Math, weather take center stage at Math and Computer Science Awareness Day
Math and the weather have more in common than most people think.
“Mathematics and Climate” will be the theme of Math and Computer Science Awareness Day on April 2 at the University of Houston-Victoria.
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| High school students use a robot to move a tennis ball during last year’s Math and Computer Science Awareness Day at the University of Houston-Victoria. This year’s event will take place April 2. |
The afternoon will bring together about 50 area high school students to learn more about exciting topics in the fields of math and computer science and to compete for scholarships and other prizes.
“Math and computer science are used to forecast weather, study the atmosphere and a host of other meteorological applications,” said Mel Damodaran, UHV professor of computer science and one of the organizers of the annual event.
“We hope this event will help students discover all the extremely rewarding and lucrative careers that are available in these areas,” said Li Chao, chair of the science, technology and mathematics division in the UHV School of Arts & Sciences.
Students also will be treated to a pizza party at the conclusion of the event. Sarah McKenna, chief meteorologist for the Victoria Television Group, will be the keynote speaker. Also speaking will be Thomas Butler, president of The Victoria College, and Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences.
The competitors, selected by instructors at their respective campuses, will have 30 minutes to complete 25-question multiple choice exams. Scores will be judged individually and on a team basis.
The top winners in each of the contests will receive scholarships for four years of college - two years at VC and two years at UHV. Other awards, including medals, trophies and certificates, will be awarded to top-performing teams and individuals in different categories.
Students also will attend breakout sessions where they will learn about topics such as using numbers to create art and how to build robots.
The schedule for the event is as follows:
3-3:20 p.m. - Check-in at University Center foyer, 3007 Ben Wilson St.
3:30-4:05 p.m. - Math contest
3:30-4:10 p.m. - Breakout Session 1
4:10-4:45 p.m. - Computer Science contest
4:20-5 p.m. - Breakout Session 2
5:15-6 p.m. - Award ceremony
6-6:30 p.m. - Pizza party
The event is made possible by partners, including The Victoria College, and a grant from Alcoa Foundation.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
