serpent likes to be present and observe everything, but remain hidden. Sometimes the Rainbow Serpent will surface to talk to the people and teach them. The vertices on the graph represent places where the snake might be. If two adjacent vertices are coloured the same, then we know the snake is not there. In order to see Rainbow Serpent, colours must not be repeated. Continue reading Rainbow Serpent: Connecting Mathematics and Aboriginal Culture
Matt Skoss recommends:
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/28-tools-learn-computer-programming-edshelf/
USING THE SORTING NETWORK FOR POLITICAL STREET THEATRE – PERFORMANCE AT THE FRANKFURT STOCK MARKET
By Verena Specht-Ronique
We used a sorting network for a street performance that was performed in front of the Frankfurt stock market. The idea was to juxtapose the homeless of the city with bankers. The slogan of the performance was: It‘s always worth looking behind the façade. Our aim was to look for a way to unmask or break both the social roles of the homeless and the bankers. We showed by very simple means a theatrical metamorphosis from a homeless person to a banker and vice versa.
Computer Science Unplugged session with Gifted & Talented Association (NTAEGT)
Great Unplugged! morning with the Northern Territory Association for Gifted and Talented, held at ACIKE, CDU. Find activities at http://csunplugged.org. Books can be obtained for $10 from Jodi Brown, President NTAEGT via email on president@ntaegt.org.au.
