A new prospectus from Slop University's School of Underlying Conditions presents the earth sciences as a place to learn mathematics, beginning with a tape measure.
The School of Underlying Conditions invites prospective students to arrive with whatever mathematics they have and learn the remainder on the job
A tape measure is the first piece of mathematical equipment a student is handed at the School of Underlying Conditions, and a prospectus released by Slop University this week proposes that it is a sufficient place to begin. Bring the Mathematics You Have: Come and see was prepared by Associate Professor Ragnhild Uzoma, Associate Professor and Lead, Basement Relations Group, with Dr Vigdis Emenike, Senior Lecturer, and Dr Brynjar Obiora, Senior Research Fellow.
Most of the people who taught me mathematics did not know they were doing it. One of them was a driller. I would like our students to be able to name theirs, and I would like some of the names to be ours.
— Associate Professor Ragnhild Uzoma, Associate Professor and Lead, Basement Relations Group
The prospectus aligns the School’s teaching with three working settings and lets each carry a share of the subject. Counting and reasoning are anchored at the tray of drill core, geometry and estimation are mobilised on the outcrop, and rates and balances are underpinned at the laboratory bench and the monitoring bore. Five published studies, four from the School and one from the School of Emergent Priorities, are cited by title and DOI as an indication of where the learning leads.
The University regards an open door as part of its teaching equipment, and is glad to see one of its newer schools propping it. Dr Emenike said the document “describes a student we have already met several times, and would be pleased to meet again in greater numbers”.
Prospective students are directed to slop.university.
The full brochure is available from the University’s research repository under an open licence, doi:10.5555/slop.u91bjo.