Beyond Numbers: The Cool Side of Math

It is the last lesson of today’s schedule at the Oberschule am Waller Ring. It has been a long day, but the class in the computer room shows no sign of fatigue. The high school students are intrigued by the MRI images of a human head that mathematician Dr. Anna Rörich has projected onto the board and that the students can see simultaneously on their screens. Hidden somewhere in the layered images is a simulated, heart-shaped tumor. “Try to find it and measure it as accurately as possible,” the scientist challenges the class.

Before long, the first of the 24 high school students of the biology class have discovered the heart using a simple software developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, which is similar to that used in radiology practices. They agree about everything except for the size of the tumor. Could automation help in determining the size of a tumor accurately to prevent too much tissue being removed during surgery? This is the subject of the next task.

The lesson is about handling digital images and getting to know tools and methods for image analysis as part of a trial run for an innovation in Bremen’s classrooms. This new “Digital Medicine” track at upper secondary level will officially start at the Oberschule am Waller Ring in the 2025/26 school year.

“Digital methods are becoming increasingly important in everyday life, including in healthcare,” explains Jan Wicke, biology teacher and deputy headmaster. The teaching uses real-life examples with a special focus on math, which experts at Fraunhofer MEVIS developed as a resource for teachers at the school. Wicke is really excited about the profile because it uses examples from and relating to future day-to-day working life in the medical field. It also qualifies his pupils for future careers in this field.

“Our female high school students are inspired by the highly qualified and extremely self-confident women in our program.”

The high school students are empowered by the role models they meet – young women that work as computer scientists, mathematicians, or physicists in the health sector. One of them is a radiologist.

“Our female high school students are inspired by the highly qualified and extremely self-confident women in our program. For them, it's really empowering,” Wicke points out. Often, they are the first in their families to even consider a university education. “These encounters open up new horizons and opportunities. We have a lot of hidden talent here. Young people who are now discovering that there are many paths to a career in the medical field, even outside of the traditional medical degree program.”

Anna Rörich is one of these role models, even if the mathematician doesn’t see herself as such. Why did she get involved in the school? “I find the interaction to be very valuable,” reports the researcher, whose role at Fraunhofer MEVIS primarily involves improving the planning of orthopedic surgeries. “The school students come up with ideas that we haven’t even thought of yet! I appreciate the diversity in the group, an aspect that we at Fraunhofer lack a bit. And I want to pass on my enthusiasm for my discipline.”

The researchers’ contributions to the profile are part of the #MATHDAYS subproject of MOIN. In addition to Bremen and Bremerhaven, the Model Region for Industrial Mathematics includes the district of Osterholz. The subproject is funded with 690,000 euros, while the overall project receives approximately 6 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for an initial period of three years. This initiative is set to make mathematics more tangible, as a vibrant and useful science – and not just in schools. “We are on a mission to show the world just how much mathematics is a part of our daily lives,” says Christine Knipping, a professor of mathematics education at the University of Bremen, which, like Fraunhofer MEVIS, is a member of the U Bremen Research Alliance. MOIN is led by Prof. Dr. Christof Büskens from the Center for Industrial Mathematics at the university.

The #MATHINSIDE subproject organizes city rallies, research days, and learning workshops for young people. In the #MATHUP subproject, students can work on projects in companies. The #MATHWARE subproject (see info box at the end of the text) targets small and medium-sized enterprises. Mathematics, especially clever and efficient algorithms, can help solve operational issues and thus strengthen their innovative potential. “We are interested in raising awareness among companies about such solutions and want to cultivate collaborative relationships. Our aspiration is to establish a leading national center in the field of industrial mathematics,” Büskens explains.

Fraunhofer MEVIS has been working with the Oberschule am Waller Ring for some time. Together, they have held STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) workshops, including one on breast cancer. “In the past, we’ve held individual workshops, but we wanted to build a deeper and longer lasting relationship with this school and its diverse student body. The profile makes this possible. We are committed to the long term,” says Bianka Hofmann, head of Science Engagement at Fraunhofer MEVIS. She and mathematician Sabrina Tölken submitted the application for funding for the profile.

Another reason is the increasing lack of young talent. We have a shortage of entry-level and qualified employees,” reports Sabrina Tölken. Those aspiring to a career in the medical field must understand mathematical relationships. This is because the field is characterized by a growing prevalence of digital technology. A basic understanding of digital tools and their underlying concepts and processes is essential for success in areas such as diagnosis, therapy, and patient data management. Hofmann is certain that “without this understanding, career opportunities in the healthcare sector will be severely limited.”

“Math is everywhere, it’s universally applicable. There’s no ambiguity, because something is either right or wrong.”

This also answers the popular question what math is actually needed for. This question is often used to explain the alleged unpopularity of the subject. “With this profile, we have created an answer from the real world,” asserts Sabrina Tölken, who shares Anna Rörich’s unwavering passion for her subject. “Math is everywhere, it’s universally applicable. There’s no ambiguity, because something is either right or wrong. And you can apply it in so many different ways. The subject is diverse, logical, and just cool.”

The profile has proven to be effective not only among the student body, but also among the teaching staff. It is a cross-sectional topic that also breaks down stereotypical thinking about school subjects. The German class is reading a book about a health dictatorship. For the English class, the Fraunhofer MEVIS provides podcast episodes on current research topics. Even the theater club plans to take up the topic. Teachers and scientists share ideas, upload materials, and talk about content using a shared platform.

“We are thrilled about the cooperation,” says Jan Wicke. “We don’t have the specific skills and software necessary to teach digital health. We have no software to work with digital images. We wouldn’t be able to do it by ourselves.” The teacher sees added value for everyone in the profile, especially for the schoolchildren, but also for Fraunhofer MEVIS, and for the school as a whole. “This is such an incredible educational opportunity that it’s going to attract interest from outside our local community, too.”

- Originally written in German by Rainer Busch, translated into English by Britta Plote -