18/03/2024

According to BBC, Folha, and Valor, the age of mathematicians has arrived.

The study 'Contribution of Mathematics to Economics' , by the Itaú Social institute in partnership with IMPA, continues to be highlighted in the press. BBC Brasil , Folha and Valor Econômico addressed the main themes of the study and the growing market demand for professionals in the field.

In the BBC article 'Why universities and companies compete for mathematicians in Brazil' , the article points out that these professionals "are valued because they have skills that go far beyond performing difficult calculations and sums. They also develop an ability to think about problems abstractly and seek solutions. But the number of people graduating in these areas in Brazil does not seem to be meeting the demand," says an excerpt from the article.

The text further emphasizes that the earnings of employees linked to mathematics make up 4.6% of Brazil's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while in France, for example, the participation of these professionals reaches 18%.

The director-general of IMPA, Marcelo Viana, was interviewed for the article and highlighted that mathematical sciences are fundamental in the development of new technologies.

"Algorithms, data science, and related fields are progressing rapidly because they are increasingly present in our daily lives, in the products and software we use, and have a significant impact on the economy," Viana explained.

Cristina Caldas, science director at the Serrapilheira Institute, argues that more public and private funding is needed to expand training in the field.

"Initiatives that demonstrate how mathematical models, algorithms, and the like are behind major advances that meet current demands, such as combating epidemics and advancing computing," said Caldas.

The text also points out salary differences between professionals who pursue a teaching degree and those who choose research, engineering, or executive positions in public companies. "The low salaries paid to those who work in the classroom mean that fewer mathematicians seek a teaching degree," noted the director-general of IMPA.

Value: Brazil needs to pay close attention to mathematics education.

In the newspaper 'Valor Econômico', the opinion piece by Eduardo Saron, president of the Itaú Foundation, titled 'The power of mathematics for employment and equity', draws attention to the need for Brazil to pay closer attention to mathematics education if it wants to combine economic development with a reduction in social inequalities.

The text also highlights how mathematics, highly sought after in a world driven by innovation and technology, is a key factor in increasing workers' income, generating more stable, skilled, and resilient jobs, and boosting the country's GDP.

Based on the study, the text highlights that the challenge of improving these indicators begins in basic education, a phase of education in which Brazil shows poor performance in mathematics.

Not all is lost.

In the article ' Yes, mathematics is for you' , in Folha de S. Paulo, the president of the Sidarta Institute, Ya Jen Chang, shows, when commenting on the study, that mathematics is unconsciously present in everyone.

According to Ya Jen Chang, it's important to clarify that the concepts of the discipline go beyond school mathematics focused on endless multiplication tables and memorizing formulas. She argues that it's necessary to talk about mathematics as the science of patterns, seeing patterns in daily life, at work , at school, and in the family.

She also cites examples of professionals who, even though they are not mathematicians, routinely use mathematics, such as a great salesperson. " This person analyzes their clients' profiles—age, gender, leisure habits, profession, lifestyle, children—to offer products suited to each individual's behavioral patterns. Families with newborns will certainly have different items on their wish lists than those demanded by senior citizens," explains the institute's president in the article.

Ya Jen Chang concludes by reinforcing the idea that yes, if you still think you weren't born for math, it's time to reconsider those concepts.