‘Never give up on your dreams’, says IMPA Tech student

27/05/2024

Born in Caratinga, in the interior of Minas Gerais, Maira Merces Costa Araujo, 23, never imagined that she would take part in such a landmark moment for Brazilian mathematics as the inauguration of IMPA Tech in April 2024. Alongside President Lula and IMPA’s director-general, Marcelo Viana, Maira stood on stage and celebrated the start of the academic year of the bachelor’s degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation at Maravalley Port. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” she said.

At the age of 2, Maira moved to Inhapim (MG), where she grew up and studied until she graduated from public high school, at the Doutor Guilhermino De Oliveira State School. Maira has always found it easy to learn new things, but it was her teachers who encouraged her to take part in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), in the 6th year of elementary school, in 2012. The student, who had never taken part in other knowledge Olympics, went on to the second stage of the competition and won a bronze medal.

From then on, Maira got involved with the Olympiad and took part in every edition of the OBMEP until she finished high school. Each year, a new achievement: there were 7 medals in all, 4 silver and 3 bronze.

In 2019, she started a degree in Mathematics at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), thanks to the scientific initiation scholarship she received. Maira said that the financial support she received from PICME (OBMEP’s Scientific Initiation and Master’s Program) was fundamental in making it possible for her to stay in the city.

“My choice was greatly influenced by my OBMEP achievements. I decided to study at UFRJ because of its proximity to IMPA. So, if I wanted to pursue an academic career in mathematics, I would already be in Rio de Janeiro to do my master’s and doctorate. I thought it would be a good place,” he said.

After a few years at UFRJ, Maira had to leave university to take care of her health in 2022. “I couldn’t keep up with PICME and my undergraduate studies. And it was the scientific initiation scholarship that made it possible for me to stay in Rio. So I went back to Caratinga, because my family had moved back there, and I kept working,” she said.

The following year, with the announcement of IMPA Tech, a new opportunity arose. With financial aid and guaranteed housing for students, Maira was thrilled with the news. “When IMPA Tech was announced, with the scholarship, I saw an opportunity, because it was the only chance I had to study without working. It’s very difficult to reconcile the two, the time for dedication is not the same. Nowadays the aid is essential to keep me here,” he added.

Despite the difficulties, Maira said that maintaining a daily study routine is very important to succeed in her subjects. The practical classes are also the highlight of the degree, with laboratories and technological equipment. “Here, I can do experiments with more quality and precision. The results are faster and more accurate,” she said.

Now studying Mathematics of Technology and Innovation, the student sees her future with more hope. Maira wants to major in Computer Science or Data Science and, after graduation, she wants to work in technology companies or pursue an academic career.

The woman from Minas Gerais said that studying through the OBMEP Portal was fundamental to her development in the area, and left some advice for students who also want to study mathematics. “Being interested is very important. Never give up on your dreams right at the start. I think what gets you places is how interested you are in it. Despite the challenges, it’s interest that keeps us going,” he concluded.

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See also: Entries open for the 7th IMPA Journalism Award