It is known that mathematics and the productive sector must be very close. What if they are neighbors?
The proposal from Impa (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics), in Rio de Janeiro, in its first undertaking on a university course 70 years after its founding. It is expected that the first semester will be selected in September next year so that classes can begin in 2024.
And unlike the research and postgraduate activities of the institute, which operates in a building located in the Atlantic Forest region in the southern region of Rio, the so-called “Impa Tech” will operate in the city center, along with companies and startups – sharing coffee and bathroom.
Common space will be in the new Port Maravali Or PoMar – a renewal of Porto Maravilha – officially launched by the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes (PSD), this Thursday (17th), with Globo biscuits and a dead icing for the crowd. On the side of Pais, in addition to the secretaries and businessmen, were Mathematician Marcello Vianageneral manager of Impa and columnist for Impa binding🇧🇷
The bindingHe explained, pointing with his hands to where the classrooms, library, and other spaces for the course would be located within the huge 10,000-square-meter warehouse. The course will take up half of that space. And it will share a wall with – hopefully – 200 startups and about a thousand entrepreneurs, as well as companies like Americanas and Rede D’Or, which are already part of the venture at Maravalley.
The proposal, as announced by Rio’s Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Simplification, Chicão Bulhões, is for innovation companies that settle in place to pay 2% of the ISS (tax on services), less than half the current one. 5% is practiced in the municipality. And they will be right next to the new Impa course. A kind of “Silicon Valley Carioca”.
In addition to the location, the BA in Applied Mathematics will have a different proposition in every way. Starting with the choice: the idea is that knowledge tests such as the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP) – from Impa itself – are used in the process along with specific exams and possibly interviews.
Mathematics is fundamental to a country’s development and GDP [Produto Interno Bruto]“We need to attract talent to the region,” said Vianna.
100 new students per year will receive housing and scholarships to live in Rio – which is yet to be determined. They will design their own academic path, following a Common Core course. Tracks will focus on Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science or Physics.
“We know that the minority will choose mathematics,” Vianna jokes. “Whoever chooses, he can do postgraduate studies with us after that.”
The Impa Masters and Doctoral Program – rated 7, the maximum rating by the Capes/MEC Agency – is popular. From there came the mathematician Artur Avila, who in 2014, at the age of 35, was awarded the Fields Medal, Popularly known as the “Nobel in Mathematics”. He was the first winner from Latin America.
Impa is a teaching and research unit that qualifies as a social organization associated with the Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and Education (MEC).
The institute will provide “federal” resources for the undergraduate course itself, including professors. There will be new professors, who will be appointed, and also those who are already on the home postgraduate course. “We are arguing about who will introduce the first controls,” Viana said.
On the other hand, the city of Rio de Janeiro has entered with the space, hoping to create a large center of education and innovation in the city.
The projections, which are reported to the city council, are for a public investment of R$30 million in the business. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2023, when the consortium will be responsible for managing and maintaining the development.
This will be the time when Impa, along with the MEC, must agree which institution of higher education will host the baccalaureate – a sort of ‘Impa College’ – and the bachelor’s course itself.
“Hardcore beer fanatic. Falls down a lot. Professional coffee fan. Music ninja.”
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