The 9th Young Mathematicians Congress
Every time, the congress is hosted by a different Polish university. This year’s host was the University of Wrocław.
350 secondary school students from across Poland participated in the event. They had the opportunity to listen to lectures conducted by prominent Polish scientists, with topics ranging from classical mathematics to issues such as the functional principles of ChatGPT or the currently used cryptographic algorithms. Thanks to their popularising talents the speakers were able to explain even the most difficult matters in an approachable manner.
However, the programme of the congress was very rich and included more than just lectures. In the mornings, the lectures started. Then, in the evenings, students had a variety of activities to choose from, e.g. board games—although, as it turned out, most of them chose the ambitious lectures on abstract mathematics conducted by the students from the Mathematical Institute, which often ended after 10 p.m.
Additionally, the participants had a chance to play an urban game called “In the Footsteps of the Lviv Mathematicians”—the winner was the team from the Secondary School No. 3 in Lublin (the runners up were from the Secondary Schools No. 13 and 2 in Szczecin). They also visited the water knowledge centre, Hydropolis, and took part in several mathematical competitions.
The congress is held regularly—previously every four years, now every other year. It enables the most talented secondary school students from across the country who are passionate about mathematics to have a direct contact with distinguished scientists.
The students representing a given voivodeship are chosen by a local education authority, although some participants are invited on the basis of their scores at the Polish Mathematical Olympiad or a recommendation of The Polish Children’s Fund.
The Congress held at the University of Wrocław was co-funded by the Wrocław City Council, the mBank Fund, and The Local Government of Lower Silesia, and was given the Honorary Patronage of the First Lady of Poland. The Honorary Committee also included: the Lower Silesian Chief Education Officer, the Lower Silesia Voivode, the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, the President of Wrocław, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Chairman of the Polish Mathematical Society, the Chairman of the Children’s Fund, and the Rector of the University of Wrocław.
The Congress Website (in Polish)
Date of Publication: Sept. 13, 2024
Translated by Natalia Tkaczuk (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
