The World of Science

ViduJaya exhibition at J'pura University

-Janani Amarasekara

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura has organised a series of activities throughout the year to celebrate its 50th Golden Jubilee which falls this year. The science, management and arts exhibition titled 'ViduJaya' is a part of these celebrations.

The exhibition would be conducted under the theme "Science for social transformation" to promote science and technology among the public and schoolchildren. It would be held from February 19 - 23 at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda.

This exhibition would be conducted by eight departments of the Faculty of Applied Science - Botany, Chemistry, Food Science and Technology, Forestry and Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Computer Science and Zoology to highlight examples of science and its impact on society.

The exhibition would also cover a range of disciplines, including life sciences, physical sciences, environmental sciences and mathematical sciences. It would be of educational value to A/L, O/L and junior schoolchildren.

Here, we feature some of the things you may be able to see if you visit the Department of Mathematics at the exhibition.

Enjoy mathematics!!!

Do you like mathematics? Some may say 'Yes' and some may say 'No.' Do you find mathematics a challenging subject, especially if you are in the O/L class? Most will say 'Yes'. According to recent surveys, about 50 per cent of local students fail mathematics at their O/L examination.

Lecturer, Department of mathematics, Naleen Ganegoda said: "As Sri Lankans, how can we even think we don't have mathematical knowledge and skills? Our great ancestors constructed large pagodas, statues and buildings with amazing plans with mathematical measurements and calculations. But, it is sad that now we cannot even proceed with a simple geometric construction in an exam paper.

"We seem worst when it comes to geometry, but even in other areas of mathematics, we don't fare well.

We need a change in our minds that mathematics is always with us and that without it, we cannot be confident in any business," he said.

You will get unprecedented exposure to different mathematical aspects in many fields.

Just think about checking the balance when you purchase goods from a shop; this shows the need for arithmetic. If you have to design a flowerbed in your garden in a rectangular shape, that is geometry.

What about making a Vesak lantern or any other religious decoration? Here, measuring lengths, cutting blocks, drawing creative carvings and attaching shapes together are all related to geometry. Now, we understand how mathematics is always with us. So, let’s march together with more knowledge and skills in mathematics.

You will get a great opportunity to see some of the things we must do to perform well in mathematics, especially how interesting the field of geometry is, at the 'ViduJaya' exhibition.

The Department of mathematics would have many stalls on these different aspects and you will see some amazing and eye-catching sights like a pagoda in a pyramid with exact ancient ratio measurements, archaeological findings to do with the construction of Buddha statues, a model of the Eiffel Tower made of bonded wooden strips, a human skeleton showing interesting ratios, display of geometric shapes using kitchenware and many more creative exhibits. Sounds amazing, isn't it? This would be an opportunity that you should not miss!