Archimedes has 'died' again at Swinburne

One of the most famous deaths in the ancient world has been be re-enacted at Swinburne University of Technology in celebration of National Science Week.

The great Greek mathematician, physicist and engineer, Archimedes was famously killed by a Roman soldier after the fall of Syracuse in 212 BC. His death has been recreated at Swinburne as part of Archimedes Day events.

Ten armoured centurions from Ringwood-based Ancient Hoplitikon - which specialises in Ancient Classical and Hellenistic Greek re-enactment - ‘did away' with Swinburne head of mathematics Professor Geoff Brooks.

"Archimedes Day is used to celebrate the contribution of mathematics to science and engineering through a combination of lectures, competitions and fun events," Professor Brooks said. "Mathematics is generally thought of as a dry, serious subject but we like to have a bit of fun with it."

Last year, Professor Brooks, clad in a toga, was submerged in a bath of luke warm water to demonstrate Archimedes' buoyancy principle.

This year, Archimedes' principle of a lever was demonstrated. Students had the opportunity to win a $100 prize by correctly estimating how many first year maths books are required to balance a professor.

On a more serious note, Professor Murray Rudman, from Monash University,  delivered the Archimedes lecture on how computational fluid dynamics has advanced and Swinburne's Professor Brooks delivered a public lecture on the life and legacy of Archimedes.

The fun took place outside the Advanced Technologies Centre at Swinburne.

Details of the event can be found at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/engineering/mathematics/archimedes/

Event: Archimedes Day
When: 17 August 2011, noon
Where: ATC building forecourt, Swinburne Hawthorn campus

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