The Delta 09 conference at Gordon’s Bay South Africa: 30 Nov – 4 Dec 2009

Abstract

The Delta 09 conference at Gordon’s Bay South Africa: 30 Nov 4 Dec 2009 Volume/Issue Vol 10, Issue 2 Date Thursday, 1 July, 2010 Journal Name MSOR Connections Author(s) Mike Barry Abstract With the title Mathematics in a Dynamic Environment, the Seventh Southern Right Conference on the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics, Delta 09, was held at Gordon’s Bay near Cape Town, South Africa. Its predecessor in southern Patagonia, Argentina was at 50° South probably the most southerly mathematical conference ever, but Gordon’s Bay proved to be an excellent well positioned site facing south-west with the long flat beach of False Bay to the west and smartly rising stark mountains to the east. For much of the time the weather was good and settled though the Cape Doctor south-east wind blew with great regularity and bracing effect. Gordon’s Bay is to the east of the Cape Town conurbations with Stellenbosch and the very pretty vineyards in mountain meadow country only a short distance inland. Further to the east is the ocean coast and Hermanus famous for its whale watching. The delegates were on the Wednesday privileged to take a trip on the sea to see the whales at first hand and we were somewhat lucky as by early December many whales have already departed to the south. There were sharks on view as well and one of them was snapped in classic Jaws pose by an alert delegate. DOI doi: 10.11120/msor.2010.10020014