The last Aspire Clubs of this academic year took place this week for Years 7 and 8, led by the Mathematics Department.

Dr Nyawako gave a fascinating presentation on his earlier career in engineering before he became a teacher. He introduced our students to wave frequency and its application to real world problems such as London’s Millennium Bridge which famously swayed so much when first opened that it had to be closed.

The session also involved audience participation and touched on a whole range of careers where mathematical and scientific understanding can be applied to enhance structures, particularly as building design becomes ever more innovative and complex.

Dr Nyawako writes:

Mathematics and Physics are the keys to understanding human walking and human structure interactions. Everyone walks at a frequency which is unique to themselves. Structures such as footbridges and floors also have unique frequencies. When human walking frequencies match structural frequencies, undesirable consequences like resonance of the structures can arise. Users are hindered when structures fail to meet vibration serviceability requirements. This is a challenge for engineers in trying to get it right every time they design slender structures.