Oldenburg. The “Mathematics Day” and “Physics Day”, which will take place simultaneously on Wednesday 21 November from 9.15 am on the Wechloy campus of the University of Oldenburg, will focus on study and career opportunities for mathematicians and physicists. Both events are aimed at school pupils, teachers, first-year undergraduates and the interested public.

Physics Day

‘Physics Day’ begins at 9.15 am with guided tours of the research laboratories. Among other things, ForWind, the Centre for Wind Energy Research at the Universities of Oldenburg, Hanover and Bremen, will be presenting its wind tunnel. At 10.15 am, the Institute’s Director, Prof. Dr Christoph Lienau, will welcome visitors. Prof. Dr Michael Komorek, a specialist in physics education, will present the “Research Project Prize” to pupils for outstanding research projects. Following this, the Oldenburg-based physicist and physician Prof. Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier will provide an insight into experimental physics in his lecture ‘The Physics of Illusion’. Prof. Dr Bernd Blasius will introduce the field of theoretical physics in his lecture ‘Theoretical Physics in Biology: Bioinvasion and the International Ship Network’. Following the presentation of the degree programmes, graduates will answer questions about starting a career in the section ‘Degree … and then?’. In addition, on the Ringebene, the physics research groups and early-career researchers will provide information about their research projects.

Mathematics Day

‘Mathematics Day’ begins at 9.45 am with an official welcome by the Institute Director, Prof. Dr Hannes Uecker. At 12.00, Prof. Dr Alfred Schmidt, a lecturer at the Centre for Technomathematics at the University of Bremen, will deliver the keynote lecture ‘Mathematics in technical applications – from laser welding to metabolic analysis’. In the run-up to the event, numerous lectures and information sessions will take place: for example, in his lecture ‘The Smallest, Largest, Fastest’, Prof. Dr Daniel Grieser will explore mathematical extrema, whilst Prof. Dr Florian Heß will examine the question ‘How does cryptography work?’ and Karsten Fritzsch will discuss “Mathematics in juggling – does abstraction help the juggler?”. The Mathematics student body is offering workshops on game strategy, and the Mathematics and Elementary Mathematics degree programmes will be presented. From 1.00 pm, the “Maths Mile” will take place for the first time in the entrance hall, featuring interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to get involved and think for themselves. It will be run by students in their first three semesters. School pupils will be able to obtain first-hand information about studying there.

[15 November 2012]