#BeyondEquations: a ‘Girl Olympian’ at IMPA Tech

11/09/2024

In #AlémDasEquações, we’re going to tell you about the career of 18-year-old Maria Eduarda Martins. Born in Teresina (PI), the student has always had an affinity for mathematics, but it was through the OBMEP (Brazilian Public School Math Olympics) that she was able to improve her logical reasoning. Her dedication paid off with three medals: one gold and two bronzes. Now at IMPA Tech, the student wants to continue studying and dreams of achieving a doctorate.

During elementary school, Maria was a scholarship student at the Dom Barreto Institute, where she studied until she finished high school. In 2018, the student won her gold medal at the Olympiad. “The school encouraged us. We had preparatory classes and took old exams. The first time I took the OBMEP, in 6th grade, I got a bronze medal. In the 7th grade, I came out of the test sure that I had done very well,” he said.

Her good performance paid off. In Salvador (BA), during the OBMEP National Ceremony, in addition to the gold medal, the student received the Olympic Girls award, a trophy for the girls who performed best in each level of the test. IMPA’s initiative aims to encourage greater female participation in the Olympiad.

Despite her achievements, her choice of degree was still uncertain. Motivated by the challenge, Maria Eduarda took the entrance exams for the IME (Military Engineering Institute) and ITA (Technological Institute of Aeronautics) and was thinking of pursuing a career in engineering. “I couldn’t see myself studying mathematics, but at the same time I wasn’t sure which degree to take. I thought I’d do engineering, because it’s the traditional path for those who like exact sciences,” she said.

In her final year of high school, she decided she wanted to study mathematics. Her goal was to be a researcher, even though she wasn’t sure what the possibilities were within the field. Through the ENEM (National High School Exam), Maria entered UFPI (Federal University of Piauí) for a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, at the beginning of 2024.

However, with the IMPA Tech selection process open, there was still a dream of coming to Rio de Janeiro. “I saw the news that IMPA was going to open its first degree course in Mathematics and that the plan was to be like the Brazilian MIT. I was super excited. Can you imagine studying at the Brazilian MIT?” said the student, comparing the bachelor’s degree with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA.

With the medals she had won at the Knowledge Olympiad, Maria Eduarda applied for and got her dream job at IMPA Tech. But as well as a new course, she would have a new home: Rio de Janeiro, which had been unknown to her until then. “When I arrived here, I was amazed. I landed at Santos Dumont [airport] and saw the Ferris wheel. I felt like I was in London. On the way to the hotel, I saw so many beautiful churches. I remember it as if it were today,” she said.

The financial aid was crucial in moving to another state. “Without the aid, I wouldn’t be here. I started to have my own money and manage my finances. It’s a new responsibility at this stage,” she said.

The classes also delight the Piauí native, who is enjoying the experience in the wonderful city. “The second term is already being lighter, because I’m more adapted and I already have my own rhythm of studies. What’s more, I live with my classmates, which is good for studying and having fun. The dynamic with my roommate is very good, we understand each other,” she concluded.

Read more: ‘Mathematics is as important as mother tongue’, says Viana
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