06/01/2020

Summer program promotes immersion in mathematics.

Thermometers are not expected to exceed 30 degrees this week in Rio de Janeiro. The respite from the heat, atypical for this time of year, is irrelevant to those passionate about mathematics who have signed up for the IMPA Summer Program, which began this Monday (6). For this group, whether it's 20 or 40 degrees, the program would be the same: immerse themselves in mathematics.

From different nationalities and regions of Brazil, participants don't hesitate to turn their vacations into a period of intensive study and face the challenge of delving into complex topics in the field. This is according to Miguel Carneiro, a Chemistry student at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ): “During the holidays, there's a lot of free time. So it's good to make the most of it to learn even more.”

Miguel Carneiro e estudantes

To optimize his time, he carries two lists of the classes he intends to attend in his shorts pocket. His selection includes classes on Real Analysis, Introduction to Lie Algebra, Vortex Algebra, and Singularities. "I know nothing about several of these topics, but I'm interested in learning," says the 19-year-old, who is taking the course with his sister and a friend.

“When you see new things, you can gain a greater understanding of the world. Many of the concepts we see here are not covered at university. The courses provide a deeper understanding of some topics that are treated as obvious,” says Miguel, who is participating in IMPA's Summer Program for the second time.

Richard Gomes e Valeria Cantero

Paraguayans Valeria Cantero and Richard Gomes took advantage of their trip to Brazil to witness firsthand the famous New Year's Eve fireworks display on Copacabana beach (Rio de Janeiro). “We decided to come a little before the start of the course to find an apartment and get organized for the beginning of classes. We ended up having the opportunity to watch the Copacabana show and we really enjoyed it.”

Valeria, a final-year undergraduate mathematics student, learned about the program through a professor who earned his doctorate at the institute. "Since I'm in the final stretch before graduating, he recommended that I explore as many topics as possible to discover what interests me most."

Keeping an eye on IMPA's program, the 23-year-old saw her vacation as a chance to participate. "Since it's an extracurricular course, I couldn't be excused from college. Now that I've finally been able to come, I'm very excited to further investigate the topics that interest me."

Estudantes da Universidade de Buenos Aires

Lucia Solin, 22, and her friends from the mathematics department at the University of Buenos Aires are also in Brazil for the first time for the Summer Course. The group responded to word-of-mouth recommendations from their university colleagues, who are full of praise for the program.

Combinatorics and Number Theory are the classes the 23-year-old enrolled in. “I’m looking for a topic for my final thesis, so I signed up for the ones that interest me most,” says the Buenos Aires native, who is staying with her classmates in Jardim Botânico. When asked about activities they plan to do in Rio de Janeiro besides studying, the group answers in unison: “The beach!”

Cynthia Bortolotto, aluna de mestrado do IMPA

IMPA master's student Cynthia Bortolotto, 23, is participating in the program for the Thursdays time. "I started in my first year of undergraduate studies, on the recommendation of a professor. I came and never left," she jokes.

Cynthia, a student from Rio Grande do Sul who is pursuing a master's degree in analysis, is undecided between courses in combinatorics and differential equations. "I'm just waiting for my advisor to approve. But both areas fall within the topics I plan to research for my doctorate," says Cynthia, who expects to finish her master's degree in March.

Registration for IMPA's summer course is still open . The institute's hallways and classrooms will continue to welcome mathematics enthusiasts until February 28th.