MMath Mathematics and Statistics / Course details

In the Group Project, students will work together in small groups to produce two written accounts of topics of mathematical interest and give a presentation.  Students will develop skills in researching mathematics, mathematical communication, and working together as a group; these are graduate skills that are important and in demand for mathematical practitioners in both industry and research and in other numerate professions.

The project takes place in Sem 2.  During Semester 1, students who have selected this course unit choose which project they want to take.  Students are then assigned to groups of size 4—5 by project choice.  Projects will be across the spectrum of mathematical sciences and may include: traditional area/problems in mathematics; data analysis; mathematical modelling; history of mathematics; ethical and societal uses of mathematics; projects with industrial partners; interdisciplinary projects across the University.

The mini-project is intended to be an introduction to working together as a group and mathematical writing.  The group will agree, in consultation with their group mentor, a straightforward topic of mathematical interest (this could be a topic covered at A-level/high-school or in our 1^st year) and write a report in a style that would be of interest to non-mathematicians, for example suitable for publication in a high-school magazine.

The main project and presentation will train students in researching and communicating more advanced mathematical ideas.  Students will have already picked a topic for the project (see above).  The presentation takes place in Week 12 in front of the project mentor and other students taking the group project.  The presentation could be an oral presentation but need not be (it could also be a video presentation, podcast, poster, etc); but it must be able to be delivered within 10 minutes and must be in a medium other than a written report. 

Each group will have a project mentor.  The role of the project mentor is to ensure that the group is on track to complete their project and is functioning well as a group, including monitoring the reflective log; the mentor is not there to provide detailed help on the mathematics or to proof-read drafts.

Each student will complete a weekly reflective log.  Students will comment on their contributions to the group project that week, their plans for the following week, and reflect on their and others contribution to the project.

The unit aims to: develop students’ mathematical research skills, group-working skills, and communication skills. 

Week 1: Introductory talk and ice-breaker session by unit lead on how the group project works, how to work well together as a group, signposting of resources on Blackboard (inc. how to run meetings, time-management, how to use LaTeX, how to cite sources, how to give a presentation, expectation of reflective log etc)

Week 1: Group meeting with project mentor

Weeks 2-4:  Group write the mini-project, deadline end of Week 4.

Weeks 5-11:  Groups work on their project and presentation, deadline end of Week 11.

Week 6/7: Group meeting with project mentor

Week 12:  Group finalise presentations and give presentations in front of a group of their peers and a member of staff.

Weekly in Weeks 2-12: individuals record progress in their reflective log on Blackboard.