Colorado Voices
After 40 years, one of Colorado’s most challenging math competitions may be coming to a close
Clip | 5m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
UCCS mathematics professor Dr. Alexander Soifer's Soifer Mathematical Olympiad turned 40 this year
Tenured UCCS mathematics professor Dr. Alexander Soifer’s "Soifer Mathematical Olympiad" has perplexed and empowered Colorado middle and high schoolers for decades, and after finishing its 40th year this year, it may be coming to a close.
Colorado Voices
After 40 years, one of Colorado’s most challenging math competitions may be coming to a close
Clip | 5m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
Tenured UCCS mathematics professor Dr. Alexander Soifer’s "Soifer Mathematical Olympiad" has perplexed and empowered Colorado middle and high schoolers for decades, and after finishing its 40th year this year, it may be coming to a close.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSchool mathematics was pretty boring.
There is no room to even think, let alone to show ingenuity!
Olympiad problems don't require much of knowledge at all.
They require creativity, They require creativity, ingenuity, ability to think outside of the box.
That's beauty that makes mathematics an art.
[projector click] [music starts] [projector click] [music starts] [Narrator] Thats Russia, [Narrator] or to be correct, [Narrator] the Union of Soviet [Narrator] Socialist Republics.
Sixth grade in Moscow, [Narrator] ... like their capital, Moscow.
My math middle school teacher offered to take me to Moscow State University Math Olympiad.
It was a totally different world!
[Russian singing] [Russian singing] And it was fun.
[Russian singing] After eighth grade, I told my parents, “I'll be a mathematician.” And my mother told me, “No, no, no.
And my mother told me, “No, no, no.
You will be a composer!” [”Swan Lake”] [”Swan Lake”] I won some prizes in several math olympiads.
And my mother said, “Alright already.
You be a mathematician.” And so I became one.
And so I became one.
[string music starts] I was vacationing with my first cousin, and all we had was backpacks, tents, and all we had was backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags, transistor radio and guitar.
And this transistor radio informed us [projector clicks off] that Russian tanks entered Prague, capital of Czechoslovakia.
[tank firing] For the first time in my life at 19, I realized that to be a citizen means to accept my share of responsibility for what my country does.
[tank booms] And I recognized that I had only two options: go to barricades or to airport.
[airplane sounds] [music crescendoes] So I chose airport.
[airplane propellor] I chose to become political refugee.
I had legal permission to get a job.
I applied to maybe a hundred universities.
And then UCCS wanted me to come.
And then UCCS wanted me to come.
And I didn't want to come.
And I didn't want to come.
But then the chair told me on the phone a magic word: “Well show you mountains!” “Show mountains” sounded so cool.
I've never been to the mountains!
No regrets.
It was beautiful.
I joined this place when I was young and handsome, 45 plus years ago.
Having background in mathematical olympiads that determined my profession, and having served for three years on the Soviet Union National Mathematical Olympiad jury, I offered, “Let us organize Colorado Math Olympiad!” And the chair, who was a very good chair, said, “Yes!
Good idea!
Let's create math olympiad... one day.” And this “one day,” it's America, it doesn't mean anything except courtesy.
And so in the Fall ‘83, I told my junior students of Number Theory, “Here is a piece of paper, and sign up if you are willing to do ungrateful job of organizing mathematics olympiad for middle and high school kids of our state.” 20 students.
I receive back this page.
15 signatures.
My students want to do it, and I told them, “Alright, I don't need the other professors.
You and I will do it!” And, uh... Olympiad started.
So, that's the story, and October 4th, it will be the 40th, now called “Soifer Mathematical Olympiad.” Every unit square shares a side with exactly one red square.
Some kids who participated in this olympiad, it changed their life.
And I want to pass the baton to next generations of mathematicians.
So the Olympiad was my way to thank Colorado, to thank the country for giving me an opportunity of a new start.
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Now PlayingAfter 40 years, one of Colorado’s most challenging math competitions may be coming to a close
Video has Closed Captions
UCCS mathematics professor Dr. Alexander Soifer's Soifer Mathematical Olympiad turned 40 this year (5m 19s)
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