Exploring the Möbius strip with scissors, paper, and tape
Students from MNG Rämibühl visited the Department of Mathematics to find out more about studying mathematics at ETH Zurich and to take part in a workshop where they learned about the fascinating properties of the Möbius strip.
This spring, countless Gymnasium students will once again be faced with the decision of which degree programme to enrol for in the autumn semester of 2023. To make this decision easier, ETH Zurich offers various orientation events for prospective students.
One of these events is the ETH Day MNG Rämibühl, which takes place every year in February. The Department has been involved in this programme for a couple of years now and is always happy to welcome 20-30 students.
In this year's workshop: "Topology of the Möbius strip", two doctoral students, Patricia Dietzsch and Valentin Bosshard, introduced the students to the secrets of the Möbius strip using tools such as paper, scissors, and tape. With these simple tools the students created complex variations of Möbius strips and playfully delved deeper and deeper into the mathematical world of topology, one of the many subject areas of mathematics. The event was complemented by a presentation of the ETH mathematics programme and a guided tour of the ETH main building.