A GROUP of Bendigo students have opened up their minds to a world of mathematics in a musical presentation from the University of Melbourne.
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Professor Arun Ram from the university's science faculty visited Girton Grammar School on Thursday to present his maths roadshow to a group of students from years six to 10.
"I have a fascination with almost everything," Professor Ram said. "There are so many exciting things in the world and in our lives, and it just happens that maths and music are two things that I know a lot about."
Professor Ram, who has a doctorate in mathematics and a background in violin, has been touring his maths roadshow around Victoria and NSW for the past month.
The presentation looks at how mathematics is closely intertwined with a variety of areas like classical music, literature, card tricks, and juggling.
Professor Ram said it was great to see that all of the students from Girton Grammar and others schools in the area were so engaged throughout the performance.
"They were asking such wonderful questions and they sat for 70 minutes," he said. "They were all interacting and it was really fun. It's really a great group that we have got here."
Girton Grammar's head of mathematics Ross Slater said the school wanted to participate in the roadshow so students could learn the variety of opportunities that come from maths.
"I think it's very important that students get to see all the facets of mathematics and the interesting parts of it," Mr Slater said.
"I think sometimes school mathematics can seem a bit dull or uninteresting to students. But to have someone like Professor Arun Ram come and show the diversity of mathematics and his life through mathematics is really important."
Professor Ram said there were so many opportunities for students in the area of mathematics.
"Young people are always open and waiting to hear all of the possibilities, so all we have to do as adults is to present it to them and show them that we've got this and make the connections," he said.
"Then the young people will just come along for the ride. It's not that young people are unaware, they're just waiting to be aware."
Professor Ram will be hosting his Maths & Music: Maybe I Could Be A Mathematician presentation for the general public on Thursday night at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre from 6.30pm.
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