Date: Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Main Street Markham, 132 Robinson Street, Markham ON L3P 5H5
Sponsored by NSERC PromoScience and Science Odyssey, Faculty of Science, York University
Free to General Public of All Ages
Description:
Fractals, named by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot in 1975, are geometric patterns with self-similarity recurring at different scales. Fractals appear everywhere in nature, from broccoli, tree branches to mountain ridge and rises and falls of stock prices. Fractals with different dimension offers a mathematical model to describe or simulate natural occurring patterns in modern society. For example, our cell phones use fractal antenna to maximize antenna length while remain compact in space. Animators use fractal to generate mountains, clouds or waves in movie. There are many ways to build fractals. Building fractals via kaleidoscopes is a fun and magical way to interact with public. It creates a class of fractals called “kaleidoscopic iterative functions”.
We will be on site all day to engage conversations with public on fractals, conduct exciting demonstrations and offer series of magical hands-on activities via kaleidoscopes and math magic tricks.
Through the showcase, one will be aware of fractals around them, excited by the beauty of mathematics, and have a perspective on the potential of utilizing fractals for innovative solutions in many different fields. This event aligns with the objectives of STEAM education.