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We celebrate mathematics, IDM and Kangaroo

Around March 14, declared the International Day of Mathematics (IDM), institutions and entities around the world organize activities to highlight the role of mathematics in our society.

As the Catalan Society of Mathematics, there is no doubt that March is a very special month, with the celebration of IDM and the Kangaroo test, and that is why these are days with a very busy agenda, also shared with other entities and institutions. In particular, it is already the 3rd year that together with the Barcelona City Council, Department of Science and Innovation, we organize joint activities. Check the website Barcelona with mathematics.

This year 2026, there are new features such as the school celebration with primary school children at the IEC, and also consolidated activities such as the institutional event or the SCM IDM Conference, which incorporate new co-organizing partners, the Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer Foundation and the Lluís Santaló Chair of the University of Girona.

We present a chronological summary as an agenda, and you can find more detailed information in other news or web pages.

March 4, Recognition ceremony for the 1st edition of the Bebras Olympiad
(Cosmocaixa Auditorium, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM)
Awarding of diplomas to students, from 5th grade of primary school to 2nd year of Baccalaureate, with the best results in the Bebras Olympiad, the Catalan computational thinking competition, held during Science Week 2025.
Initiative promoted by the Catalan Informatics Olympiad Association (oiCat), the Catalan Society of Mathematics (SCM) and the Catalan Society of Technology, aligned internationally with the Bebras Challenge. Participation exceeded expectations: 40,000 students, and the involvement of more than 350 schools and 1,000 teachers.
News of the event on the SCM website.

March 7, Estalmat Conference goes on tour
(INS Montilivi, Girona, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM) 
Session of the ESTALMAT program, co-organized by Feemcat and SCM, with the collaboration of DEFP and FECYT. A conference to bring the program closer to the territory, with an open pre-Estalmat session for 6th grade primary and 1st year ESO and a talk for families, with the collaboration of ACFAEC.
News on the SCM website.

March 13, Closing of “Small mathematical challenges, the basis of great ideas”
(Institute of Catalan Studies, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
School celebration of the International Day of Mathematics, with 5th grade primary school students from various primary schools in the city selected to participate in the project. Fair of mathematical challenges (inspired by the Telecangur), worked on in previous sessions. An action with small mathematical challenges as the basis of great ideas, committed to improving mathematics education. 
Organized by the Catalan Society of Mathematics and the Educational Services of the Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with the Barcelona Education Consortium.

March 14, 6th SCM – IDM Conference
(Carner Building, UB, 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM)
Training and outreach conference on mathematics to celebrate the International Day of Mathematics. In this 6th edition, we organize it jointly with the Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer Foundation and the Lluís Santaló Chair of the UdG.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM  Talk-Workshop: Mathematical modeling,  by T. Làzaro (UPC). Especially aimed at young people. Limited places (in order of registration).
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM  Lecture: Catalan mathematicians from the early 20th century: Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer and Lluís Santaló, with M. Castellet and J. Saldaña. For all audiences.
Registration via form. More information on the conference website.

March 15, Popular celebration of the International Day of Mathematics
(Parc de l’Agulla, Manresa, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
Activity open to the public, from young to old, with mathematical games and challenges, as part of the Minitranséquia.

March 16, Institutional event of the International Day of Mathematics
(Saló de Cròniques, Barcelona City Hall, 5:30 PM).
Institutional event with participation of representatives from institutions and the mathematical community, which in this edition will revolve around the potential of Catalan research, its internationalization and its applications.
They are jointly organized by the Barcelona City Council and the Catalan Society of Mathematics.
It is essential to confirm attendance by email protocolaj@bcn.cat

March 19 and 24, 31st edition of the KANGAROO TEST

March 21, Conference
Problem Solving: A Taste of Tools and Strategies, from Kangaroo to Olympiads
(UPC Manresa, 10:00-17:30).
Problem-solving day for young people and secondary school teachers, to encourage them to delve deeper and foster mathematical thinking, offering tools to stimulate talent.
Registration via form

It is also worth noting that during this month of March, most of the girls Ambassadors of Mathematics are visiting primary schools, where they share a session with boys and girls to talk about mathematics, propose small challenges, and show them as a tool to think, discover, and understand the world. These meetings help bring mathematics closer to young people and generate positive role models.

We also highlight other activities around IDM and mathematics:

Mathematics and Hope

This year's international motto, “Mathematics and Hope”, emphasizes the role of mathematics as a tool to understand the world, face complex challenges, and imagine better futures. Mathematics is present in many areas that directly influence people's lives, from scientific and technological research to informed decision-making, offering language and strategies to structure, interpret, and model reality.

The activities scheduled this month aim to contribute to this perspective: bringing mathematics closer to citizens, sharing its cultural and scientific dimension, and showing how mathematical thinking can also be a source of inspiration and generate confidence in the future.

Celebrating International Mathematics Day is also celebrating a way of thinking about the world with rigor, creativity, and hope.