From January 9 to January 15, 2019, Almaty hosted the XV International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science.
The Zhautykov International Olympiad is an annual competition for students in grades 10-11 in computer science, physics and mathematics, held since 2005 at the Republican School of Physics and Mathematics. Teams from different countries, consisting of no more than 7 people, take part in the Olympiad: 3 representatives for mathematics and 2 for other disciplines, as well as 1 or 2 mentors.
On January 10, 2019, at the Student Palace. The grand opening of the XV International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science took place in Almaty. 82 teams from 18 countries were solemnly represented at the opening. This year, a record number of participants was reached — 540 students. The number of participating countries is increasing every year. Two countries were added to the anniversary Olympiad: the United States (South Carolina Governor's School of Science and Math) and Denmark (Maria Kruse Skole).
Almaz Kungozhin, Director of the RFMS Almaty, and Academician Askar Jumadildayev, Director of the RFMS Almaty, addressed the Olympiad participants and members of the international jury, and Academician Askar Jumadildayev, a member of the international jury and 1972 RFMS graduate.
At the Olympiad, Kazakhstan was represented by 175 students, including 50 RFMS students: 3 teams from Moscow. Almaty and 2 teams from Almaty Astana. The Zhautykov International Olympiad is held with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Daryn Republican Scientific and Practical Center and the IITU. The Olympics were sponsored by Lancaster Group, Fizmat Endowment Fund, Nurlan Kapparov Foundation, Air Astana and Eurasian Resources Group. This Olympiad is unique in that it is held in three subjects at once among specialized schools in physics and mathematics. As a result of the Olympiad, an individual rating is displayed, as well as a ranking of the strongest teams in specialized schools. The purpose of the Olympiad is to promote physical and mathematical sciences among students, develop international cooperation, establish friendly relations between specialized schools in different countries, exchange experience in organizing and conducting Olympiads, as well as demonstrating the level of education and culture in Kazakhstan.
As a result of the Olympiad, 91 medals in mathematics (20 gold, 26 silver and 45 bronze medals), 71 medals in physics (15 gold, 21 silver and 35 bronze medals) and 74 medals in computer science (14 gold, 23 silver and 37 bronze medals) were contested. Kazakh students won 9 gold, 23 silver and 43 bronze medals.
The peculiarity of this Olympiad is that the overall result is summed up based on the teams' performance.
Igor Voronovich, one of the members of the mathematics jury, praised the Olympiad: “I am very pleased that your Olympiad, which was founded 15 years ago, continues to grow stronger and develop. For example, 2 new countries have appeared this year. The United States of America and Denmark have already come to you. In other words, the popularity of your Olympiad is expanding and growing. And we hope that popularity will continue to grow.
Also at the closing ceremony, on behalf of the Fizmat Endowment Fund and the Keleshek School, special nominations “Debut of the Year”, “For the Will to Win”, “The Best Results of Kazakh Schoolchildren in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science” were awarded. Special prizes named after Kapparov, Imambekov and Segalovich were also awarded.
The nomination “The best result of Kazakh schoolchildren in computer science” went to Daniyar Zakarin, a student of the Russian Football Academy in Almaty,
the nomination “The best result of Kazakh schoolchildren in physics” went to Diyar Tulenov, a student of NIS Pavlodar,
the nomination “The best result of Kazakh schoolchildren in mathematics” went to Aibek Myrzatayev, a student of BIL Atyrau.
The nomination “For the Will to Win” was awarded to a student of School No. 1, Moscow. Ulan Bator, Mongolia — Otgonbayar Misheel.
The “Debut of the Year” category was awarded to Jingdan Hua, a student from the Danish school “Maria Kruse Skole”, and Matthew Walker, a student of the South Carolina Governor's School of Science and Math. Maria Kruse Skole Schools, Farum, Denmark; South Carolina Governor's School of Science and Math, USA and VEFA Lyceum, Istanbul, Turkey were also nominated in the Debut of the Year category.
Evgeni Kayryakov, the absolute champion of the MJO 2019 in mathematics, a member of the Bulgarian team, a student of Sofia High School of Matemathics, won the Kapparov Prize. Alexey Shishkin, the absolute champion of the MJO 2019 in physics, a member of the Russian team, a student of the Republican Lyceum for Gifted Children in Saransk, won the Imambekov Prize, and the Segalovich Prize went to the absolute MJO champion in computer science, a member of the Georgian team, a student of the LEPL Vladimir Komarovi Tbilisi Physics and Mathematics School, Tbilisi-Tbilisi Koloz Birkadze.
The closing ceremony ended with a performance by the world-famous Kazakh instrumental ethnic group Ulytau.
