Students of the Mathematical High School in Belgrade, led by Teodor Fon Burg, have achieved remarkable success at the recently held Mathematical Olympiad in Argentina and as a team they won the 15th place in the world. Fon Burg, who won the competition to become the best in the world, and his colleagues continue their education abroad. Jelica Tapuskovic has more.
This year, Mathematical Olympiad was held in Argentina from July 4 to 16. Contestants from all over the world solved 3 tasks in groups in two days, working four and a half hours each day. Each task carried three points, and Teodor fon Burg, from the Serbian team, who graduated from Belgrade’s Mathematical High School this year won 38 of a maximum of 42 points. Interestingly, Teodor had the lowest score on a task that was set by Dusan Djokic, a professor of the Belgrade High School. Fon Burg told the news conference said that this year the tasks were difficult and some tasks did not correspond to the educational system of Serbia. Although he was sick during the competition, concentration and years of training helped him to withstand competition at which he entered the history of the competition. However, he will continue his education in England, where he was awarded full scholarship for the renowned Oxford college, and if he could manage to find an appropriate job, he will return to Serbia.
„I intend to complete my undergraduate studies at Oxford, where I will study mathematics. I plan to continue with master and doctoral studies, postdoctoral, and then specialize. When I finish it all and when the time comes for me to work, I will consider working conditions in Serbia and I will be back, "said Von Burg.
The other participants in the Olympiad’s single competitions brought medals home. Second-grade high school student Ivan Tanasijevic won the silver medal. Fourth-grade student Dusan Sobot has also won a silver medal, and he plans to study at Cambridge. The bronze medal was won by Igor Spasojevic who will soon move to Los Angeles where he will study at a local college, while Lazar Radicevic and Rade Spegar received commendations. All of them plan to continue their studies at a foreign college.
Young mathematicians have been also received by the president of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, and Minister of Education and Science Zarko Obradovic, who promised more assistance to young Serbian talents in the future.