Ian Calaway
Macalester College
Project
Mathematics: Community Through Collaboration and Competition
Australia, China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil
When attempting an unsolved problem, a mathematician’s success is dependent on their tenacity and creativity. In order to achieve the “ah-ha” moment that comes with solving such a problem, they must be willing to be wrong again and again, as well as capable of finding a solution no one has considered before. Many aspiring mathematicians first develop their tenacity and creativity through their participation in math competitions. The competitive nature of these competitions encourages participants to push their math abilities to the limit. They also inspire collaboration as participants form clubs or attend camps in preparation for them. My Watson year focuses on how these competitions foster community through their balance of collaboration and competition, how they help develop the creativity and tenacity of participants, and what influences culture has on the atmosphere, structure, and results of these competitions.