A camp for young mathematicians and physicists organized by the FBiH Society of Physicists, Society of Mathematicians, Richmond Park Schools and Burch University started today at the International High School in Sarajevo.
Similar camps have been organized at Burch University for ten years. For the last five or six years, students from other high schools throughout BiH, not only from the International High School, have been attending the camps. All lecturers work voluntarily and, as they themselves pointed out, enjoy passing on knowledge to younger generations.
95 mathematicians and nearly 40 physicists from all over BiH were registered for the camp. These are the best competitors from federal and state competitions, and their lectures are given by former representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Mathematics and Physics Olympiads.
It is a pleasure to teach children who love mathematics and physics
One of the lecturers is our best physicist Bahrudin Trbalić, who completed his first year of study at MIT in the USA. As he says, this is his fourth time teaching at a camp like this.
“I am looking forward to teaching such smart children who decided to sacrifice their time to come to the camp. My beginnings were in these same classrooms, five years ago this was an unforgettable experience for me,” said Trbalić, adding that he enjoys coming to the camps and that in this way he returns his debt to the community.
We asked him what it is like to study at MIT, and with a smile he says that it feels like a camp that never ends, but one that he certainly enjoys. The company, practice, teaching materials and work are, as he says, excellent.
Professor Ali Lafcioglu emphasizes that it is a special pleasure for lecturers to transfer knowledge to students who are interested in mathematics and physics, who understand these sciences and with whom they can have discussions.
Ivana from the Banja Luka high school says that the camp helps her to make up for what she may have missed and to learn more about the things she likes and that interest her.
They practice the most difficult tasks and find solutions themselves
In schools, it is difficult for students to find a society that likes physics, that is, mathematics, but here everyone shares a common passion and Ali Lafcioglu points out that students stay up in the evening to socialize and discuss, talk about mathematics, physics and experiments and make friends. He says that there are students from Banja Luka, Vlasenica, and even Prijepolje, they hang out and are good friends.
Zlatko Salko Lagumdžija, also one of the lecturers, worked with the students on tasks from number theory. As he says, he goes over the more difficult tasks for the Olympics with them, because he wants them to break their fear and see that it is not something difficult, but that thinking and solutions are simple.
Boris Velašević from the International High School in Sarajevo says that at the camp they gain a lot of new knowledge in mathematics, they can prepare for the new school year and for more serious competitions, and he also enjoys spending time with his friends.
Admir Beširević teaches mathematics to camp participants who come from elementary schools and says that they have a specific program: in the morning they have two lectures, and in the afternoon there are tests that are important because they make the students think for themselves. During their breaks, they play table tennis, volleyball, basketball or have fun in some other way.
“Out of the 95 applicants, 52 students were among those in the top ten places at the federal or state competition in their generation last school year, here they are the best of the best,” said Admir.
Finances are lacking, but goodwill is crucial for success
We also spoke with Burch University Rector Damir Marjanović, who pointed out that he is glad that the University supports young people who organize a mathematics and physics camp every year, led by professors and former students who have already achieved a lot in competitions. As he says, they are glad to be able to support the development of mathematics and physics in this form.
He added that there is a difference between formal and informal education and that mathematics and physics are much easier to master in society and through socializing.
“For the next five days, through socializing, learning and lectures, boys and girls will have the opportunity to meet things that they cannot hear in schools and to prepare for competitions and future careers, and this is exactly the kind of education we envision and strive for. It reminds us of the Finnish education system, that boys and girls do mathematics and physics through socializing and fun in some nice conditions at the end of August… they are heroes to me,” Marjanović proudly added.
Professor Lafcioglu said that they have difficulties with financing the camps, but that so far they have always somehow managed to organize this, thanks to the good will of individuals, lecturers who do this work with dedication and parents who believe in the project.
Such camps are organized at least twice a year and are unique in our country. They are invaluable for students who do not have the opportunity to learn and practice more during regular classes, and this is their opportunity to learn from the best in the fields of physics and mathematics.
