09/01/2018

Even on vacation, their beach is Mathematics.

Igor Araújo, Daniel Byron e Luize D’urso: veteranos no Programa de Verão do IMPA

It's vacation time at IMPA, but, shortly before 10 am, the shuffling of flip-flops on the staircase leading to the reception area is more intense than in other months of the year. Students from Rio, from various states, and even from outside Brazil resort to the comfort and informality of the official summer uniform to enjoy a rather unusual summer program at IMPA. Their beach, in this case, is Mathematics.

The courses offered in IMPA's Summer Program are, we might say, as sought after as a patch of sand on those days when the thermometers hit 40 degrees Celsius. After all, they are taught by excellent professionals, and the course load is equivalent to four months of classes. To attract students from outside Rio, IMPA offers scholarships.

Read: Folha: 'Not even 4% of our young people master mathematics'
O Globo: OBMEP medalist girl participates in PIC Jr.
High-level mathematicians from IMPA teach a Summer Course.

To date, approximately 400 students are enrolled. The most popular courses have been Real Analysis and Linear Algebra.

“All the students from the Mathematics Department are here,” jokes Daniel Byron de Andrade, a student at PUC-Rio, giving an idea of the popularity of the Summer Program among his university colleagues.

Last year, between January and February, Daniel spent almost 50 hours at IMPA, in his first experience in the program. He enjoyed it so much that he wanted to repeat it. A physics graduate, he now intends to enroll in a course that combines his two main areas of interest.

“When I started studying Physics, I struggled with the math concepts. My grades in that area weren't good in school. So much so that I decided to pursue another degree,” he explains. He is originally from Armação do Búzios (RJ) and currently lives in Gávea, in the South Zone of Rio.

In Luize D'Urso's life, mathematics has also been a burden, represented by seven gold medals hanging around her neck, won at the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP).

“I participated in every possible edition,” says Luize, who, having won a medal in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), received a scholarship to participate in scientific initiation programs (PIC and PICME) during her time studying at the Military College and also now in her undergraduate studies in Mathematics at PUC-Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro).

"I am very grateful for all of this. It was great to delve deeper into the subject matter and meet people who are also interested in mathematics."

The discovery of mathematics as fun and engaging was so decisive that Luize decided to offer her services to students interested in deepening their understanding of the subject. The classes are expected to begin soon after the Summer Program.

“I’ve been interested in mathematics for a long time. It was my parents’ favorite subject. And it was mine too. I think several factors contribute to the low number of girls in mathematics, such as a lack of encouragement. I want to help change that,” she says.

Crislaine Kurster veio do Espírito Santo para realizar o sonho de participar do programa

From the group of students from outside Rio, Crislaine Kuster, from Domingos Martins (ES), says that participating in the Summer Program is "a dream come true". A Mathematics student at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), she also participates in the Scientific Initiation and Master's Program (PICME), as she is a medalist in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools).

While everything is new for Crislaine, Igor Albuquerque Araújo, a master's student in Mathematics, moves with ease through the corridors of IMPA. Enrolled in the Summer Program for the third time, he knows the environment well. "Besides the excellence of the courses, taught by high-level professors, the fact that the program takes place during the holidays makes participation possible."

As my friend Daniel says, "two months of vacation is too long"… to stay away from Mathematics.