The All-Russian 'Young Mathematician' Session Kicks Off at Orlyonok Children's Center with an Exciting Expanded Interdisciplinary Program

Photo: VDTs “Orlyonok”

The 22nd specialized "Young Mathematician" session opened today at the Orlyonok All-Russian Children's Center, located at the Olympic Village children's camp. For the first time this year, the program will feature additional math tracks as part of the interdisciplinary "Lomonosov" project. Over 180 schoolchildren from grades 7 to 11, representing 34 regions across Russia, will participate in the session. Among them, 42 students are from Adygea.

The program is organized by Adyghe State University, the Orlyonok All-Russian Children's Center, and the Republican School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Adygea), in collaboration with partner universities. 

The "Young Mathematician" project has been active at Orlyonok since 2005. Since 2022, it has been incorporated into the "University Mathematical and Digital Ecosystem of Southern Russia" consortium through a specialized session. This program enables teenagers to significantly enhance their skills and unlock their full mathematical potential in a short period, while also fostering leadership and resilience in a highly competitive environment. The unique atmosphere of the Orlyonok All-Russian Children's Center creates an ideal setting that seamlessly combines intensive learning with leisure, promoting both personal and academic growth.

"The 'Young Mathematician' session brings together children who have demonstrated exceptional intelligence since their school days. It's no wonder that mathematics is often called the queen of sciences—this is especially evident here. The children enthusiastically tackle complex problems, engage with mentors and peers, and forge friendships with like-minded individuals. 

The true value of this program lies in its ability to open the door to the world of great science, teach children not to fear challenges, and show that true discoveries are born where passion, support, and teamwork converge. I am confident that this experience will stay with the children for a lifetime and will serve as a solid foundation for their future success—in their studies, careers, and life," noted Alexander Dzheus, Director of the VDC "Orlyonok."

The children are divided into seven groups dedicated to Olympiad Mathematics and four groups that will explore physics, chemistry, and biology in greater depth. Some classes and activities will be tailored specifically to individual students, while others will be more general, emphasizing the interdisciplinary development of students interested in mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry. Consequently, the "Young Mathematician" program, as part of the Lomonosov project, has been expanded to include new areas: mathematics for physicists, mathematics for chemists, and mathematics for biologists.

"Many schoolchildren underestimate the importance of mathematics in the development of the natural sciences. For instance, future biologists often do not devote enough attention to its study, despite the fact that mathematical methods are essential for accurately analyzing and modeling quantitative data from biological experiments, genetic research, and epidemiological observations. DNA and protein sequences also constitute vast data sets that require specialized algorithms for processing. Mathematical modeling enables us to describe atomic movements and understand how proteins change their spatial structures when they bind to other molecules. These are just a few examples. Without such interdisciplinary knowledge, it becomes difficult to anticipate future scientific breakthroughs that are crucial for achieving technological sovereignty and national leadership. That is why, in this session, we placed special emphasis on the connection between mathematics and the natural sciences," said Daud Mamiy, Rector of Adyghe State University.

In turn, interaction with peers interested in other fields will help young mathematicians recognize the practical value of mathematics. During the first week, participants will get to know each other through engaging mathematical games that challenge their intelligence and quick thinking, held between school days. Students will work in teams specifically assembled from representatives of different regions, ages, and skill levels, fostering friendships and breaking down communication barriers as they collaboratively seek solutions.

"Mathematical games have been around for a long time, but we are actively working to develop and adapt them to modern realities, making them more engaging for children. In particular, thanks to the automated system developed by Konstantin Bondarenko, the organizer of the mathematical games, we have been able to make the games more dynamic," said Sergey Boychenko, Deputy Head of the Caucasus Mathematics Center at ASU.

The upcoming shifts will feature distinguished faculty and lecturers, including Professor and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Savvateev from ASU; Andrey Raigorodsky, Academic Director of the ASU Caucasus Mathematical Center and Director of the Phystech School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics at MIPT; and Nikolay Andreev, Research Fellow at the ASU Caucasus Mathematical Center, Head of the Laboratory for the Popularization and Outreach of Mathematics at the Steklov Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the first Russian laureate of the Lilavati Prize. All of these esteemed experts are members of the ASU Caucasus Mathematical Center. 

Additionally, Elena Bezglasnaya, an expert in technological entrepreneurship, will deliver a lecture on Olympiad economics.

During the shifts, the traditional Southern Mathematics Tournament and a festival dedicated to another ASU project, "Science Around. Third Season," will also take place. This festival is organized with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.

The shifts are scheduled to conclude on September 29.