The Second UNNC Mathematical Olympiad, hosted by the Department of Mathematical Sciences, has concluded, and the medal winners have the opportunity to compete in the 30th International Mathematical Competition for University Students.

Four students majoring in Mathematics with Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, and Economics have been awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, while an additional 15 participants from various programmes have received honorable mentions.

As a preliminary competition for the International Mathematical Competition for University Students, the students showed great enthusiasm. Students from different courses would like to take this opportunity to enhance their mathematical and logical abilities while deepening their understanding of the subject. The UNNC Mathematical Olympiad, which is a four hours intensive contest, comprehensively assessed students' abilities in five key areas: calculus, linear algebra, real and complex analysis, and combinatorics.

Zifan Hua, a student majoring in Mathematics with Applied Mathematics, has won the gold medal for two consecutive years. Zekai Li, a student majoring in Computer Science, received the silver medal, while Mingze Lu and Jiajing Wang from the Statistics and Economics respectively were awarded the bronze medals.

Jiajing Wang from the Economics told us that she has always had a strong interest in mathematics. After joining UNNC, she discovered that mathematics, as a fundamental subject, significantly influences her field of study. Therefore, in order to broaden her mathematical and logical thinking skills and expand her disciplinary knowledge, Jiajing decided to participate in the competition.

Professor Behrouz Emamizadeh, the Head of the Department, previously emphasised, "Mathematical knowledge is also crucial for students majoring in other sciences and engineering. Learning advanced mathematics not only cultivates the professional knowledge of science and engineering students in the field of mathematics, but also greatly improves their thinking ability and problem-solving skills. These skills are sought-after by both universities for their further studies and enterprises. "

In last year's International Mathematical Competition (IMC) for University Students, Zifan Hua and achieved the second prize. This year, following the conclusion of the exams, the Department of Mathematical Sciences will provide intensive training courses for the 30th International Mathematical Competition for University Students in Bulgaria.

Starting from the autumn semester of 2022/23 academic year, the Department of Mathematical Sciences has regularly held undergraduate research seminars, aiming to encourage more students to participate in a relaxed setting and stimulate their interest in exploring mathematics. This initiative creates a platform for open and equal communication between students and teachers.

During these seminars, both academics and students take turns hosting the sessions, where they select topics of interest and present their research findings for discussion among peers. Zifan is a regular attendee at the undergraduate research seminars in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. He shared, "The research topics discussed do not require extensive knowledge but are nonetheless fascinating propositions. These are areas we haven't explored in the classroom. Through interactions with other students and staff, I have gained a more comprehensive understanding of the field of mathematics."

Dr Hamidreza Daneshpajouh, the organizer of the undergraduate research seminars, added, "In this relaxed and fun setting, students can hear about some of the many interesting and challenging topics in mathematics. We also welcome participation from students and staff from other departments."

In the interview, we witnessed their enthusiasm and determination to excel in their mathematical studies. We eagerly anticipate the students' performance in this year's International Mathematical Competition for University Students!