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The University of Western Australia is preparing to host the annual Western Australian Junior Mathematics Olympiad (WAJO) later this month. The competition attracts up to 400 mathematically gifted students from over 35 schools across the state. Bunbury and Karratha once again host a satellite competition, concurrent with Perth, following successful inaugural events last year.

In its seventeenth year, the Olympiad invites all bright Year 7, 8 and 9 students to participate. Students’ intellectual ability is tested, both individually and in school-based teams, with challenging mathematical problems outside the scope of the school curriculum and without the help of calculators.

While the competition aims to identify the state’s most gifted students in mathematics, it also encourages enthusiasm for mathematics and develops problem solving ability. New Chair of WAJO, Associate Professor Michael Giudici explains the important role mathematics and the competition can play in students’ lives.

“Mathematics is crucial to the modern world and underpins most technological development. Strong maths skills are highly desirable and lead to a wide range of career options. The competition inspires students to excel at mathematics by giving them a goal to work towards and the unique opportunity to meet their peers, be challenged and experience a different learning environment.”

A Prize Ceremony is held on the same day, where the best-performing students and schools are awarded prizes and given the opportunity to join the UWA Academy for Young Mathematicians .

Prizes have been donated by this year’s sponsors including The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, Data Analysis Australia, the Mathematical Association of WA and the New Edition Bookshop.

The Phill Schultz prize will be offered in honour of the Adjunct Associate Professor from UWA’s School of Mathematics and Statistics. This prize will be awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the WA Mathematical Olympiads Committee, has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in the Mathematics Challenge activities during the year.

Dr John Henstridge, Managing Director, Data Analysis Australia, will be a special guest at the WAJO Prize Ceremony.

The Olympiad will be held on the UWA campus, Weatherburn Lecture Theatre, from 8.30am to 2.00pm, Saturday 29 October 2016.

Media references

Melissa Sieradzki (UWA Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics) (+61 8) 6488 7886