Young Maths Talents Get to Know the World of Work

Felix Klein Centre for Mathematics organizes Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls-Camp

What does the professional world of a mathematician look like and what is applied mathematics? 18 selected schoolgirls found the answer at our institute. Our Math Talent School from 3. to 7. June 2024 was organized by the Felix Klein Center for Mathematics as a Girls Camp.

The high school students worked on different issues in three teams using mathematical modeling and computer simulations. Right at the beginning of the week, the students were allowed to choose one of the three projects they would most like to work on:

  1. Producing nonwovens intelligently
  2. Mathematical modeling of scratches
  3. Fidgeting little particles – from random walk to diffusion

The whole week was spent working together on practical problems and the results were then presented and discussed at the end of the Math Talent School. In addition, the participants were able to gain various impressions of our institute and the Department of Mathematics at the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU). In addition to a tour of the institute, the program also included a visit to our gemstone laboratory and a campus tour at RPTU. There, the young people learned about studying mathematics in Kaiserslautern. There was also plenty to do in their free time – whether it was team-building activities, a city tour of Kaiserslautern or a visit to a restaurant together.

For the first time, there was a rally in addition to the program. The groups answered questions together, were rewarded with letters and then received a solution word from the world of the Fraunhofer ITWM. The prize at the end was a bag filled with Fraunhofer surprises.

Those who didn't want to go home on Friday stayed one more night and had the opportunity to take part at the Day of Mathematics of the RPTU.

On this page we collect impressions, statements and photos of the Math Talent School 2024.

»I am particularly interested in the connection between math and the real world«

 

Clara Olivia Ionescu attends the Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Gymnasium in Frankfurt an der Oder – a MINT Center of Excellence, a mathematical, scientific and technical special school run by the state of Brandenburg. »I transferred from my school in Potsdam to this school because I felt underchallenged in my area of interest »mathematics« there and wanted to learn more. For this reason, I am also taking an online math course at the University of Heidelberg.« For the eleventh-grader, the MINT Center of Excellence not only means that, unlike at her regular school in Brandenburg, she has three STEM subjects, but also that mathematics is a compulsory advanced course and she will graduate from the boarding school after just twelve years. »This also means that we take part in mathematical competitions and many activities related to mathematical problems are promoted. But this was my first full modeling week .«

Karina on the left and Clara on the right from the group on the topic of »Producing nonwovens intelligently«.
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Karina on the left and Clara on the right from the group on the topic of »Producing nonwovens intelligently«.
In addition to nonwovens, the first group also dealt with »Who am I«.
© Fraunhofer ITWM
In addition to nonwovens, the first group also dealt with »Who am I«.

She modeled in the project on the topic of »Producing nonwovens intelligently«. The project work itself was also her highlight of the week: »I'm particularly interested in the connection between math and the real world. It all seemed very well thought out. In the groups, we had the opportunity to think for ourselves and work out solutions, we were only given food for thought, which we then put into practice as a team.« But Clara also liked the general conditions: »We were very well looked after throughout the week – from breakfast to the cool hoodie to the food in the restaurant. The rooms at Villa Denis were also very nice and impressively large«, emphasizes the 17-year-old. »The introduction right at the beginning with team-building exercises was the best I've experienced so far. Overall, we had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Solving the problem together at the end was really nice.«

Modelling Weeks as Sport and Home Game

Franziska Sistig and Miriam Noglik were both in the project group on the topic of »Mathematical modelling of scratches«. This is Franziska's third modelling week and her second Math Talent School at our institute. »I find it super interesting that different topics are always covered. The last time I was at a mixed Talent School in October 2023 and my group didn't do any programming at all. This time it's a purely female student event and we even had an introduction to programming. Independently of Fraunhofer events, I've also taken part in a modelling week that was all about Artificial Intelligence«, says the 18-year-old about her passion for this type of event. »This week I liked the group dynamic even more than last year, but that was simply down to the people, not necessarily the fact that we were just girls.« Whether she really wants to study maths in Kaiserslautern, the twelfth-grader from Bornheim still doesn't know for sure: »At the moment, I think it will be biology, maybe in Bonn. But maths is definitely an option as a minor subject.« However, the Math Talent School will probably be her last modelling week as a pupil for the time being, as she is due to take her A-levels next year.

The »Mathematical modeling of scratches« team is hard at work. Miriam and Franziska on the right.
© Fraunhofer ITWM
The »Mathematical modeling of scratches« team is hard at work. Miriam and Franziska on the right.
The »Mathematical modeling of scratches« team is hard at work. The picture shows Miriam and Franziska.
© Fraunhofer ITWM
The »Mathematical modeling of scratches« team is hard at work. The picture shows Miriam and Franziska.

This is Miriam's first Math Talent School, but not her first encounter with Fraunhofer in Kaiserslautern, as she attends St. Franziskus Gymnasium in Kaiserslautern. There have already been several points of contact: »My sister also took part in a Talent School and was enthusiastic. I was then explicitly asked by a teacher whether I would like to apply. That made me very happy. I had also already completed a Design Sprint internship at Fraunhofer IESE. So I've even been to the Fraunhofer Centre at the neighbouring institute.« In the eleventh grade of a private girls' high school, the situation with groups of female students was not new to her either: »I particularly enjoyed the teamwork. It started on the first day of the team-building workshop, when we did interactive exercises with a theatre teacher. That really loosened things up. I've already been to a similar week of events at the Mainz Maths Academy, where there were mixed groups. That was also nice, but as a girls‘ camp, the whole thing had a different atmosphere.« It was already important to her in her letter of motivation that she also wanted to take part in order to find out what you can achieve in a team and how computer science and maths complement each other. »I don't know what could have been done better«, she summarizes.

Maths Day as a Optional Addition to the Week

On the Saturday after the Talent School, she will also attend the Maths Day at RPTU with a few of the participants. This is also a home game for her and not the first time: »We've already been to the Maths Day in fifth grade and even came third in a maths rally. This time, I'm taking part in the team competition with exams with a friend and, of course, I'll also be stopping by the Fraunhofer ITWM stand«, says the 17-year-old. She might even go straight on to RPTU after school: »I can very well imagine studying maths, chemistry or medicine. If maths or chemistry, then RPTU is definitely an option.« Maybe then also work for us as a student assistant at the institute at the same time? 

Girls Camp Special as a Great Format

Leni Becker goes to a MINT-EC (STEM) school with boarding facilities in Holzminden, Lower Saxony, and is working on the project group »Fidgeting little particles – from random walk to diffusion«. In her letter of motivation in her application, she describes exactly what motivates her: »We have small classes, close supervision and, of course, offers in the field of science that help you to look beyond the curriculum, but these are mainly focussed outside the mathematical area. I think my participation in the Girls STEM Camp could give me this view beyond the maths curriculum.« And her expectations were fulfilled, her highlight was the project itself, including programming, which surprised her: »It was really exciting, also because I didn't know beforehand whether I could do it well at all. I already had inhibitions about programming, but this week really took them away. I also now know better what you can do with maths in the professional world«, reports the 18-year-old enthusiastically. »Overall, I really enjoyed it. You really noticed how much effort everyone put in, they were all sympathetic, motivated and friendly. Everything around it was great too, from the games in between to the rally and the leisure activities.«

Leni in her group at the Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls Camp.
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Leni in her group at the Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls Camp.
Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls-Camp
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls Camp: I was there!

In her letter of motivation, she also explicitly expressed her excitement about the Girls' Camp Special and emphasised euphorically: »In scientific fields, women are often not always recognised or are often underestimated, outside of which you have to fight a lot against prejudices, especially as a younger woman. Due to outdated stereotypes, many women never get the chance to realise their interest and talent in STEM fields or don't dare to explore these areas. A dream of mine and of many women in our world would come true if women no longer had to face such hurdles. I believe my participation in the Girl Camp and further participation in the STEM field helps other women and shows the world what we can do.« Even after the week, she is certain that the relaxed atmosphere in a close circle of schoolgirls gives her the chance to develop without prejudice.

However, the twelfth-grader is not yet sure whether she sees herself as a mathematician in Kaiserslautern after her A-levels: »I'm still unsure exactly what I want to study. But this week has given me more certainty about studying something with maths. I was also really impressed by RPTU because, just like at boarding school, everything seemed very familiar and sheltered. The student-to-staff ratio is very good for a rather small university. I thought the atmosphere on the campus tour was great and I already knew that the university is often at the top of the rankings for STEM subjects.«

We are excited to see which of the students we will see again after their A-levels or after their studies and wish them all every success in their STEM careers!

Projects and Groups

The three project topics are as varied as they are interesting – and the best thing about them is that they are all inspired by current research areas within applied mathematics!

Nonwovens

Smart Production of Nonwovens

In addition to nonwovens, the first group also dealt with »Who am I«.
© Fraunhofer ITWM
In addition to nonwovens, the first group also dealt with »Who am I«.
Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls-Camp
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Between the mathematical tasks, of course, you also need to relax and play.
Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls-Camp
© Fraunhofer ITWM
Math Talent School 2024 – Special Edition Girls Camp: This year there were even special hoodies for the week.

Nonwovens are structures made of fibres and threads that have been joined together in some way to form a layer of fibres (the nonwoven). However, this does not include fabrics that have been woven or knitted, for example. Nonwovens have many applications, including, for example, as filters in hoovers, in cleaning cloths, as insulating material or as upholstery lining. They can also be found in the medical sector, where they are used as mouth and nose protection or as wound dressings, for example.
 

Effective Wound Care with Silica Gel Fleece

The group deals with the use of nonwovens as wound dressings. We consider the following scenario: A company wants to produce wound dressings made of silica gel. These have a particularly long shelf life and are broken down by the body without any harmful residues. This makes them particularly suitable for large or poorly healing wounds, such as those caused by burns or of a chronic nature: The wound dressing is applied once at the start of treatment and, unlike other materials, does not need to be changed afterwards. This keeps the wound sterile and allows it to heal better.

The nonwoven materials for the dressings are produced as follows: The silica gel is made mouldable and pressed through nozzles, creating threads which are placed on a backing. A nonwoven fabric is then created by skilfully moving the base. After production, the fabric is cut to size and can then be further processed into a wound dressing.

We use three criteria to determine the quality of the dressings:

  1. There must be enough threads on top of each other to ensure quality.
  2. The fleece should be as even as possible and have no individual weak points.
  3. The threads only bond well as long as they are fresh, so they should cross as quickly as possible.

The group is supervised by Leon Baeck from the »Transport Processes« department at the Fraunhofer ITWM.