The Australian team with Professor Sheil – CEO of the Australian Research Council.
Photograph courtesy of Australian Mathematics Trust
Dana Ma with the team at Trafalgar Square during training camp.
In July this year, Melbourne Girls’ Grammar and University of Melbourne Extension Program Mathematics student Dana Ma, along with five team mates, represented Australia at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
“This year I was lucky enough to be selected as one of six Australian high school students to represent Australia in the 50th International Mathematical Olympiad in Bremen, Germany during July.
Following a week long training camp with the United Kingdom team held at Trinity College in Cambridge, we travelled to Germany on the 13th of July. We stayed in Jacobs University for ten days, during which we participated in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, several excursions both within and outside of Bremen, and of course, the Olympiad itself, which consisted of two nerve-wracking exam papers taken on consecutive days with three questions per day. Our team performed strongly, coming in 23rd place with two gold medals.
We were also lucky enough to be able listen to a range of renowned mathematicians speak, including Fields Medallist Terence Tao, during the 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Days were filled with not only mathematics, but also other pursuits such as card games, various sports and sight-seeing.
Aside from the excitement of being able to travel across Europe with the rest of the team (including our team leader and deputy leader), all of whom have been good friends of mine for years, my favourite part of the Olympiad experience was being able to meet people with a similar passion for mathematics from all over the world.
There were participants from 104 different countries, and though we didn’t have the opportunity to meet with all of them, we formed several international friendships, particularly with the British, Canadians and the Irish.
The Olympiad was definitely one of the greatest and most unforgettable experiences in my life to date, and I’d like to thank my teachers, friends and family for all of their support, without which this would not be possible.”
Dana finds participating in the University of Melbourne Extension Program has provided her with a fresh challenge and a unique opportunity to build on her VCE studies as well as broaden her knowledge and interest in a subject beyond Year 12.
I chose to undertake the Extension Program because: maths is something that I’m really passionate about, and so when my teacher asked me if I was interested in doing maths at a university level in year 12, naturally I said yes!
One thing I didn’t expect to learn from the Program is: so much about the University itself! Thanks to the Extension Program I feel a lot more familiarity with the University in terms of the resources it has to offer.
The things I enjoy most about studying in the Extension Program are: the fresh challenges which the Extension Program has presented to me, and the mathematics that is taught is very interesting. But my favourite aspect of the Extension Program is having the opportunity to meet other students from different school with a similar interest in mathematics.
The university facilities and resources I find useful while studying are: the online practice questions and the notes booklets.
After finishing Year 12 I’d like to: go to University, probably at Melbourne, and do a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Mathematics.
My hobbies and interests outside of Secondary School and Extension Program studies are: Olympiad mathematics (outside of school). Non mathematical interests include reading, writing, playing badminton and table tennis.
My dream job: I don’t have one yet, but it would definitely involve mathematics.
I would like to visit and learn more about: mathematics and general sciences in the future.
I feel inspired when: I hear of the successes of people I know, it inspires me to try harder to achieve my goals.
Finally: I’d like to thank the University of Melbourne for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the Extension Program. I feel that I have gained a lot from it.
Find out more about the University of Melbourne Extension Program