Silver medal for maths boffin

Olivia Castleden, a Grade 9, Somerset College pupil was part of the winning South African team who competed in the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), hosted by the Mathematical Association of Botswana, in Botswana from Sunday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 18.

According to a press release issued by the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF), the SA team took first place at PAMO and brought home 3 gold medals, two silver and one bronze medal.

Olivia is one of the silver medallists. In last year’s PAMO she bagged a bronze medal. This maths boffin offered advice to others interested or considering participating in the PAMO.

She said: “To people who want to participate, I suggest that they just go for it. By just writing the first round, they have already gained valuable experience, even if they don’t progress to the next round.”

Professor Karam Aloui, Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Tunis El Manar and Executive Secretary of the PAMO Committee, opened the award ceremony by outlining the Olympiad’s unique structure.

He described how a Problems Committee compiles a list of potential mathematical problems, from which a Jury shortlists twelve problems.

The Supervising Committee then selects the final six problems, ensuring that each covers key areas of pre-university mathematics without adhering to a fixed syllabus. “Our aim is to challenge creativity and rigorous reasoning in equal measure,” Professor Aloui explained.

Medals are awarded in a 1:2:3 ratio for Gold, Silver and Bronze, and the leading female scorer receives the title “African Mathematics Queen.”

Team South Africa excelled with three Gold Medallists—Erik Senekal (Grade 11, Hoërskool Menlopark), James Prins (Grade 12, South African College High School) and Noah Greenblatt (Grade 11, King David High School).

Silver Medals were claimed by Olivia Castleden (Grade 9, Somerset College) and Ruth Trimble (Grade 11, Pinelands High School), while WanRu Zhou (Grade 11, Parklands College) took home Bronze. In the Girls’ Division, Ruth Trimble earned Gold, Olivia Castleden Silver and WanRu Zhou Bronze.