On Saturday 24 October, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) hosted the selection day for the course Crazy about Mathematics 2027, which is part of the programme Crazy about Science, promoted by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera.
The Catalan Society of Mathematics (SCM) is responsible for the academic organisation of this course, with the collaboration of Catalan universities and the Centre for Mathematical Research (CRM).
The programme aims to bring young people closer to the world of research and give them the opportunity to learn first-hand about different areas of current mathematics. The course is structured in thematic blocks, with sessions given by researchers from different research groups in Catalonia, as well as by secondary school teachers who present proposals of interest linked to mathematical thinking and research.
A test to put mathematical reasoning to the test
The day began with a welcome from the coordination team at the entrance of the UAB Faculty of Sciences, which has hosted this activity for several years.
The boys and girls, mostly first-year baccalaureate students, went to the classrooms to take a written problem-solving test. Beyond knowledge, the test allowed assessing reasoning ability, creativity when tackling mathematical situations and, especially, the way of arguing and justifying solutions.
Among the participants were young people from different parts of Catalonia, from Lleida and Mollerussa to the counties of Girona and Tarragona, as well as the Barcelona metropolitan area.
The growing interest in the programme and the limited number of places make this level test necessary, which helps to select students with the appropriate preparation and motivation to follow the course and make the most of its activities.
A meeting with the families
While the young people were solving the problems, the families took part in a welcome session given by the president of the SCM and the dean of the UAB Faculty of Sciences.
The meeting made it possible to present various initiatives aimed at young people interested in mathematics, as well as to publicise a new SCM portal that aims to make it easier for families to access information about activities, registrations and contact channels.
A space for questions and exchange of impressions was also opened. At the initiative of the families themselves, a reflection arose on the current situation of education in Catalonia and the concern about the levels of mathematical and linguistic competence of students, as well as the importance of working on these learnings from the earliest educational stages.
A visit to the Centre for Mathematical Research and a talk on sound
Once the test was over, the participants visited the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), located on the UAB campus, where they were able to learn more about its activity and its contribution to the development of mathematical research.
The CRM, created in 1984 by the Institute of Catalan Studies, is one of the pioneering centres in mathematical research in the country and is part of the CERCA system of research centres in Catalonia.
The visit was also a good occasion for the young people to recharge their batteries with a shared breakfast and to be able to talk and start getting to know other boys and girls with similar interests.
Next, young people and families met again to attend the outreach talk «Mathematics and sound», led by Tomàs Sanz Perela, professor at the University of Barcelona and researcher linked to the CRM. The lecture offered a new opportunity to approach mathematics from a different and attractive perspective.
The selection process continues
The level test is part of the general selection process for Crazy about Science, which is managed by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera. In the coming weeks, and once the information provided by the students and their teachers in the registrations has been assessed, as well as the personal interviews where applicable, the Foundation will communicate the results of the selection.
Candidates can apply to participate in different courses of the programme, indicating their order of preference, which is taken into account in the final allocation of places.
The programme requires a financial contribution from families, but the Foundation provides for fee reductions to facilitate the participation of selected students who have financial difficulties.
From the SCM we want to thank the UAB Faculty of Sciences for its support and the facilities to host, for another year, this day, as well as the collaboration of the CRM. And, very especially, we want to thank the interest and involvement of the young participants and the families who travelled from different places in Catalonia to share this morning dedicated to mathematics.
tel. 973 35 41 40 Crazy about Mathematics – Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera