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Department News

16 December 21

Rearranging Equations Bookmark competition Winners

The Department of Mathematics at Munster Technological University are delighted to announce the winners of MathsWeek 2021 Rearranging Equations Bookmark competition.

Rearranging equations is a vital skill in many professions and yet it is a maths topic that students often find difficult. The aim of the competition was to encourage students to think carefully about equations and how to rearrange them. There were two categories: one for first and second years and another for third and fourth years. The judges were really impressed by the standard of the entries which brought together key mathematical concepts  and artistic flair. The organisers At MTU, Catherine Palmer, Julie Crowley and Maryna Lishchynska were very lucky to work with members of the Cork Branch of the Irish Maths Teachers Association in addressing some of the difficulties students have with Rearranging Equations at both second and third level, as well as developing a website for resources rearranging-equations for secondary school teachers. Thanks to all the competitors and judges.

1st and 2nd year competition

Winners: Sara Lipiec, Leah Delany, and Emma Marie Redmond  (Nagle Community College)

Runners up: Katie Cronin, Abigail Maria Meade, Aleesha Roche (Nagle Community College), Grace Finnegan (St Olivers Community College, Drogheda)

3rd and 4th year competition

Winners: Kaushik Akash & Hugo Carmona Rodríguez (Douglas Community School), Jason O’ Brien and James O’Callaghan (Douglas Community School)

Runners up: Ella Ní Mhuireasáin (Coláiste an Phiarsaigh)

15 December 2021

RESTARTING THE NEW NORMAL, TEACHING MATHEMATICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS

This workshop will feature short presentations on papers from the Special Issue of Teaching Mathematics and its Applications, Restarting the New Normal, which was launched on December 10th, 2021.

Our colleagues Maryna Lishchynska, Catherine Palmer, Vincent Cregan, Linda O’Sullivan, Deirdre Casey, Julie Crowley will speak at this workshop.

Please see here for more including registration.

3 November 2021

Membership of the IMS

The Munster Technological University successfully applied to become an institutional member of the Irish Mathematical Society.

The Irish Mathematical Society aims to further Mathematics and Mathematical research in Ireland. Its membership is international, but it mainly represents mathematicians in Universities and other third level institutes in Ireland.

2 September 2021

Annual Meeting of the IMS


The 34th Annual Meeting of the Irish Mathematical Society, was held September 2-3, 2021, jointly hosted by UCC and MTU. This was the main annual scientific meeting of the Society and included the AGM.


The conference webpage includes conference/speaker schedule.

As a hybrid event, delegates could choose to attend in-person or virtually. In-person registrations were limited by venue capacity under 2 m social distancing/


Poster displays were welcome, particularly by students and early career researchers and there was a prize awarded for the best student poster.

12 June 2021

SPIRIT Maths Poster

Please click here to download.

16 April 2021

Research Methods Seminar

As part of the Research Methods Module we are delighted to host a seminar by Prof. Norma Bargary Carey (University of Limerick) on Friday April 23 at 11 am. The details for Prof. Bargary’s seminar is as follows:

Title: Application of functional data analysis to human movement data.

Abstract: Functional data analysis (FDA) is a modern statistical methodology that is suitable for modelling high-dimensional data collected in a variety of settings. FDA is particularly suitable for the modelling and analysis of human movement data, where data is measured continuously via state-of-the-art technologies such as sensors. This talk will introduce FDA, how it is used, and will present an application to data collected during a study examining hip and knee co-ordination patterns in kicking with a view to understanding their link with hamstring injury.

13 April 2021

SPIRIT MAths Extra

In April 2021 the Department of Mathematics received funding under the National Forum Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education 2020 call.

The project entitled SPIR Maths Extra - 'Students' Perceptions Informing and Redefining Innovative Teaching of Mathematics in Higher Education - EXtending Targeted Resources aimed at University wide Adoption' buuilds on last year's SPIRIT Maths initiative and is a student-centered project that aims to ascertain learner needs in mathematics and produce a tailored range of evidence-based online learning resources. SPIRIT Maths Extra will further enhance the student voice by introducing PeerWise - an emerging approach to teaching and learning - which will facilitate engagement and student-lecturer partnership.

The SPIRIT Maths Extra project team was lead by Violeta Morari and included Seán Lacey, Maryna Lishchynska, J.P. McCarthy, Declan Manning, Declan O'Connor, Patricia Cogan, Julie Crowley, Deirdre Casey, Clodagh Carroll, Catherine Palmer and Shane O'Rourke.

SPIRIT Maths Extra project builds upon the success of numerous Teaching and Learning projects that the department has been involved in over the past number of years and was extremely well received by the external reviewers.

5 February 2021

SEMINAR: DIFFERENTIAL-EQUATIONS MODELLING AND COVID-19

The Department of Mathematics were delighted to host a seminar by Prof. James Gleeson (University of Limerick) on Friday February 5th

Seminar Abstract: In this talk I will review SEIR-type models such as those used within the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG) to model Covid-19 at population level. The usefulness of dynamical-systems approaches in guiding models will be shown with examples, and I will then focus on the challenge of calibrating such models to data and quantifying uncertainty. The results I will show are produced in collaboration with Brendan Murphy (UCD), Joseph O’Brien (UL) and David O’Sullivan (UL), with helpful advice from colleagues in IEMAG. Slides here. 

Speaker biography: James Gleeson holds the Chair in Industrial and Applied Mathematics at the University of Limerick. As co-director of MACSI, the Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry, he leads research into applications of mathematics to real-world problems with significant economic and social impact. James is a graduate of University College Dublin in Mathematical Sciences and Mathematical Physics and received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from California Institute of Technology in 1999. Following his graduation from Caltech, he had positions as a visiting assistant professor in Arizona State University, postdoctoral research positions in the Department of Applied Mathematics at University College Cork (UCC) and National Microelectronic Research Centre (now Tyndall Institute), and as a senior lecturer in the School of Mathematical Sciences, UCC before moving to Limerick. James' research interests are in mathematical modelling of stochastic dynamics, with a particular focus on complex systems and networks

10 November 2020

AN ANALYSIS OF THE IRISH DAIRY SECTOR POST QUOTA: LOWEST MILK PRICE BUT HIGHEST MARGIN

A new report on the Irish dairy industry and its position relative to a number of leading EU countries as well as New Zealand has been launched. The new report titled “An Analysis of the Irish Dairy Sector Post Quota” is a collaboration between Teagasc and Cork Institute of Technology. It begins by charting the phenomenal growth in the dairy sector post quota removal. The research then positions Ireland relative to the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, France, and New Zealand in relation to the milk prices farmers receive. The profitability of milk production in these EU countries along with the UK is then presented. The report goes on to critically evaluate the Irish dairy industry with reference to the investments in processing capacity and seasonality. Finally, the report considers funding models for processing investment around the world.

The full report - "An Analysis of the Irish Dairy Sector Post Quota" can be read here.

30 September 2020

Retirement of Hannah Lordan

Our esteemed colleague and friend Hannah Lordan is due to retire early next month after over 40 years of service to the institute. Hannah has been a stalwart of CIT and her experience, dedication, honesty, kindness and personality will be greatly missed by both staff and students of the institute.

12 June 2020

Dr Declan O'Connor in the Media

Our colleague Dr Declan O'Connor has had a number of pieces in media recently. Back in January Dr O'Connor was discussing the prices dairy farmers are getting in the market. With the advent of covid crisis, Dr O'Connor wrote here and here about some economic risks that dairy farmers face.

Finally Dr O'Connor compared the response of the USA and the EU to the current crisis.

 

 

May 2020

HDip and MSC Data Science Presentations

 

10 January 2020

REQUIRED Seminar

The seminar provided an overview of the approach to questionnaire design, and then guided the participants step-by-step through the processes of data collection, data analysis, and storage. The seminar was not intended to provide a manual of how to conduct a survey, but rather to identify common pitfalls and oversights to be avoided by researchers if their work is to be valid and credible.

REQUIRED - Research Ethics in QUestionnaIRE Design,

 

 

 

 

 

19 December 2019

HDIP AND MSC DATA SCIENCE PRESENTATIONS

 

December and May 2019

School of Science and Informatics Seminar

Two of our colleagues spoke at the first CIT SOSI Seminars. In May, Dr Declan O'Connor gave a talk titled “In the end it always comes back to the price of milk” --- The journey of a dairy economist:

In December, Dr J.P. McCarthy gave a talk titled "Pure Mathematics --- What's the Point?":

27 November 2019

Open PhD Research Position

Applications are currently been sought  for a Teagasc PhD Walsh Fellowship “EXPLAINING INCOME VOLATILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT DECISIONSON IRISH DAIRY FARMS”.

This funded PhD. Fellowship is a joint research project between Teagasc, Rural Economy and Development Programme, Athenry Co. Galway, and the Department of Mathematics, Cork Institute of Technology, and is due to begin in April 2020. For more details click here and here.

8 November 2019

SPIRIT MATHS SUCCESSFUL FUNDING APPLICATIOn

'SPIRIT Maths: Students’ Perceptions Informing and Redefining Innovative Teaching of Mathematics in Higher Education' is a student-centred project that aims to ascertain learner needs in mathematics and produce a range of evidence-based learning resources tailored to student cohorts ranging from diagnostic testing to online learning resources (including Numbas and digital media content). It has been succesful in the National Forum Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education 2019 call. 
 

24 October 2019

Lee Fields Medal Results

Two weeks ago, Wednesday 9 October, we were very happy to see 25 intrepid students voluntarily sit the second annual Lee Fields Medal - CIT MATHS CHALLENGE.

First Prize

  • Paschal Mullins
  • 2nd Year, Mechanical Engineering (Hons)

Second Prize

  • Yi Ming Tan
  • 1st year, Computer Systems (Hons)

Best Level 7

  • Shane Allen
  • 3rd Year, Mechanical Engineering (Level 7)
     

Best First Year

  • Sofia Dolera Perez
  • 1st Year, Electronic Engineering (Hons)

Paschal, who won best first year last year, receiving his medal the night of the Science and Engineering Awards:

 

The event will have its third outing October 2020.

18 June 2019

Transposition Project 'Show and Tell' at EFYE 2019

Strength in Numbers - Maths community of practice tackle a key problem area for students

Julie Crowley, Catherine Palmer

Photo Credit: Deirdre Casey

Summary: Mathematics often poses an obstacle to student success. From the transposition project, a small teaching and learning project exploring a key area of difficulty in algebra, emerged a vibrant mathematics education community of practice (CoP) focused on improving student success. We examine the transposition project under Etienne Wenger's three elements of a CoP; domain, community and practice.

Abstract: ‘The Maths Problem’ is a term given to the serious decline in students’ knowledge of basic maths skills upon entering third level education. This decline is well established and documented in Ireland, the U.K. and wider a field. As a result, many problems now confront those teaching mathematics and mathematics-based modules in third level institutions. A key area in algebra is rearranging equations also known as transposition. In second and third level mathematics, the topic of Transposition has repeatedly been flagged as one of the most problematic. The topic is taught in school and often again in first year mathematics modules at third level. It is fundamental to subsequent modules across programmes in Science, Engineering, Business and Humanities. Recognition of the issues surrounding this topic led to the Transposition Project, a project funded by the Teaching and Learning Unit at Cork Institute of Technology and run by twelve members of staff from the Department of Mathematics. The aim of this project was to develop a teaching ‘tool’ to aid in student’s understanding of this. What resulted was the organic creation of a vibrant mathematics education community of practice focused on purposeful teaching leading to the ultimate goal of improved student success.

Main Message: After this session the participant will know/have experienced/have gained… - will learn how a community of practice tackled a key area of Mathematics that is problematic for students both at second and third level. - will understand what transposition means in Mathematics - will have gained insight into some of the key benefits of this community of practice

23 May 2019

HDip. in Data Science and Analytics Project Presentations

This programme is run by the Mathematics Department in partnership with the Computer Science Department.

The schedule of talks is given below.

This year there were projects analysing genomic data, ECG waves for heart diagnosis, football score prediction, Listeria detection, user authentication, melanoma detection, air quality classification, website classification, plus a number of others.

Examples of the methodologies used are time series analysis, deep learning, multivariate analysis, machine learning, and data visualisations.

 

Time

Student

Title

09.00 - 09.30

Tea/Coffee

 

09.30 - 09.45

Cooke, Sean

Melanoma lesion  detection using Deep Learning Techniques

09.45 - 10.00

Mc Keown, Brian

Football match Predicting Soccer match outcomes using Machine Learning Techniques

10.00 - 10.15

Bowden, Siobhan M.

Investigation of two-factor authentication using keyboard dynamics

10.15 -10.30

Crowley, Eoin F.

Website Clustering and Analytics: An exercise in unsupervised machine learning

10.30 -10.45

Goncalves, Tomás

Analysis and Prediction of Fine Particulate Matter in Homes

10.45 -11.00

Alice Clarson

Statistical process control for leak testing

11.00 - 11.15

Tea/Coffee

 

11.15 - 11.30

Kearney, Joy

Boundary modelling for the classification of growth/no-growth for Listeria Monocytogenes, with business applications

11.30 - 11.45

Murphy, Ben

The ability of drop jump ground reaction forces to classify normal and abnormal individuals

11.45 - 12.00

O Sullivan, Shane P.

Genomic analytics

12.00 - 12.15

De Barra, Liam

ECG machine learning analysis

12.15 - 12.30

Trinder, Niall

Supervised & Unsupervised Learning Methods to Produce Consumer Energy Profiles

12.30 - 12.45

Sanela Jojkic

Regional  Population Projections 2017 - 2036

13.00

Lunch

 

 

15 May 2019

Workshop: The use of maple in teaching and learning

 A workshop on using the mathematical software Maple to aid teaching and learning in the Department of Mathematics. 

Use of Maple in Teaching & Learning

 

10:15-10:25   Introduction

 

10:25-11:15   Maple & Heavy Lifting…………………………………………………… Michael Brennan

The appropriate use of Maple in the classroom is a challenge and the integration

of software in general to achieve optimal impact is a key learning outcome.  

By considering three examples from the last semester I would like to highlight this concept.

 

11.15-11:30   Tea Break

 

11:30-12:30   Using Maple to Enhance Teaching and Learning……………….Nadia Sid

This talk will  provide material that can be used to compose, plot, and solve a variety

of problems using Maple. Product resources and tools that will help you go beyond the basics

will also be presented.

 

12:30-12:45  Questions/Discussion

 

12:45    Lunch

 

14 May 2019

Digi-Teach: Digital Teaching Tools for Mathematics in Higher Education

 

This was part of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning National Seminar Series, and part of the CIT TLU Conversations on Teaching and Learning Week. It is a joint initiative with Deirdre Casey of Griffith College Cork.

 

Morning

9.30 – 10.00

Registration

10.00 – 10.10

Welcome and Opening Address

10.10 – 11.00

“Time and learning: Using online videos to complement and/or replace the live Mathematics Lecture”, Dr Maria Meehan, UCD

11.00 – 11.30

Break

11.30 – 12.00

“Virtual Reality Technology for Learning”, Dr Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin, CIT

Lightening Talks

12.00 – 12.15

“Customizing Feedback for Students in Numbas”, Dr Clodagh Carroll, CIT

12.15 – 12.30

“Three Act Maths: Time for Tea!”, Dr Thomas Confrey, IT Carlow

12.30 – 12.45

“Gravel, Geometry, Geogebra”, Dr Michael Brennan, CIT

12.45 – 13.00

“Symbolic Mathematics Teaching in Higher Education”, Sammi Shamma

Lunch with Discussion

13.00 – 14.00

 

Afternoon

14.00 – 16.00

E-Assessment using Numbas Parallel Workshops

“Introduction to Numbas”, Chris Graham, Newcastle University

“Advanced Numbas", Christian Lawson-Perfect, Newcastle University

 

16.00

Free discussion time
       

 

 

11 January 2019

Seminar: MiC DROP @CIT: Mathematics in Context Developing Relevancy-Orientated Problems @CIT

 

Within CIT, mathematics and statistics play a key role in almost every programme and the majority of students will encounter mathematics/statistics related modules at some point in their studies. Some programmes, especially those in the Faculty of Engineering & Science, are highly mathematical in nature and will contain many mathematics and statistics modules integrated from the start to end of the programme of study, whilst others have slightly less mathematical content, but any mathematics and statistics modules taken are continually relied upon over the duration of the programme.

 

Frequently, however, mathematics lecturers find that students struggle with understanding when and where the mathematics that they are being asked to learn will be used in their chosen programme and in their future profession. In addition, because a lot of mathematics modules are taught to diverse groups of students there is little chance to show students problems applied to their own specific field of study. Therefore, mathematics can appear to them to be an abstract subject, separate from other topics encountered during their programme of study.

 

In an effort to address this problem, members of a learning community established in CIT’s Department of Mathematics and Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, applied for funding from the Teaching and Learning Unit Development Fund to develop relevance-orientated problems for students from different disciplines so as to support students to understand the importance of mathematics in their chosen field at an early stage of their degree and career.

 

As a starting point for this project, the Department of Mathematics and Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering have initiated a pilot project to develop a bank of contextual materials for their students to enable them to better understand the role of mathematics in their chosen programme.

 

This seminar will primarily be of interest to staff in the Department of Mathematics and Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering as theirs is the first cohort of students for whom such resources are being developed. However, it should be of general interest to all staff so that they can see the type of work being done, the benefits of developing these types of resources and perhaps initiate their own department’s future collaboration with the Department of Mathematics.

 

(All images are thanks to @Marese_CIT)

 

 

This seminar will consist of the following:

TALKS
  • Maths in Structural Engineering - Seán Carroll, Chartered Structural Engineer, Assistant Lecturer Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, CIT

  • Contexts & Concepts: A Case Study of Mathematics Assessment for Civil & Environmental Engineering - Dr J.P. McCarthy, Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, CIT

 

  • Maths in Engineering: Perspectives of a Bridge Engineer - Michael Minehane, Chartered Senior Engineer at RPS Europe where he works on the design, inspection assessment and rehabilitation of bridges and large civil structures. He graduated from Cork Institute of Technology in 2010 with a BEng (Hons) in Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, and in 2011 with an MEng in Advanced Structural Engineering. He is a part-time lecturer at Cork Institute of Technology since 2015 where he delivers a module on BIM for Infrastructure.

Contributions from several speakers, including:
  • Dr Clodagh Carroll, Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, CIT

  • Dr Violeta Morari, Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, CIT

 

Some short videos/surveys emphasising the centrality of mathematics within Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering which have been developed will be presented

 

5 November 2018

What is the National Farm Gate Milk Price?

Article in the Irish Examiner by Dr Declan O'Connor.

2 November 2018

THE LEE FIELDS MEDAL --- Results/Solutions

 

Solutions here


First Prize
 
  • Damien Murphy, 
  • 2nd Year, Software Development, 
  • Department of Computer Science, 
  • 83%.
 
Second Prize
 
  • Shane O'Sullivan, 
  • HDip, Data Science and Analytics, 
  • Department of Mathematics, 
  • 77%.
 
Best First Year (and moreover third overall)

 

  • Paschal Mullins, 
  • 1st Year, Mechanical Engineering, 
  • Department of Mechanical, Biomedical, & Manufacturing Engineering,
  • 74%.


Honourable Mentions (fourth and fifth)
 

  •  Patrick O'Donoghue, 
  • 1st Year, Mechanical Engineering, 
  • Department of Mechanical, Biomedical, & Manufacturing Engineering,
  • 73%.

 

  • Conor McKeown, 
  • 2nd Year, Industrial Physics, 
  • Department of Physical Sciences,
  • 64%.

 

18 October 2018

The Lee Fields Medal --- CIT Maths Challenge


18 enthusiastic students competed for the Lee Fields Medal when they took on the CIT Maths Challenge last night. Some students put together a very solid paper in two hours but most took a bit of the extra time on offer. Almost all students were enquiring as they left about solutions and results and a Solutions/Results Night will be held in good time. It was great to see 18 CIT students voluntarily sit a maths exam and promises to be an event that can be run again and again.

If you want to try the questions the students tackled last night please click here.
 

11 October 2018

The Lee FIELDS MEDAL --- CIT MATHS CHALLENGE


To celebrate Maths Week 2018 the CIT Department of Mathematics is running THE LEE FIELDS MEDAL --- CIT MATHS CHALLENGE to decide which currently-registered CIT student is the best mathematician on campus!


We have put together a challenging paper of ten questions in which you can pit your mathematical prowess against the best mathematicians in CIT!


Oh... and there are cash prizes!! €50 for Best First Year Undergraduate, €50 for Second Overall, and €100 for Winner Overall.


The event will take place from 19:00 to 21:00 in IT1 on Wednesday 17 October 2018. The questions are based on mathematics no more advanced that what appears in the Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level syllabus... but this doesn't mean that the questions will be easy!!


 

15 May 2018

Transposition Seminar

 

10:00   Welcome
10:15 Deirdre Casey, Head of Computing, Griffith College Cork Ed tech tools for Transposition
10:30 Dr Máire Ní Ríordáin, Department of Education, UCC Mathematics Education Methodology
11:00 Katie Bullen Transposition in Project Maths
  Dr Marie Nicholson Error Classification
    Tea
11:40 Gráinne Read & Patricia Cogan Staff Workshops
  Dr Maryna Lishchynska Eric Mazur and Concept Questions
  Dr Catherine Palmer Methodology
12:10 Dr Máire Ní Ríordáin Working Session
12:55   Close
13:00   Lunch

 

23 April 2018

Transposition Workshop

 

 

Rearranging equations is a skill needed across many disciplines in Business, Engineering, Humanities and Science. It is a skill some students struggle with. The Teaching and Learning Unit have funded a group of lecturers in the Department of Mathematics to explore this issue. We are hoping you may share your experiences and opinions with us. We are looking for lecturers from other departments who may have come across this in their module to come along to a workshop on Tuesday 8th of May 2018 at 4pm (Week 13) in B149. We are interested in for example - what student difficulties arise and how these difficulties affect your module. Also, are there particular formulae in your subject which are important but cause students difficulty?
 
If you are interested in coming along please let Julie Crowley or Catherine Palmer know so that we have sufficient tea, coffee and biscuits to keep everybody happy.