Brazilians win 112 medals in international mathematics competition

Brazilian students who participated in the International Olympiad Asia (AIMO), at the beginning of this month, they came back with an extra weight in their luggage! The delegation with 225 students from public and private schools in the country brought home nothing less than 112 medals, three gold, 23 silver and 86 bronze.

The event took place in Bangkok, Thailand, between August 2nd and 7th, with 1,500 competitors from 16 countries. The delegation was made up of 87 students from private schools and 138 from public institutions, studying from Elementary School I to High School.

Participation in the event depended on the invitation by the Knowledge Olympics Program Network (POC Network) given to the best performing schools in the International Mathematical Olympiad without Borders. The edition took place in April this year and the director of the Network, Ozimar Pereira, spoke about the importance of this type of initiative.

According to him, the event makes “students can improve their math skills as well as their critical thinking”. Furthermore, it enables “an exchange of cultural and educational knowledge, bringing Brazil closer to other nations”, continued. Last year, 15 students participated in AIMO.

The boom in participation when compared to 2018 shows the interest of schools in encouraging their students as well as in the facilitating work carried out by the POC Network. In the case of the Brazilian delegation, in particular, part of the trip took place thanks to the mobilization of an online fundraiser.

Twelve students from the city of Leme in São Paulo, all in the 3rd year of high school at the State Technical School Salim Sedeh, were invited after winning medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad Borders. With no funds for the trip, a virtual “crowdfunding” was opened to cover the costs.

Of the total, three went to Thailand representing the class and won two bronze medals in the competition.