An event aimed at identifying the most gifted mathematics students in the State will be hosted by The University of Western Australia and the Western Australia Mathematical Olympiad Committee.
At the 2022 WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad, students from years seven to nine will compete individually and in teams to tackle mathematical problems they would not normally encounter within the school curriculum and without the use of calculators.
Western Australia Mathematical Olympiad Chair Associate Professor Alice Devillers, from UWA’s School of Physics, Maths and Computing, said the event promoted the importance of an interest in maths from a young age.
“The Olympiad offers a chance for students to solve fun mathematical problems in a competitive but friendly atmosphere,” Associate Professor Devillers said.
“We hope it will contribute to instil a love of mathematics from a young age, which is so important in this day and age where STEM skills are crucial.”
The best performing students will be awarded prizes and given the opportunity to join the UWA Academy for Young Mathematicians.
The prizes are donated by UWA’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Curtin University Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Mathematical Association of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University School of Science, Murdoch University, The Gifted and Talented Unit of the Department of Education, New Edition Bookshop and Data Analysis Australia.
Other sponsors include the UWA’s School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing and Casio Education.
The Phill Schultz Prize, awarded to a high school student that the Olympiad committee believes has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Mathematics Challenge activities throughout the year, will also be presented.
The Olympiad will be held online between 2.30pm and 4pm on Tuesday 18 October, and from 9am on Saturday 22 October at UWA. The prize ceremony will be held at 11.30am on Saturday 22 October in the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre. More information can be found here.