Young Mathematicians Learn About the World of Work

In our four teams, students from all across Germany have come together. What unites them is their shared enthusiasm for mathematics, physics, and computer science. In the following profiles, we’ll introduce one young talent from each team. Our student colleague, Isayas Haile, interviewed them:

Ana: Logical Thinking and Teamwork – Shaping the Future with Math and Computer Science

Ana is 17 years old and a twelfth-grade student at Rupprecht-Gymnasium in Munich. Her enthusiasm for mathematics and computer science inspired her to apply to the Math Talent School. She’s especially fascinated by the combination of these two fields and hopes to study them later on. By taking part in the Math Talent School, Ana hopes to gain valuable insights into study programs and future career opportunities.

What she enjoys most about math is logical thinking and solving complex problems. For her, it’s not just about calculations, but rather »a way to develop creative solutions,« she said enthusiastically. During her week at the Fraunhofer ITWM, Ana learned that real-world applications involve far more than just number-crunching. Above all, working in a team showed her how exciting and varied mathematics can be.

A real highlight of the week for her was the project on the programming language Python. »We worked on optimizing traffic flow. I also really enjoyed exchanging ideas with others who share my interests, since I was able to make lots of new connections,« she said. The experience strengthened her desire to combine mathematics and computer science in her future studies.

Jakob: Mathematics, Python, and Aviation – From Theory to Practical Application

akob’s motivation to take part in the Math Talent School was mainly to learn more about mathematics and Python. By working on challenging projects and gaining new knowledge, he wanted to take his skills to the next level. In his motivation letter, he emphasized his interest in applying mathematics and computer science – especially in using programming languages to solve real-world problems.

For the 18-year-old, mathematics is particularly fascinating because it serves as a tool to understand and model complex systems. The week at the Math Talent School showed him how mathematics and computer science can be combined to tackle realistic questions. A highlight for him was the project on »Simulating the Motion of Particles in Water.« In his group, he not only learned a lot about the mathematics behind those movements but also how Python can be used to compute them.

»The Math Talent School is the absolute best way to meet like-minded people who are also interested in STEM. There are lots of projects and even games where you get to know each other even better,« Jakob said enthusiastically. 

Looking ahead, he is particularly interested in studying aerospace engineering and is considering pursuing his degree in Munich. 

Mohammad: Creative Problem-Solving with Math – From Functions to Emergency Stations

Mohammad, also called Mete, is 17 years old and comes from Erfurt. His enthusiasm for mathematics and the opportunity to combine it with computer science motivated him to participate in the Math Talent School. »With math, you can explain a lot; it’s your path to a solution. I enjoy functions and curve discussions the most,« he said.

For Mete, mathematics is not just a collection of formulas and rules, but a creative process that allows him to find new ways to solve complex problems. The Math Talent School opened his eyes to math not only as a theoretical subject but also as a practical tool for problem-solving. He found the game session particularly exciting, where he realized how closely math, strategy, and communication are connected.

During the week, Mete not only expanded his mathematical skills but also gained valuable insights into career opportunities at Fraunhofer ITWM. He found the project on determining the location for a new emergency station especially interesting, where math and programming played a central role. Regarding his future, he said: »I can well imagine studying mathematics and physics at RPTU in Kaiserslautern. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the scholarships and the professors, and I appreciate the open, collaborative atmosphere.«

Gracia: Mathematics in Practice – From Fraud Analysis to the STEM Community

»My name is Gracia, I’m from Würzburg, and I decided to participate in the Math Talent School because I’ve always had a strong interest in mathematics and computer science, and I’m currently on holiday. I’ve already taken part in other STEM camps, and those experiences have strengthened my enthusiasm for science subjects,« the 16-year-old explained. Gracia hopes to dive even deeper into these topics during this intensive week.

»There aren’t opportunities like this near where I live, and seeing it connected with Fraunhofer is very interesting and practical.« Gracia is especially fascinated by computer science because it offers a way to solve problems systematically and in a structured way. During her time at the institute, she was able to see how mathematics is applied in different professional fields, and she particularly enjoyed the hands-on workshops.

Beyond the academic content, Gracia emphasized: »The social activities were really exciting, like the mentoring course, the night hike, and the games we played together in the evenings. For the future, I plan to pursue a science- or math-related degree after finishing high school. I could well imagine studying at RPTU.« She found her project on analyzing fraud in the healthcare system especially engaging, saying, »It has a direct connection to the real world, and I really enjoy programming.«

We wish all the talents the best of luck on their Abitur and hope to see them again in Kaiserslautern soon!