User:Mrnamnam/sandbox

History
The National Mathematics Summer school was established under the joint educational sponsorship of The Australian National University and the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers in 1969 by the late Professor A.L. (Larry) Blakers AM of the University of Western Australia. It is the oldest and most prestigious Summer School of its type in Australia, and has been attended by over 3000 students from all states and territories around Australia.

About
NMSS is a program for the discovery and development of mathematically gifted and talented high school students from all over Australia. Participation is normally restricted to about 75 students who have completed Year 11 in school.

During NMSS, students participate in a number of courses on different branches of mathematics not typically studied as part of the school curriculum. Each course is delivered in a series of lectures and small-group tutorials. Private study in the evening also gives students time to puzzle over problems and absorb what they have learned during the day.

The main course is Number Theory, which is studied in depth over the two weeks. Other courses which each run for one week vary from year to year and have in the past included:


 * Algorithms
 * Chaos Theory
 * Cryptography
 * Knot Theory
 * Languages and Automata
 * Projective Geometry
 * Topology

Extra curricular activities:

 * The Academy Lecture, presented by a member of the Australian Academy of Science at The Shine Dome.
 * Lectures by invited NMSS alumni.
 * Informal careers Q&A sessions.
 * Mathematical games and relay events.
 * Social Program
 * During their free time each day, students may organise their own activities, whether within the college common rooms, elsewhere on campus, or in the city centre.


 * A visit to Black Mountain Tower. Visits to a selection of national attractions including the National Museum of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Questacon, National Gallery of Australia, and Old Parliament House and New Parliament House. A formal dinner and concert on the final night.

Location
Accommodation and meals are provided by John XXIII College, a residential college of The Australian National University. All lectures and group activities are situated on the grounds of The Australian National University.

NMSS faces fires and pandemic
The 2019-20 Australian Bushfire Season rendered the city of Canberra a health hazard for the smoke and particulate matter in the air. NMSS was relocated at short notice to the University of Melbourne with Trinity College Melbourne providing the accommodation.

The COVID-19 pandemic closed Australian borders and so NMSS had to be run virtually via Zoom. 2022 looks set to be virtual as well.

Alumna and Alumni in the media
Past students of NMSS are in diverse professional fields and include:


 * Tracy Slatyer
 * David Harvey
 * Margaret Zhang
 * Norm Do
 * Terry Tau
 * Ian Wallace

NMSS Directors

 * 1) Leon Polodian
 * 2) Ben Burton
 * 3) Norm Do (2021-