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The University of Western Australia, along with the Western Australia Mathematical Olympiad Committee will host the 2017 WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad (WAJO). The event brings together more than 300 students from years seven, eight and nine from over 25 Western Australian schools with the aim of identifying the most gifted mathematics students. A satellite event will be held at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School for students from the South-West.

Students compete individually and in teams to tackle mathematical problems they would not normally encounter in the regular school curriculum and without the use of calculators.

Associate Professor Michael Giudici, Chair of WAJO, spoke about the importance of the event in promoting an interest in mathematics from a young age.

“Mathematical skills are applicable across a vast array of careers, so it is important for these students to develop both an interest and skills in mathematics from a young age.”

Following on from the event a prize ceremony will be held, where the best performing students are awarded prizes and given the opportunity to join the UWA Academy for Young Mathematicians.

A range of prizes will be awarded after the competition, donated by the WA Department of Education, The University of Western Australia School of Mathematics and Statistics, Curtin University Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematical Association of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University School of Science, Murdoch University Department of Mathematics and Statistics, New Edition Bookshop and Data Analysis Australia.

Other prizes will also be awarded on the day, including the Phill Schultz Prize, awarded to a high school student that the WA Mathematical Olympiads Committee believes has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Mathematics Challenge activities throughout the year.

The Hon. Samantha Rowe MLC, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training will be the guest of honour at the prize ceremony.

The Olympiad will be held on the UWA campus centred around Weatherburn Lecture Theatre from 8.30am -2.00pm on Saturday 28 October.

Media references

Ben Robson (UWA Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences) (+61 8) 6488 7501