27/07/2023

OBMEP students immerse themselves in mathematics in Natal.

“This was the best experience that OBMEP has given me. I learned a lot of new things, attended several lectures on topics I hadn't heard of, which sparked curiosity.” That's how 18-year-old student Vanessa Yukari, from Londrina (PR), described the 8th Hilbert Hotel Meeting. This year, the event took place in Natal (RN) and provided an immersion in mathematics for 160 students from the Fridays grade of elementary school to the Tuesdays year of high school from all over Brazil.

The event, promoted by IMPA through the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP) , brought students together for four days of classes and activities. The selected participants are those who achieved good academic performance in the PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program) , intended for OBMEP medalists .

The general coordinator of OBMEP and deputy director of IMPA, Claudio Landim, explained that the PIC students take tests throughout the program and, based on the results, 160 are selected to participate in the Meeting.

"Those who are here today are the best, they won medals and then excelled in the Scientific Initiation Program. It is a great joy to welcome them, and I hope this will be an opportunity for them to meet other students who enjoy mathematics. Furthermore, I hope they have had stimulating lectures and that they will finish at university learning science, mathematics, or other fields."

Student Cyele Francini, 16 years old, from Pompéu (MG), is participating in the event for the second year and described the experience as "incredible". "It's great to be in a place with people who share the same tastes and hobbies . It's an unforgettable experience, which is very worthwhile."

Felipe Marques, 14, is from Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and said he never imagined coming to the event, and was very happy when he was selected. “I had never been to the Northeast or participated in Hilbert's Hotel before, it's been incredible. Besides the classes, one of the best parts is being able to exchange knowledge with other people.”

The event featured the participation of 17 university professors from different regions of the country to discuss topics in the mathematical universe and encourage young people to dedicate themselves to improving their studies. The professors covered subjects such as "Measuring the world with your cell phone"; "Topological magic: some tricks and a little more"; "Probabilistic modeling and decision making"; The ingredients of music, among others.

Between classes and activities, the students also enthusiastically tackle the "Problem of the Day." It's always a question created by the teachers to challenge the kids.

After days of studies and classes, the closing ceremony took place on the morning of this Thursday (27), on the last day of the meeting. The event was attended by César Camacho, director of FGV EMAp (School of Applied Mathematics) and emeritus researcher at IMPA; Adalberto Fazzio, director of Ilum School of Science and Krerley Oliveira, coordinator of the New Supplementary Teaching course , an extension in Mathematics at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL). They presented the courses and possibilities of educational institutions for the participants of the event.

This year's Hilbert Hotel Meeting is supported by Itaú Social , SBM (Brazilian Mathematical Society) and CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) .

Why is the event called Hilbert's Hotel?

The Hilbert Hotel Meeting has been held since 2011 and pays homage to the thought experiment presented by the German mathematician David Hilbert. In 1925, he presented a paradox of infinity. In it, there is a hotel with an infinite number of rooms, always full, with one guest in each room. However, whenever a new customer arrives, the manager asks the guests to move to the room next door.

In mathematical terms, it's roughly like this: the guest in room n moves to room n+1, and so on. Better known as Hilbert's Hotel, the paradox illustrates the idea that, despite always being full, there are always vacancies.