The mathematics of crystallography in senior secondary schooling
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Date
2017-12-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Union of Crystallography
Abstract
The mathematics required to comprehend much of crystallography is widely taught in the senior years of secondary schooling in many countries, at the same time, there is consternation regarding perceived losses in interest in STEM (Science, Technological, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, and worse, a failure to engage a significant proportion of young women in these topics in the first instance.
In observing the beautiful patterns which result from Laue diffraction experiments we have been encouraged to explore the possibility of employing tools originally developed to analyse experimental patterns[1, 2] as a conduit through which students may be engaged in the exploration of a mathematically based subject. The aesthetically pleasing demonstrations of real-life examples can be shown while the modifications which occur with changing orientation or cell dimensions can be explored. © International Union of Crystallography
Description
Keywords
Mathematics, Crystallography, Laue method, Diffraction, Cell division, Education
Citation
Edwards, A. J., Piltz, R. O., Fuentes-Montero, L., & Edwards-McKeown, C. F. (2017). The mathematics of crystallography in senior secondary schooling. Presentation to to XXIV IUCr Congress, Hyderabad, India, 21-28 August 2017. In Acta Crystallographica Section A, 73(a2), C1135. doi:10.1107/S205327331708439X