André Street and Auana Mattar speak to students at the ‘Mecca of Mathematics’

03/04/2024

André Street, co-founder of Stone, and Auana Mattar, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of TIM, presented the Inaugural Magna Lecture to IMPA Tech students on Wednesday (3) at IMPA’s headquarters, which they both called the “Mecca of Mathematics”. The two highlighted the fundamental importance of mathematics for developing the country and the relevance of IMPA’s undergraduate program for training new professionals.

Street encouraged the students to reflect on the times we are living in and the importance of professionals in the exact sciences. “We are living through one of humanity’s greatest revolutions. And mathematics has been involved in all the major revolutions in knowledge and quantum leaps in improving the quality of life. The people who have had the training that you are gaining have been fundamental in all of these processes,” he said.

He also spoke about the importance of creating the course. “Today begins one of the most powerful things there is: compound interest. We’re starting to compound interest on an initiative created a long time ago. IMPA Tech will have an effect on each of you, your family, society and the country. And this is all starting with a first class. I hope that in a few years’ time, we’ll be able to look at you and say ‘Wow, that was IMPA’s first graduating class!

For Auana, “Brazil is a country with a technological vocation, with many problems to be solved and there aren’t many places in the world as interesting as here. Rio de Janeiro is a breeding ground for this. You are in the ‘Mecca of Mathematics’. It’s a mini-pole for problem solving. Everything that is built here we can expand to the whole country. Embrace this opportunity that you have won with all your heart,” said Auana.

The speaker presented data from the “Future of Work” report, which shows the need for talents linked to mathematics in the skills desired for the careers of the future, such as creative thinking, systematic thinking, resilience, flexibility, motivation and rapid decision-making. Mathematics was also presented as the basis for all STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), a universal language.

IMPA Tech is starting with a class of up to 100 students who have been selected on the basis of their performance in knowledge olympiads. Renan Ferreirinha, Secretary of Education for Rio de Janeiro, a multiple OBMEP (Brazilian Public School Mathematical Olympiad) winner, shared with the audience how the Olympiad transformed his life.

“I fell in love with IMPA and knowing that it exists is very precious. Our aim here is for more and more people to get to know this jewel of Brazilian education that is IMPA, and now IMPA Tech. I am the fruit of these knowledge Olympics. Through them, I began to consider many opportunities that I didn’t know about, such as studying abroad.”

Marcelo Viana, the Institute’s director general, was responsible for conducting the meeting and ended the ceremony by emphasizing the importance of this moment for the graduating class. “What has been said here are not just words, they are shared experiences. Not everything that has been said will be absorbed today, but in four years’ time you will look back and remember this moment,” he concluded.

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