Tulio Koneçny, a student at the School, presents board games as a fun way to teach Mathematics to the public

From today (5) to Saturday (7), the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA) is holding the 3rd edition of the National Mathematics Festival (FestMat) in Rio de Janeiro. The event is being held at Marina da Glória, in the South Zone of Rio, and is open to all audiences, with the aim of presenting the discipline in a fun and attractive way.

The School of Applied Mathematics of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EMAp) is represented at FestMat 2024 by Tulio Koneçny, a student studying for a Master's in Mathematical Modeling at the institution.

At 23 years old, the researcher is the creator of the website "Mathematics Is For Everyone", designed with the goal of combining knowledge of mathematics with fun. Giant board games, LEGO pieces forming symmetrical images, digital science fiction games, and matches that mix virtual reality with cards are the attractions at Tulio's booth at the event.

There are different games available to the public | Photo: FGV EMAp

For him, the world of tangible, physical games—board and card games—is an excellent way to capture the audience's attention at this week's event.

“I hope to share the passion for mathematics in an accessible and fun way. Mathematics doesn't have to be intimidating or complicated; it can be interactive, engaging, and above all, inclusive. Through our educational games, we want to inspire teachers and students to see mathematics from a new perspective, highlighting its application in everyday life and various playful contexts,” explains Tulio, who was invited by the organizers and will have his booth at FestMat for presentations over the three days.

Tulio's advisor, Guilherme Tegoni Goedert, is attending the presentations at FestMat. For the professor of Applied Mathematics at FGV EMAp, his student's participation is a result of his passion for creating new teaching materials, such as board games.

“Tulio’s passion has been creating games that develop mathematical skills and change the classroom dynamic, showing that mathematics can indeed be fun and isn’t as daunting as it seems. Now, we’re bringing this methodology into the classroom and assessing its impact on teaching through collaborations with some state education departments. In addition to versions of the games that any teacher can print and use with their students, we’re taking advantage of the festival to showcase some games with giant boards and virtual reality,” reveals the professor from the School.

The FGV EMAp representative at the event was discovered through the Center for the Development of Mathematics and Sciences (CDMC) program, created to identify young talents with a special aptitude for learning mathematics in Brazil's public schools. From Espírito Santo, Tulio had the opportunity to study at the School and reach the level he has achieved in research and teaching.

For Guilherme, it is extremely rewarding to support students like Tulio at events as significant as FestMat and to see that the institution's investment has yielded the expected results.

“Tulio has a talent for creating math activities that are both fun for young students and accessible to any classroom. This demonstrates the ripple effect that good educational programs can have and that we are on the right track. I look forward to increasingly creative and enjoyable solutions in Tulio's future and hope everyone can benefit from the activities at the Festival,” concludes the professor from FGV EMAp.

Tulio graduated from FGV EMAp and is currently studying for a Master's degree at the School | Photo: FGV EMAp

With the theme “Mathematics is Innovation,” FestMat 2024 is offering experiences that blend creativity and technology. This year's program includes project presentations, lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and various experiences across different areas of Mathematics. The ambitious proposal of FestMat has proven successful. In 2017, the festival attracted 18,000 people, and two years ago, there were 14,000 participants, including students and teachers. The expectation is that the third edition of the event will also be a success.

For example, visitors can take part in a 3D workshop where they can bring drawings to life, engage in a musical experience that invites the audience to manipulate fractions, BPM, and frequencies to create new melodies, and even enjoy educational experiences through board games and card games.

The first day of the event is exclusively for pre-registered public and private schools. On the 6th, the space will remain open to schools until 12 PM (Brasília time), after which the gates will open to the general public, and the same will apply on the September 7th holiday. To ensure free entry, simply register on the Festival's website.