Luca Panconi is a Mathematics undergraduate at the University of Birmingham and co-founder of the project Crystal Math, which aims to help GCSE students with Maths revision with light hearted YouTube videos.
Characters ‘Panks’ and ‘Tanks’ take students on a journey of mathematical problems and common maths concepts with animated videos. Luca also successfully applied for the B-Enterprising Ideas Fund and so we caught up with Luca to hear more about his idea.
In Luca’s words…
‘Crystal Math is the
brainchild of two dysfunctional mathematicians who have adopted the cumbersome
ambition of teaching mathematics to people who would’ve otherwise dumped it at
GCSE. We exist for the sole purpose of supplying non-specialists with uncharacteristically
un-patronising tutorials, practice problems and solutions, all designed to help
them obliterate any mathematical obstacles they should come across in their
respective disciplines.
Characters ‘Panks’ and ‘Tanks’ take students on a journey of mathematical problems and common maths concepts with animated videos. Luca also successfully applied for the B-Enterprising Ideas Fund and so we caught up with Luca to hear more about his idea.
In Luca’s words…
‘Crystal Math is the
brainchild of two dysfunctional mathematicians who have adopted the cumbersome
ambition of teaching mathematics to people who would’ve otherwise dumped it at
GCSE. We exist for the sole purpose of supplying non-specialists with uncharacteristically
un-patronising tutorials, practice problems and solutions, all designed to help
them obliterate any mathematical obstacles they should come across in their
respective disciplines.
It’s hard to pinpoint
exactly when the idea came about, we’d both always expressed some deep-seated
desire to teach mathematics. However, we began to notice that many of our
friends, most of which had abandoned maths at the first opportunity, were being
subjected to rigorous numerical and statistical torture in the form of unwanted
mathematical modules. And so, being the generous geniuses we are, we set about
devising tutorials suited to the non-specialist: to show the world just how
useful maths can be once you wade through the bog of nasty notation and
terrible terminology.
exactly when the idea came about, we’d both always expressed some deep-seated
desire to teach mathematics. However, we began to notice that many of our
friends, most of which had abandoned maths at the first opportunity, were being
subjected to rigorous numerical and statistical torture in the form of unwanted
mathematical modules. And so, being the generous geniuses we are, we set about
devising tutorials suited to the non-specialist: to show the world just how
useful maths can be once you wade through the bog of nasty notation and
terrible terminology.
We’d go so far as to say it
was essential. You’d think having some mathematical expertise would make you
proficient with finances, but alas, we are still students, and therefore inherently
broke. The funding we acquired was crucial to affording the right equipment,
which has massively improved the quality of our videos and website. And from a
more wishy-washy philosophical perspective, it was great to have someone
believe in us.
was essential. You’d think having some mathematical expertise would make you
proficient with finances, but alas, we are still students, and therefore inherently
broke. The funding we acquired was crucial to affording the right equipment,
which has massively improved the quality of our videos and website. And from a
more wishy-washy philosophical perspective, it was great to have someone
believe in us.
The best part of running
Crystal Math is that we get to do the thing we’re good at. The worst part is
that the thing we’re good at is maths. It’s a lot of fun, and very satisfying
to see the finished results, but dear lord above you’ve got to put in the man
hours for it.
Crystal Math is that we get to do the thing we’re good at. The worst part is
that the thing we’re good at is maths. It’s a lot of fun, and very satisfying
to see the finished results, but dear lord above you’ve got to put in the man
hours for it.
Getting stuff done TAKES
TIME. Between thinking, scripting, recording, editing, crying, producing,
designing, uploading, deleting, re-uploading, and doing a masters, we get a lot
less time to ourselves. But it’s good fun, and if it’s what you think you want
to do, you’ll make time for it. Also your friends will roast you for setting up
a YouTube channel regardless of how good your intentions are.
TIME. Between thinking, scripting, recording, editing, crying, producing,
designing, uploading, deleting, re-uploading, and doing a masters, we get a lot
less time to ourselves. But it’s good fun, and if it’s what you think you want
to do, you’ll make time for it. Also your friends will roast you for setting up
a YouTube channel regardless of how good your intentions are.
We started from nothing but
our wits and built a fully-functioning website with an expansive backlog of
un-uploaded resources. Just looking back at the progress we’ve made, and
reminding ourselves we’ve come infinitely further than we ever expected we
would, feels fantastic. Also it gives me something to say other than
‘unemployed’ when distant relatives ask what I’m doing with my life at family
gatherings.
Self-belief is incredibly
important. Even if you’re just fuelled by overwhelming hatred and exist
exclusively to prove others wrong, that’s enough to push you to success.’
If you would like to get help funding your own idea, the B-Enterprising Ideas Fund can help you get started.
important. Even if you’re just fuelled by overwhelming hatred and exist
exclusively to prove others wrong, that’s enough to push you to success.’
If you would like to get help funding your own idea, the B-Enterprising Ideas Fund can help you get started.
Blog written by Luca Panconi
Edited by Bob Lee
