Mathematics Arena
In the Mathematics Arena, students will compete in mathematical modelling and solving problems using computers. Skills related to applying mathematical concepts, methods for solving physics problems, algorithm and abstract thinking and programming skills are required.
Let there be light
There is a perfect solution for everything. There must be. The optimum surely exists, but it is a challenge to find it. This year, no small feat stands in front us - using our mathematical knowledge, skills and tools to rebuild Earth’s lungs, and minimize our footprint. Assessing both the discrete and the continuous, playing with endless possibilities, we will have only five days to define the overall cost of our existence and make it as small as possible.
Project Assignment
The project assignment consists of three related stages which include set up a model, implementing numerical methods and numerical simulations. The competition will be organized in three days each of which represents one competition stage. Teams will be given an assignment in the morning, deal with it during the day and present their solutions to supervisors in the afternoon. Team solutions are graded and ranked each day. The best teams will qualify for and compete in the finals in the fourth day of the competition when they will present their solutions to a panel of judges who will announce the winner of the Mathematics Arena.
Who might compete in the Arena
Full time students studying Mathematics, Physics and Technical Sciences such as Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture and Aerospace Engineering (recommended but not limited to) can compete in the Mathematics Arena.
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Competences
Mentoring team
Josip Žubrinić, FER
Mentor Team Leader, FERPetar Bakić
Mentor Team Member, PMF ZGMateja Đumić
Mentor Team Member, MathOSMaja Jurušić Bellotti
Mentor Team Member, FERStjepan Šebek
Mentor Team Member, FERIndustry mentors
Nikola Badrov
Nikola Badrov is a life insurance actuary at Croatia Insurance Company Plc. During his studies, he worked at Privredna Banka Zagreb in the market risk team. He graduated with a BSc in financial and business mathematics from Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, where he is currently pursuing a postgraduate specialist degree in actuarial mathematics.
Petra Gospodnetić
Petra Gospodnetić is a PhD candidate at Fraunhofer ITWM (Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM), working on the development of visual inspection systems and performance optimization. She usually doesn't choose the easier way but the more fun one. Therefore, her work, virtual image processing, sits in between several major fields such as computer vision, computer graphics and robotics. It's a blast to work on problems which arise when merging different areas, but it also keeps you on your toes as you are basically running a race to learn everything you need to know and implement it the way you imagined … in a finite amount of time.
Ivana Bacelj
Ivana Bacelj was born in 1991 in Siklos, Hungary. In 2015, she obtained a Master’s degree with a thesis on Infinite Galois theory, mentored by associate professor Ivan Matić, PhD. Since 2016, she is employed at Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d. as the lead analyst in risk assessment where she works on calculations of credit risk capital requirements and regulatory reporting. Alongside her day job, she is pursuing an MBA in finance and banking from Zagreb School of Economics and Management.
Filip Romanić-Kristensen
Filip Romanić-Kristensen began his career as a student at Addiko bank, where he was working on loan approval software. After that project was finished, he worked at a private company as a full stack developer and consultant. When he returned to the bank, he shifted his focus towards databases and worked in the external reporting team, of which he later became a leader. He is currently working in the Digital transformations department on solutions in software robotics. He is well aware of the fact that he will have to catch up with a lot of mathematics again, but having graduated from Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, he believes that it is only a matter of effort he is willing to put in.
Članovi žirija
Lidija Pecigoš Višnjić
Lidija Pecigoš Višnjić, a licensed actuary, MSc in actuarial mathematics (PMF, University of Salzburg), Product Management and Development Director at Croatia Insurance Company Plc. She has developed her career in the IT sector, pharmaceutics and finance/insurance industry, applying advanced mathematical methods based on the theory of probability and statistics as well as financial mathematics in risk assessment.
Markus Rauhut
Markus Rauhut is the head of the image processing department at Fraunhofer ITWM (Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM) and has many years of experience in development and management of projects at the interface between research and industry. In addition to the conception of surface inspection systems for quality control in production, the acquisition of industrial projects is a focus of his work.
For him, the mixture of mathematical/technical work and creativity makes his activities at the ITWM unique. His work also brings together people from very different professions. Here it is always exciting for him to present scientific methods in such a way that his customers understand the benefits from the solutions provided by the ITWM.
Siniša Miličić
Siniša Miličić is a mathematician with interests in unusual things. In his spare time, he is covered in chalk dust, reads or programs in Phython and in his not to spare time, he is covered in chalk dust, explains Greek, Latin or Arabic etymology of mathematical phrases or programs in Phyton. His conducts research in fractal geometry and analysis but also likes to play with dynamics and computer science. He obtained his Doctoral degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb in 2013 and currently works at the Faculty of Informatics in Pula. Born and raised in Zagreb, he and his wife relocated to Istria because of better climate and the sea. His favorite quote is the one by Alfred Renyia “A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems”. He plays Tetris, rides a bike, sails and skies.
Snježana Majstorović
Snježana Majstorović, PhD, was born in Osijek. She obtained her doctoral degree in mathematics in 2011 at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. Since 2005, she is employed at the Department of Mathematics, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, where she was an assistant professor until 2014 when she became a docent. She has published eleven scientific articles in internationally reviewed publications and presented her research at 12 international conferences. She has developed her professional skills by undertaking various courses in numerous european countries and through international collaboration with other researchers. As a guest lecturer, she has spent some time at universities in Canada, Austria and Hungary. In 2010, she was awarded an award from the MCC 2010 Research Committee for the best poster presentation. Since 2015, she extensively coordinates preparing students for participation in international mathematics competitions. Since 2016, she is also a mentor in the IAESTE student exchange organization. She actively organizes science popularization events (“Festival of Science”, “Evening of Mathematics”). She is in charge of lectures and laboratory excercises in various subjects. The focus of her work is graph theory and its applications.