Slide Rule Collectors Society Selects 2012 Math and Science Award Recipients
Submitted by: The Oughtred Society
2012-05-25 16:21:39
(OPENPRESS) May 26, 2012 -- The Oughtred Society, a Sacramento-based non-profit group for slide rule and antique mechanical calculating technology aficionados, is proud to announce the winners of its newly-established 2012 Oughtred Society Educational Awards. Ms. Carielle Spangenberg, 17, a high school student from Martinez, California is this year's winner of The Mathematics Appreciation Award and Ms. Maryam Khazraee, 21, a graduate student from Ormond, Florida, has been selected to receive The Science Award.
Oughtred Society President Robert De Cesaris noted that this year's recipients were selected for their clear understanding and appreciation of the key role that mathematics and science play in advancing our technology-oriented society and the importance of continuing higher education in these areas. In her winning essay, Spangenberg wrote "Without the real-world application of mathematics to physical problems, modern society would be lacking many of its integral components". In her application, Khazraee commented that, "Growing up as a kid, math was my passion…." and also that "...applications of logarithms are quite numerous and many of the countless achievements and advances we have made in our society today can traced to the immense value, yet simplicity, of the logarithm."
An interest in and aptitude for mathematics is one of the hallmarks of the members of this unusual organization. Many members grew up wielding slip sticks, (i.e slide rules), those mysterious mechanical calculators that were widely used in the days before the invention of the electronic calculator. Though most members also enjoy a love of past technology and invention, The Society is also deeply committed to supporting modern education and modern technology. "Mathematics is our legacy," comments Vice-president Kate Matthews.
The Oughtred Society plans to continue and to expand its educational outreach through these awards and other programs Readers wishing to learn more and or who wish to read this year's award winning essays may visit the organization's website at www.oughtred.org.
