21/10/2020

Bronze medalist at OBMEP will take a course at the University of Cambridge.

Foto: Mateus celebra conquistas científicas e sonha em ser professor

Who was the most important mathematician of the last 100 years? The answer to this question opened international doors for Mateus do Carmo, bronze medalist at the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP). Exceeding his own expectations, the 17-year-old student from Rondônia met the challenge of writing an essay in English on the topic for the Cambridge University competition, which allows students from all over the world to compete for places in summer courses in England (Cambridge Summer School Essay Competition). And he was one of those selected to immerse himself in the mathematical adventure in August 2021, with a scholarship of R$ 17,000. The son of a currently unemployed cook, the young man is preparing to leave Brazil for the first time.

“If you search for the best mathematician of the century on Google, you’ll probably find information about the German David Hilbert right away, known for the list of ‘23 Hilbert Problems.’ But I wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary and wrote about the life and academic contributions of Alan Turing, a mathematician known for his work during World War II, the father of computing and artificial intelligence,” Mateus points out.

With the air of an expert on the subject, the student points out that Turing developed crucial work in decoding messages sent by the Germans to the army, helping the British to predict the next actions in the conflict.

Fascinated by the idea that mathematics will change the world, Mateus began participating in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) in sixth grade, when he studied at the Tiradentes Military Police School in Jaci-Paraná, a district of Porto Velho with 5,000 inhabitants. “Until eighth grade, I tried very hard, but I couldn't get past the second phase of the competition. I started studying even harder because I wanted to prove to myself that I could get there. At the time, my mother was also unemployed, but any money she could get, she would go to an internet café and print out previous OBMEP exams to practice,” he says. It was also during this period that he discovered the book “The Man Who Counted,” which the young man describes as an “unforgettable and magical” book.

In 2017, she finally achieved her long-awaited participation in the second stage of the competition. Securing the bronze medal was straightforward. She repeated her routine of exercises on the OBMEP Portal , checking the answers and always keeping an eye on her mistakes and successes. In November of that year, she saw her name on the list of medalists. “I spent the whole day glued to my phone, but a friend from Belo Horizonte managed to access the list before me and told me. I couldn't believe it, it was an endless joy!”

The achievement was a major milestone for Mateus, who began to believe in himself and make plans for a future in mathematics. In addition to the bronze medal, the student received honorable mentions in the 2018 and 2019 Olympiads. “We noticed that where there are more OBMEP medalists, Rondônia's IDEB (Basic Education Development Index) is higher. This is very good for their engagement with school. Most competitors also become part of study groups. We have a project with Professor Rafael Ferreira, who was a medalist in the years he participated in OBMEP, and is now a teacher and responsible for the PIC,” observes regional coordinator Marinaldo Felipe da Silva.

Three years ago, Mateus left home and moved to Porto Velho, where he is studying for a technical degree at the Federal Institute. In 2020, he started a project teaching basic and advanced mathematics to students who, like him, will be taking the ENEM exam. The training is entirely done through exercises from OBMEP and Pic Jr.

“My son has always been highly praised at school. It’s an honor to see him grow up,” gushes Marcia do Carmo, Mateus’s mother. Observing her son’s determination, she dedicates herself to supporting him in his decisions and dreams. “For a long time, he told me he would do something abroad. He would say, ‘Mom, I have the ability to do it, and at some point, the opportunity will arise.’ And it did.” Even with the student aid, the mother says she was apprehensive about the expenses. “But people were very encouraging, and we created an online fundraising campaign. The response was very good, and we’ve already reached the goal needed to guarantee Mateus’s trip.”

After Cambridge, he intends to make his teaching dream a reality and has already mapped out some of the steps to get there. “I want to do my undergraduate studies at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and my master's and doctorate at IMPA,” he plans. But even with the experience he will soon have in Europe and the possible move to Rio de Janeiro, Mateus knows he will return to Rondônia, where he will plant “mathematical seeds.” “Those who study here know that good teachers find good opportunities and tend to leave Jaci-Paraná, because it's very small. But these are the places that are completely neglected in terms of education. I want to make a difference,” he points out.