Imaginary
The imaginary.org platform is part of the IMAGINARY project designed and implemented by the German Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (leader: Prof. Dr. Gerhard Huisken). The concept and idea were presented for the first time in 2008 with an exhibition of works created within the project. Over the years, project activities have expanded and now IMAGINARY is a non-profit organization for communicating modern mathematics. It offers a platform for open and interactive mathematics with different content that can be used in schools, at home, in museums, at exhibitions or for media activities. The main contents are interactive programs and image galleries.
In 2016, the Department of Mathematics, the first in Croatia, set up the exhibition Imaginary – Magical Mathematics in its premises. In the same year, the exhibition was hosted at the Trsat castle as part of the Baltazar 2016 event.
The exhibition Imaginary – Magical Mathematics was also installed on the exhibition panels in Campus Trsat as part of the project 27 EPK Rijeka Neighborhoods 2020.
All activities included interactive demonstrations and workshops for students.
Additionally, the interactive demonstration Imaginary – magical mathematical projections was designed and organized as part of the popularization program in 2018.
The main activity was carried out as part of the Evening of Mathematics in Rijeka. As part of the demonstration, we used printed 3D models of mathematician Henry Segerman.
In 2020, for the exhibition Imaginary – Magical Mathematics we designed and created virtual workshops. You can access the virtual workshops using your AAI account, through the Imaginary online course (https://mod.srce.hr/course/index.php?categoryid=138) on the platform MoD (mod.srce.hr), which maintains SRCE.
More information…
Math escape
In 2019, we designed a mathematical escape from the virtual room – Math Escape. The escape is intended for teams of up to four members, high school students and older.
The premiere of the mathematical escape room was held on December 5, 2019. in the framework of the Evening of Mathematics in Rijeka, Croatia.
Math Circus
As part of the popularization program Bojan, Vedrana, and Marko the Clown designed and created several activities (online lectures, virtual workshops, videos,…) describing the connections between mathematics and the elements of a circus show.
All activities are implemented as part of the online course, and we invite you to engage in independent research and find out the answer to the question of whether Marko the Clown should know mathematics. The math circus is intended primarily for primary and secondary school students, but also for anyone who wants to “awaken” the clown in them.
Marko Ilić is a performance artist and author of numerous plays and activities for children and young people. His performances contain elements such as juggling, code on stilts, tightrope walking, riding a unicycle, etc.
Instructions: You can access Mathematical Circus via mod.srce.hr. After logging in (either with your AAI account, as a guest or by creating your own user account), open the menu in the upper left corner. On the menu, select All e-courses and under the Science and Mathematics area, find Mathematical Circus.
Parts of the Mathematical Circus can also be viewed at the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck-bQACQjMc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XzaUkQbOJg
Math exhibition
Popular science exhibitions are an excellent way to popularize science. Over the years, we have participated in the design and organization of such exhibitions in various ways.
- [ai] explore 2023 (authors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Ivona Traunkar, Nina Čeh, Edita Papa Dukić)
- Fantastic tilings (M.C. Escher meets Archimedes) 2022 – mathematical exhibition of participants of the Budi++ program as part of the Science Festival (mentors for participants: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Ivona Traunkar)
- Taxi geometry 2021 (authors: Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Dina Mlacović, Marko Mrvoš) (virtual walk)
- Both Ways 2020 – Outlandish Rijeka (authors: Ingeborg Fülepp, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Bojan Crnković, Dijana Protić, Marko Mrvoš)
- Imaginary – Magical Mathematics 2020 (virtual walk)
- Mathematics 3D – exhibition of the students of the Department of Mathematics was set up in the Kampus restaurant as part of the Science Festival 2020 (authors: Valentino Marković i Rebeka Gašparić, mentors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković)
- Imaginary – Magical Mathematics 2016
Along with each exhibition, we designed and conducted interactive demonstrations and workshops for students in which we clarified the terms and concepts presented in the exhibition exhibits with carefully designed activities.
math games and puzzles
In 2022, we designed and prepared activities that includes math games and puzzles. Games develop mathematical and algorithmic thinking, encourage creativity, and contribute to social skills.
The games are intended for different ages, from preschoolers, primary and secondary school students to interested citizens.
Treasure Hunt
Both big and small enjoy treasure hunts. Besides being fun, treasure hunts can also be educational. Faculty employees designed several treasure hunts. Students enjoy our quests and are happy to participate in them.
- Stem in the park (authors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Loris Rašpolić)
- Stem in the lab (authors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Loris Rašpolić)
- Find me at the Campus! (authors: Marija Čargonja, Bojan Crnković, Tomisla Jurkić, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković)
- Treasure hunt (authors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković, Ivona Traunkar)
- Treasure hunt for the end of the school year – for 2nd grade elementary school students (authors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković)
- Researchers’ Night 2019 – Mathematical treasure hunt (authors: Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković)
stem lab and stem park
The furnishing of the STEM park on Klobučarićev Square and the STEM laboratory at Korzo 2A was realized through the STEM project (AJMO!).
The Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Rijeka (Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković), the Astronomical Society of Višnjan (Petar Čuček) and the Technical Culture Center of Rijeka (Zagorka Prce Veseli, Loris Rašpolić, Olivera Stanić) participated in designing the exhibits of the STEM laboratory.
The Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Rijeka (Bojan Crnković, Vedrana Mikulić Crnković), the Višnjan Astronomical Society (Petar Čuček) and the Technical Culture Center Rijeka (Zagorka Prce Veseli, Loris Rašpolić, Olivera Stanić) participated in designing the elements of the STEM park.
The STEM park, which opened in July 2022, received the Charter of the City of Rijeka for Best Action for a project in the field of education, and technical culture and organized free time for children.