02/08/2018

The parents work, the children play.

When a couple is invited to speak in another country, at the same congress, the question immediately arises: what to do with the children? Mathematicians Laura de Marco and Mihnea Popa had no doubts. They brought their children Adrian, 11, and Sarah, 7, to participate in the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM 2018), which takes place until next Thursday (9), at Riocentro. While the older one reads, strolls through the pavilions and explores the exhibitions ranging from robotics to art, the little one enjoys the Day Care service, done in partnership with the bilingual school Mopi.

In addition to toys like slides and ball pits, the monitors organize activities such as dancing, hide-and-seek, and flag making. “For us, there was no other option but to bring the children. It’s not usual to have a service like this at the conferences we attend. It was really a lifesaver, because we felt more relaxed, and the children could have fun,” said Laura, who researches dynamical systems at Northwestern University (USA).

Adrian said he enjoyed being free to explore new robotics in the exhibition pavilion and having time to read “Projekt 1065”, a historical fiction book about World War II and one of the five titles he chose to bring to Brazil. Sarah, whose mission, determined by her parents, is to learn at least five words in Portuguese a day, spent the morning of this Thursday (3) in the space, with six children, a teacher and six trainees. One of Sarah's new friends is Fiona, a 6-year-old from China.

Even though they are from different nationalities, the children have no difficulty interacting. "I make gestures and the others understand," said the little Chinese girl. Her father, Xuhua He, came alone with his daughter because he considered it a great opportunity to introduce her to a new culture and a new language. "It's a unique experience to be in a new country," he said.