STEVE HUMBLE thinks people should take another look at maths. That’s why Mr Humble – also known as Dr Maths – is taking maths to the streets during Maths Week 2011.
Mr Humble is the writer of a weekly Dr Maths column and one of the three creators of maths busking, a form of street performance. He taught the world’s largest maths class – 150 pupils aged between seven and 11 – and earned a Guinness World Record for it.
He also teaches maths on the primary initial teacher training course at Newcastle University.
As he geared up for a cross-country trip taking maths performances to Galway, Carlow, Cork, Waterford and Belfast, Mr Humble said what he enjoyed were shows with loads of children.
His goal is to help one or two have a better relationship with the subject. “Hopefully some little activity that you do with children or adults will change their whole way of thinking about maths.”
He added: “It’s socially acceptable to be interested in art, to be interested in literature. As far as maths is concerned, it’s almost the opposite case, where people will say, ‘Oh, I’m no good at maths’.”
People, Mr Humble said, genuinely liked to be puzzled and challenged. Putting the magic back into maths and making it practical could help remove some of the negative emotions connected to it.
“You get to experience it, you get to play with the mathematical ideas. And then hopefully you get to become a recreational mathematician,” Mr Humble said.
Maths Week runs from today until October 22nd