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House of Mathematics and Computer Science

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science 

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science (La Maison des mathématiques et de l’informatique) is a unique place in France. Open to all, it offers a wide range of activities based on a fun and informative approach to science.




 


The project was initiated in 2012, driven by Étienne Ghys and Vincent Borrelli, the House's first director. Before opening its doors in March 2014 thanks to the support of the École Normale Supérieure of Lyon (ENS de Lyon), MMI reached out to elementary school and high school students in the Rhône region.

The MMI consists of 450 m² in the heart of the scientific campus of the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon, and is dedicated to promoting mathematics and computer science. The House of Mathematics and Computer Science plays a predominant role in fostering interactions between researchers, students, schoolchildren, and citizens.

The particular feature of the MMI is that it is run by teachers and researchers with the support of many local partners. Thus it federates these partners and acts as a local force.

Events organized by the MMI are all free of charge.

Some key figures:

In 2014, 20000 hours were spent with schoolchildren and the general public.

150 classes benefit from MathαLyon workshops every year (about 5000 students).

1500 students have come so far to the House of Mathematics and Computer Science to attend workshops.

Download the presentation file.

3 areas of action

  • - To increase scientific awareness among the general public.

To arouse intellectual interest to better understand the scientific approach and to provide a new outlook on why mathematics and computer science are useful.

  • - To provide teachers with new teaching tools

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science aims to facilitate learning processes, to make children love mathematics and computer science and to fight the early dropout rate in schools.  To do so, the House of Mathematics and Computer Science provides teachers with different, sustainable and innovative teaching methods designed to achieve success.

  • - And finally, encourage highly talented students to pursue scientific careers.

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science in 2020

Today, the House of Mathematics and Computer Science is funded by the LabEx MILYON, and is bound to last after 2020.

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science is and will continue to be a major educational and cultural player, and must now seek to assert its position with local decision makers and build lasting collaborations.

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science (La Maison des mathématiques et de l’informatique) is a unique place in France. Open to all, it offers a wide range of activities based on a fun and informative approach to science.

What is the House of Mathematics and Computer Science (MMI)?

The project was initiated in 2012, driven by Étienne Ghys and Vincent Borrelli, the House's first director. Before opening its doors in March 2014 thanks to the support of the École Normale Supérieure of Lyon (ENS de Lyon), MMI reached out to elementary school and high school students in the Rhône region.

The MMI consists of 450 m² in the heart of the scientific campus of the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon, and is dedicated to promoting mathematics and computer science. The House of Mathematics and Computer Science plays a predominant role in fostering interactions between researchers, students, schoolchildren, and citizens.

The particular feature of the MMI is that it is run by teachers and researchers with the support of many local partners. Thus it federates these partners and acts as a local force.

Events organized by the MMI are all free of charge.

Some key figures:

In 2014, 20000 hours were spent with schoolchildren and the general public.

150 classes benefit from MathαLyon workshops every year (about 5000 students).

1500 students have come so far to the House of Mathematics and Computer Science to attend workshops.

Download the presentation file.

3 areas of action

  • - To increase scientific awareness among the general public.

To arouse intellectual interest to better understand the scientific approach and to provide a new outlook on why mathematics and computer science are useful.

  • - To provide teachers with new teaching tools

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science aims to facilitate learning processes, to make children love mathematics and computer science and to fight the early dropout rate in schools.  To do so, the House of Mathematics and Computer Science provides teachers with different, sustainable and innovative teaching methods designed to achieve success.

  • - And finally, encourage highly talented students to pursue scientific careers.

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science in 2019

Today, the House of Mathematics and Computer Science is funded by the LabEx MILYON, and is bound to last after 2019.

The House of Mathematics and Computer Science (La Maison des mathématiques et de l’informatique) is a unique place in France. Open to all, it offers a wide range of activities based on a fun and informative approach to science.

Activities of the House of Mathematics and Computer Science

Educational Activities for schoolchildren

Workshops

The workshops at the MMI help students, from kindergarten to high school, acquire and develop fundamentals and scientific concepts. The workshops, organized by well-established non-profit organizations, provide educational programs recognized as highly effective. Their focus is on understanding research by combining hands-on and game-based learning.

MathαLyon: Meet the Mathematicians!

Mathematicians meet students from middle and high school in their own classrooms and present them one of the 17 interactive workshops from the international exhibition "Why mathematics?"

Hippocampe Camp on Robotics

Here, high school students learn how to create artificial intelligence. The workshop introduces students to research and help them understand what a robot is and how to build one.

Mathematics Club

The club de mathématiques discrètes (discrete mathematics club) in Lyon prepares high school students, passionate about mathematics, for math contests, particularly the International Mathematical Olympiad.

 

Conferences

Advanced level (from Bachelor's degree on)

The MMI runs a series of five conferences per year delivered by top-level mathematicians.

Each week, mathematicians meet in an informal and relaxed setting to discuss fun mathematics.

For the general public:

 

Artistic Events

Live Performances

In collaboration with the University Theater Astrée of the Lyon 1 University, the MMI presents a series of performances combining dance, theatre, music that are also an opportunity for the general public to explore science.

Exhibitions

  • An annual thematic exhibition that combines art and mathematics

The MMI presented in September 2015 an exhibition of musical objects and experiments exploring how they relate with mathematics and computer science (in collaboration with GRAME, a national center for music accredited by the Ministry of Culture). Previously, the MMI hosted artists Sophie Pouille and Pierre Gallais, who presented their collections "Entropy-negentropy" and "Surfaces", respectively.

The 2016 exhibition, Magimatique, created in collaboration with Yves Doumergue, French champion of illusionism, explores mathematical magic, as well as optical and auditory illusions.

  • A permanent exhibition

 

Participation in National Events


Since its creation, the MMI has participated in the following major national events:

·         Fête de la Science (Science Festival[PM1] [LF2] )

·         Semaine des mathématiques (a whole week dedicated to mathematics)

·       Rallye mathématique de l’académie de Lyon (a math contest for high school students)

·         MathC2+ (math courses for motivated high school students during spring and winter breaks in a university setting)

·         Maths.En.Jeans (French association promoting mathematical outreach to young students). The MMI organizes its regional congress every two years.

 

 

Extracurricular Activities


The MMI works with regional youth departments to organize extracurricular activities during the school year.

 

www.mmi-lyon.fr