On Friday, November 21, our Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary students had the extraordinary opportunity to explore two fascinating branches of mathematics, topology and cryptology, during a hands-on workshop led by TMA parent and University of Notre Dame Associate Professor of Applied Partial Differential Equations, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Computational Physics, Mathematical and Computational Biology, Numerical Analysis, Numerical Solution of Differential Equations, Scientific Computing, Dr. Martina Bukač.
Dr. Bukač introduced students to topology, the study of shapes and spaces that keep their essential properties even when stretched, bent, or twisted. Students experimented with objects that challenged their intuition and discovered how mathematicians look beyond exact measurements to understand the deeper structure of the world around us.
They also explored cryptology, the science behind creating and breaking codes. Through puzzles and interactive activities, students saw how mathematics, especially number theory, algebra, and probability, helps keep information secure in the digital age. They practiced encoding and decoding messages and learned why strong encryption is essential for protecting data.
This workshop was a perfect example of experiential learning in action, with students engaging with abstract concepts in tangible, memorable ways while being inspired by a real-world expert from within our own TMA community.
We are grateful to Dr. Bukač for sharing her passion and expertise, and for giving our LE and UE students a glimpse into the beauty and power of advanced mathematics