Math talents shine at the competition in Ingolstadt: Who will win?

Math talents shine at the competition in Ingolstadt: Who will win?

Mathematics Day took place in Ingolstadt on March 15, 2025, a competition that challenged the analytical skills and team spirit of students. More than 50 high school students from Pfaffenhofen, Scheyern, Eichstätt, Schrobenhausen, Königsbrunn and Ingolstadt took part in this nationwide event, which was initiated by the Mathematical Institute for Machine Learning and Data Science at the Catholic University. In total, almost 1,000 participants from different federal states in Germany were active that day, solving the same challenging tasks at other venues such as Frankfurt, Fulda and Kassel. Loud ku.de Kai Duchon from Schrobenhausen High School describes the challenges as particularly demanding.

The program included a wide range of events, including individual competitions, group competitions and group speed competitions. The group competition, in which the Katharinen-Gymnasium took part as host, was won by the students of this high school. In the individual ranking, Timothy Schaff from Katharinen-Gymnasium triumphed, followed by Luca Landinger from Reuchlin Gymnasium and Johannes Pabst, also from Katharinen-Gymnasium. What is particularly noteworthy is that the best participants were awarded special prizes, including tickets to a modeling week at the Center for Mathematics. This modeling week offers a unique opportunity to engage more intensively with mathematics, as participation is subject to a fee and amounts to 600 euros per participant, as in zfm.education is noted.

Variety of competitions

The diversity of the competition formats was also emphasized by the organizers. The students were given tasks at a level just before they graduated from high school that went beyond normal school mathematics. In addition to mathematical competitions, workshops and lectures for teachers and guests also took place. The participants were supported by the site project managers of the Center for Mathematics, who were available on site. The tasks were processed and evaluated in collaboration with universities such as Giessen, Karlsruhe and Konstanz.

Another important aspect of the event was the support of the local community, which was highlighted by the mayor of Schernfeld, Stefan Bauer. He covered the participation fee of eight euros for all students, thereby showing how important it is to promote mathematical education locally. Professor Dr. Nadja Ray, who organized the event, also highlighted the importance of group competition in developing important social and communication skills. The students were able to demonstrate not only their mathematical skills, but also their teamwork.

This event is part of a larger tradition in Germany characterized by various mathematical and STEM competitions. Mathematics Day has been initiated since 1992 and is just one of many competitions that also appeal to students from other grades, including the Mathematics Olympiad and the National Mathematics Competition. Such events are crucial in promoting interest in mathematics and providing students with a platform to showcase their talents. Information about other competitions is available mathematics.de available.