Summer term begins with new courses and partnerships

The summer term of the Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics for Technology and Innovation began with an intense program at IMPA Tech, in Rio de Janeiro, marked by the return of students to academic activities. On Monday (5), after the end-of-year break, the students returned to the classroom for a schedule that includes regular subjects, directed studies, participation in the traditional IMPA Summer School and initiatives that reinforce another stage in the consolidation and expansion of the course.

During this period, regular classes will be held simultaneously for the two bachelor’s classes, totaling nine subjects offered on the undergraduate campus. At the same time, at IMPA’s headquarters in the Botanical Garden, more than 20 topics will be available for directed study, expanding the possibilities for academic study and direct contact with research. “The summer period is an especially intense and rich time. This intensity is due not only to the fact that it is a shorter period, concentrated in two months, but above all to the diversity of the academic activities on offer,” said academic manager Nara Bobko.

Among the new courses this term are Topics in Applied SciencesThe course will be taught in partnership with IDOR – Pioneering Science, which will introduce students to different ways in which mathematical tools can contribute to real-world problems and experiences. In all, three possibilities are offered: a course in partnership with IDOR – Pioneering Science; another taught by IMPA researcher Pavel Petrov; and a third led by researchers Luiz Velho, Luiz Henrique Figueiredo and Francisco Ganacim.

Student Maria Eduarda Martins is excited to see what’s new in practice. “I hope to develop my skills in applied mathematics and keep up to date with market trends. Here we have incredible classes with professors with impressive curricula and IMPA Tech’s workload has pushed me to have a more disciplined routine with my studies,” said the young woman, who has an emphasis in Mathematics.

The year also began with new strategic partnerships for the institute. Students now have a new type of extension course: the Industrial Challenges. Held in partnership with companies and public bodies, the challenges propose real problems to be solved by the students, who work in small groups to develop alternatives and possible solutions. In this first edition, the partner institutions are Stone, Inoa and Rio de Janeiro City Hall.

Mariana Yoshioka highlights her progress throughout her degree and her expectations for the new term. “Since I started here, I’ve made considerable progress. I now have a better idea of each emphasis and the projects we can develop. I have good expectations for this term, which will be more applied, with experiments and hands-on projects,” said the student, who also wants to pursue the Mathematics emphasis.

Finally, this week also saw the start of training in Quantitative Ecology at the Serrapilheira InstituteThe course is being held in partnership with IMPA Tech, in the classrooms of Porto Maravalley. Over the next few weeks, undergraduates will be able to follow scientific seminars and course activities, interacting with speakers and participants. Mathematical modeling, remote sensing, ecological data, statistics and machine learning are among the topics covered. “It’s a unique opportunity for interaction between scientists in training from different areas of knowledge, promoting a true ‘scientific symbiosis’, with great potential for academic and educational impact,” said Nara Bobko.

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