Press Releases
Inaugural Singapore International Mathematics Challenge 2008
The Ministry of Education, together with National University of Singapore High School of Mathematics and Science (NUS High School), will host the inaugural Singapore International Mathematics Challenge (SIMC) 2008.
As part of efforts to nurture and develop different peaks of excellence in Mathematics, SIMC 2008 focuses on mathematics modelling problems, where the emphasis is on the creative applications of mathematics to solve real world problems. SIMC 2008 also provides a platform for our students and their international counterparts to interact and learn from each other, seeding the ground for future collaborations in the area of mathematics.
This week-long event, running from 20 – 24 May 2008, will see the participation of 171 students and 39 educators from local schools as well as foreign schools from around the world (see Annex A for the participating schools). RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, is the Guest-of-Honour for the opening ceremony on 20 May 2008. Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Senior Deputy President, National University of Singapore, is the Guest-of-Honour for the closing ceremony on 24 May 2008.
The theme for the event, ‘Experior. Expono. Excedo’ (“Experience. Expound. Exceed”) conveys the objective of getting young talents to engage in their passion for mathematics and to spur them to further expand on and develop their skills and competencies. A total of 57 teams will compete against each other in a series of mathematical modelling challenges that requires them to creatively apply mathematics concepts and methods. Educators from participating schools will also have the opportunity to glean new insights on a variety of subjects, from pedagogy to the integration of IT in schools today, in a series of symposiums and workshops.
Dr Hang Kim Hoo, Principal of NUS High and Chairman of the SIMC Organising Committee noted how the SIMC “realised every educator’s dream to see the rich and dynamic exchange of ideas between bright young minds”. He said, “With 171 promising top Mathematics students from 26 overseas and local schools gathered under one roof to discuss and generate proposals to challenging mathematical problems, the synergy generated at the SIMC is expected to be immeasurable”.
Added Mdm Low Khah Gek, Deputy Director of Curriculum Planning and Development Division (Sciences Branch), Ministry of Education “The SIMC also provides an excellent platform for mathematics educators to network and engage in discussion and sharing on issues related to the teaching of mathematics and the nurturing of young talents.”
For more details on SIMC 2008, please refer to their website.
Annex A: List of Participating Schools
Local Schools
- Anglo Chinese School (Independent)
- Hwa Chong Institution
- National Junior College
- Raffles Girls’ School
- Raffles Institution
- Raffles Junior College
- River Valley High School
- NUS High School
International Schools
- Australian Science and Mathematics School (Australia)
- Beijing High School 4 (China)
- Buncombe County School (USA)
- Camborne Science and Community College (UK)
- Canterbury School (USA)
- Hanoi University Science High School for Gifted Pupils (Vietnam)
- Ipoh Sam Tet Secondary School (Malaysia)
- Israel Arts and Science School (Israel)
- Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School (Taipei, ROC)
- Korea Science Academy (Korea)
- Le Hong Phong National Gifted School (Vietnam)
- Mahidol Wittayanusorn School (Thailand)
- Myers Park High School (USA)
- North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (USA)
- Ritsumeikan High School (Japan)
- School for Science Gifted Students “Intellectual” (Russia)
- Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls’ Senior High School (Taipei, ROC)
- The Mac Robertson Girls’ High School (Australia)