Challenges & Competitions

In CyberMaze teams of 6 pupils aided (or hindered) by an SHU student ambassador solve puzzles, riddles and mind-benders using logical and lateral thinking and educated guesswork.

The answer to each puzzle provides a clue to an item or place somewhere on SHU’s City Campus where you will find a clue to be used in solving the next puzzle. 

This fun activity from the Department of Computing is designed so that any student with an interest in problem solving can succeed. These interactive games will test students’ skills, patience and intellect. They are designed to give insight into the types of thinking that underpins computer science, cybersecurity, cryptography and forensic analysis. 

This activity is for teams of 6 students from Year 7, 8 & 9. Schools may enter either the morning session (10am-12pm) or the afternoon session (1pm-3pm). More than one team from each school is allowed. 

A maximum of 12 teams per session is permitted, so book now to avoid disappointment. 

Mathematics is a dance of patterns through shape and space and abstract thought through which mathematicians today continue to push at the boundaries of human knowledge. In school you will have learned some of the results and techniques that are the product of this mathematical development, but do you know where the maths you have learned came from? The story of the development of mathematical ideas goes back thousands of years and takes place around the globe. We invite you to journey into this history by doing your own research into the life and work of one of the contributors to the story of mathematics!

Your Poster

Choose one of these six mathematicians and research their life and work, sharing your findings in a poster- you can work individually or in a small group with some friends.

1. Maria Agnesi (1718-1799): Italian mathematician especially known for a famous cubic curve.
2. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (c.780-c.850): Persian mathematician influential in many areas including algebra and algorithms.
3. Apollonius of Perga (c.250BCE-c.190BCE): Greek mathematician who introduced the conic sections – two-dimensional shapes formed by cutting through a cone.
4. Brahmagupta (598-670): Indian mathematician who set out rules for arithmetic involving zero.
5. Philippa Fawcett (1868-1948): English mathematician, first woman to score top in the Cambridge mathematical exams, but was not awarded the degree she earned by doing so.
6. Zu Chongzhi (429-500): Chinese mathematician and astronomer who calculated the most accurate approximation of pi for most of the next 1000 years.

The winning submissions will be announced on our Twitter account @SHUOutreach and contacted directly on Friday 25th March.

How can I get involved?

Send us your poster by Friday 18th March along with the following:

• A completed summary sheet about you and your submission. You’ll find this on the next page of this document.
• A completed consent form. You will find this on the final page of the document and will need to be signed by a parent or carer if you are under 16.

Submitting your work

Submissions should be sent to science-week@shu.ac.uk 

Submissions will be judged by a panel of Sheffield Hallam University Maths and Physics students and recent graduates, on the following criteria:

• Creativity of presentation – How well have you used the space to creatively present your ideas?
• Clarity of presentation – How did get your ideas across?
• Research – What do you know about your chosen mathematician’s life and work?

This competition invites teams of Y12 and Y13 students to test their knowledge of 7 different subject areas.

Teams will compete in several different rounds including Maths, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Engineering, Physics, Biology and Computing.

The top performing teams will go onto semi-final and final rounds before the winning team is announced.

Question content has been inspired by the A Level curriculum.

Think your team have got what it takes? Sign up now to avoid disappointment!