Mathematics: A Living Discipline within Science and Technology.
Christiane Rousseau · 2001
This paper presents information on a course entitled and which was created at the University of Montreal and was taught once during the winter term of 2001. The students in the course were for the most part future high school teachers. Several applications of mathematics in technology are introduced and students are reminded throughout the course that mathematics is present everywhere in new technologies, mathematics is alive and new developments occur all of the time, and with mathematical tools and problem solving skills, anyone can contribute to technology. (KHR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as eived from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Mathematics, A Living Discipline within Science and Technology Christiane Rousseau Universite de Montreal The purpose of this paper is to present a new course « Mathematics and technology » which was created at the Universite de Montreal and has been taught once during the winter term of 2001. The students in the course were for the most part future high school teachers. A few students in applied mathematics also attended the course. The objective of the course is to introduce to several applications of mathematics in technology. The applications chosen are: very modern for the most part; using relatively elementary mathematics; but some sophistication is needed to get extra power. In the course the students have to do: mathematical modeling; problem solving; use of computers (but not for all applications); a project (similar to the projects done in science fairs). Around 12 applications are studied, for usually five hours each: Elementary theory (one hour); Exercises (2 hours); Advanced theory (2 hours). For the evaluation the students have to do: 3 half-exams half take-home (mostly on the elementary parts); a project (report of 25 pages) plus an oral presentation (30 minutes). The students work by teams of 2. Throughout the course the students find the followingmessages: mathematics are everywhere present in new technologies; mathematics are alive and new developments occur all the time; with mathematical tools and problem solving skills anyone can contribute to technology, BUT programming is also an essential tool. A guided tour of some applications (not all elementary) The purpose of the guided tour is to show how numerous are the applications of mathematics.. Applications in health Cardiac arrythmias and chaotic dynamics: Mathematicians and cardiologists work together to better understand the mechanisms of the heart and the onset of chaos. The hope is to be able to control arrythmias with pacemakers; Pharmacy: how to better control the diffusion of drugs so as to be able to give smaller quantities and minimize side effects;