Top six Canadian mathematics students selected for Math Team Canada

OTTAWA — Six of the country’s best mathematical students will represent Canada this year as part of Math Team Canada. Yan (Bill) Huang (West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South), Michael Pang (Fort Richmond Collegiate), Zhuo Qun (Alex) Song (Phillips Exeter Academy), Kevin Sun (Phillips Exeter Academy), Alexander Whatley (North Houston Academy of Science and Mathematics) and Jinhao (Hunter) Xu (University Hill Secondary School) will represent Canada at the 56th International Mathematical Olympiads (IMO) in July.

“We have an exceptional team this year,” said Dorette Pronk, Chair of the CMS International Mathematical Olympiad Committee. “These are the some of the best Canadian mathematics students and I am confident that they will perform well at the IMO.”

The team includes three returning members from Math Team Canada 2014: Zhuo Qun (Alex) Song, Kevin Sun and Alexander Whately.

“It is a great opportunity to work with fellow high school prospective mathematicians,” said Song. “I’ve heard a lot about Thailand from my classmates, and I’m looking forward to absorbing the culture [at the IMO].”

The team will first travel to Banff, Alberta at the end of June for two weeks of intensive training at the Banff International Research Institute (BIRS). The 2015 Summer IMO Training Camp will allow Math Team Canada members to bond and prepare for the IMO in Thailand with their team leaders.

There are three team leaders for Math Team Canada including:

• Jacob Tsimerman (University of Toronto), Leader
• Lindsey Shorser (University of Toronto), Deputy Leader
• James Rickards (University of Cambridge), Observer B

Math Team Canada will compete at the IMO in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from July 4 to 16, 2015. Canada has participated in the IMO since 1981. Last year, Math Team Canada placed 9th overall at the IMO in Cape Town, South Africa.

About the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the world championship high school mathematics competition. The IMO began in 1959 in Romania with seven participating countries. Math Team Canada expects to compete against the world’s best students from over 100 countries in the 56th IMO. Canada has earned 27 gold, 47 silver and 80 bronze medals since first competing in 1981.

About the Banff International Research Station (BIRS)

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).