Math is Fun, Connects People, and Inspires – This Was Proven by Nearly 700 Winners of the Math Advent Calendars at the Grand Award Ceremony in Berlin on January 24, 2025!
After a month of mathematical challenges during Advent under the theme “Back to the Roots – A Mathematical Time Journey with the Elves”, the best problem-solvers from Germany and abroad were celebrated for their achievements in the Audimax of Freie Universität Berlin.
From the beginnings in ancient times to cutting-edge applications in artificial intelligence, the daily puzzles in December invited participants to explore different eras of mathematics and understand their impact on today’s world. Whether young or old, students, teachers, or math enthusiasts, the calendars offered an exciting puzzle adventure for everyone.
The nearly 200,000 participants in the digital Math Advent Calendars organized by Mathe im Leben and the Excellence Cluster MATH+ came from over 70 countries, showcasing just how exciting and versatile mathematics can be. This year’s competition featured a special highlight: more than 10,000 teachers used the calendars to inspire their classes with tricky mathematical puzzles – a record that demonstrates how important the Math Advent Calendars have become for education.
The grand award ceremony took place on January 24, 2025, at the Audimax of Freie Universität Berlin, where nearly 700 winners were honored. The event revolved entirely around the fascination of mathematics. Guests, young and old, explored mathematical games and interactive stations at the Math Bazaar before the winners were recognized in the grand hall. For the first time, a “Youth Research” stand was included, where young people presented their successful projects. Additionally, MUED, an alternative math teachers’ association from North Rhine-Westphalia, showcased math games that can also be used effectively in the classroom, while HPE fascinated guests with a demonstration of a supercomputer. Upon entry, attendees were welcomed with a congratulatory video featuring initiators and participants celebrating the “20th Anniversary of the Math Advent Calendars.”
The award ceremony was opened by Prof. Ziegler, President of Freie Universität and an initiator of Math Advent, followed by a video message from Cem Özdemir, the German Federal Minister for Education and Research (BMBF). In his message, he praised all participating educators and emphasized the significance of projects like the Math Advent Calendar. In 2025, Math Advent will once again be part of the BMBF’s “Year of Science – Future Energy” initiative.
During the festive celebration that followed, all proud winners were greeted with loud applause as they took the stage and were treated to a fantastic show program, including musical performances and a mathematical magic show. Thanks to generous donations, there were once again many exciting prizes, including books, games, tech gadgets, sports equipment, group trips for individuals, classes, and schools, as well as refreshments at the event.
The winners can be found here:
https://www.mathekalender.de/wp/de/preistraegerinnen/
Photos coming soon!