Science Fair Projects

From: Kathy Heinrich: e-mail: heinrich@CS.SFU.CA

Each year over 100 regional science fairs take place across Canada with thousands of students participating. Very few students submit math projects largely because neither they nor their teachers know where one begins with a math project. We would like to see more mathematics but we need you to help us make this happen.

Please send me suggested topics for math projects - along with one or two references or comments if you can.

E.g.:
At certain times the salvation army (or other organisation) will call households offering to pick-up used items for sale in their stores. They often do a particular geographical area at a time. Their problem, once they know where the pick-ups must be, is to collect the materials left out for them in the most efficient manner. Find out how they do this and investigate improving their procedure. A similar question can be asked about snow plows clearing city streets, or the regular garbage collection.

References: Euclidean tours, chinese postman problem.

Any help you can give will be VERY GREATLY appreciated!!! Kathy

Return to the Pacific Northwest Section Home Page

Last updated 17 March 1996