The awards ceremony for the 32nd Unicamp Mathematics Olympiad (OMU) was held last Saturday, December 10, at the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Scientific Computing (Imecc) at Unicamp. The event, which took place in the Institute's entrance hall, was attended by teachers, students and families of the winners. Authorities and leaders who organized the Olympics awarded elementary and high school students with gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates of honorable mention.
At the Alpha level, OMU distributed 6 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals. At the Beta level there were 6 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals. 43 students received honorable mention. The Alpha level of the Olympiad was aimed at students in the 8th and 9th years of Elementary School. Beta, for high school students. [See the full list of award winners].
The main focus of the Unicamp Mathematics Olympiad, one of the oldest in Brazil, is to contribute to the training in Mathematics of young Basic Education students. The Olympiad's patrons are professors Antonio Carlos do Patrocínio and Petrônio Pulino.
At the opening ceremony, professor João Frederico da Costa Azevedo Meyer, vice-rector of Extension and Community Affairs at Unicamp and professor at Imecc since 1971, represented the rector of Unicamp, José Tadeu Jorge. In his speech, he said that the Olympics brings recognition and appreciation to everyone who participates. "Sometimes the student participates and doesn't do very well. But he is able to recognize that he has to study more, that he has a lot to learn. Now, a student who participates and receives an award has his effort recognized and his teachers there is too. The Olympiad is hard work for the student and also for the teacher. And what do we see? This joy of all the people who are here in this celebration of scientific pleasure".
The director of Imecc, Francisco de Assis Magalhães Gomes Neto, highlighted the importance of OMU and recognized the great work that was done with the students. According to him, “even though there is still a 'fear' of mathematics, it is good to have an event that encourages it. Students often arouse interest in areas of engineering or exact sciences through the Olympiad. We need to encourage them more and more."
For professor Ricardo Miranda Martins, one of the organizers of the Olympics, the OMU contributes greatly to the training of students. "In the process of preparing to take the tests, they end up studying topics that are often not covered in elementary and high school, arousing more interest in mathematics. Even if the student does not choose to pursue a degree in a course in the area of exact sciences, the abstraction he acquires will be useful for life, regardless of career. Participating in scientific olympiads like the OMU is good for everyone. Students learn new things and teachers often need to review content to prepare their students. Furthermore, the Olympics makes us better understand the situation in Basic Education."
Marcelo Firer, professor at Imecc and one of the members of the organizing committee, said that OMU represents an opportunity for young people who have talent and want to learn Mathematics in depth. "It demands knowledge and technique and everyone who participates wins. At Imecc itself it is easy to find several teachers who have already participated in Mathematics Olympiads. This ceremony is a recognition."
The event's opening panel was made up of João Frederico da Costa Azevedo Meyer, vice-rector of Extension and Community Affairs at Unicamp; Francisco de Assis Magalhães Gomes Neto, director of the Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Scientific Computing (Imecc); Marcelo Firer, coordinator of the OMU; Maria Amélia Novais Schleicher, associate director of Imecc; Antonio Admir Schiavo, regional education director (Campinas Oeste), and Nivaldo Vicente, regional education director (Campinas Leste). Professors Anne Caroline Bronzi, Gabriel Ponci and José Régis Azevedo Varão Filho, all professors at Imecc, also worked in the organization.
INTERVIEW
O Unicamp website spoke with two OMU gold medalists (Beta level). Miriam Harumi Koga is a student at Colégio Mater Amabilis, in Guarulhos-SP, and Pedro Marcos de Vitro, at Colégio Técnico da Unicamp, Cotuca, in Campinas.
Unicamp Portal - How did you receive the news that you were one of the winners?
Koga - A friend sent me congratulations via cell phone message saying that I had been awarded at OMU. He, however, did not reveal what the prize was. I only discovered that it was a gold medal when I consulted the list of winners on the Unicamp website. I was at home at that moment, it was already late at night and I had no idea that I would receive such a good surprise.
Glass - I found out about it through the school's mathematics tutoring page on Facebook.
PU - What did you feel when you received the news that it was gold?
Koga - I was very happy with the gold! I remember that, when I left the race, I had the feeling that I hadn't done enough to win a medal. I generally lower my expectations a lot regarding possible awards at the Olympics in which I participate, because the joy is greater when I am caught by surprise. And that's what happened! That unexpected news made my day happier.
Glass - I was very happy and satisfied with the result. It showed that my study methods worked and all my effort was worth it.
PU - Is this your first participation in a Mathematics Olympiad?
Koga - Since the 6th year of Elementary School, I have been participating in mathematics Olympiads. The most important awards I received in mathematics were: Honorable mention, bronze medal and silver medal at the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad (OBM); a bronze and two silver medals at the São Paulo Mathematics Olympiad (OPM); a silver and two gold medals at the Unicamp Mathematics Olympiad (OMU); a bronze and two gold medals in the Polyhedron Mathematics Olympiad (OMP) and three silver and four gold medals in the Mathematical Kangaroo.
Glass - I have participated in mathematics and physics Olympiads since 2015. I have already participated in Kangaroo de Mathematics (Silver), Mathematics Without Borders (Gold) and OBMEP.
PU - What did you think of OMU?
Koga - She encourages young people to get out of their comfort zone and study 'more in-depth' topics that are not covered much in depth in elementary and high school. With the Olympics phases, which are held at the university itself, students have the opportunity to get closer to the academic environment and get a 'taste' of becoming a Unicamp student. I believe that OMU fulfills its role in attracting students to the study of Mathematics.
Glass - I found it interesting. It's the closest Olympics to an entrance exam that I've ever done. OMU taught me a lot in the field of mathematics.
For more details about the Mathematics Olympiad send an email to olimpiada@ime.unicamp.br
