The Department of Mathematical Sciences will host our 14th Annual AMC8 Middle School Math Day on Saturday, January 25, 2025. This year, there will be a limit of 100 participants with a parent or teacher. Please note that may be paper-and-pencil version or a computerized version of the AMC8, but emails are needed for all attendees. Students may be taken to a computer lab for the AMC8 contest.
The program will begin with the AMC-8 Competition , a contest sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America, followed by a Mathematical Talk for all by Dr. Shi Bai, "The Code Breakers: A Journey Through Cryptography's History."
Abstract: Cryptography, the art of encoding and decoding information, has played a crucial role in shaping history, from protecting military secrets to securing modern digital communications. In this talk, we’ll trace the fascinating evolution of cryptography, starting with the ancient methods like the Caesar cipher, moving through World War II codebreaking, and up to the advanced encryption techniques that protect our online data today. Along the way, we’ll explore how cryptography has influenced everything from warfare to the rise of the internet. Through stories of legendary and modern codebreakers, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how pure math and technology come together to keep our secrets safe.
Lunch and our Team Contest, led by Dr. Veronika Kuchta.
High scoring students will be encouraged to participate in the AMC 10 Contest in November 2025.
An tentative schedule appears below:
Scheduled Place: College of Business Building (BU) Main Entrance, with parking in the Lot #7.
Time: 9:00am to 2:00pm
| 9:00-9:25am | Arrival of Students/Introduction of Day's Activities |
| 9:30-10:30am | AMC8 Contest for students /Talk for Parents &Teachers |
|
10:30-11:30am |
Mathematical Talk for all by Dr. Shi Bai Title: The Code Breakers: A Journey Through Cryptography's History |
| 11:30am-12:40pm | Group Photo - followed by LUNCH at the Atlantic Dining Hall |
| 12:45pm-1:45pm |
Math Challenge Team Contest |
| 1:45-2:00pm | Wrap-up/Team Prizes/Dismissal |
For further information on registration or questions, please contact:
Ms. Emily Ann Cimillo
Phone: 561-297-3342
Email: amcfauboca@fau.edu
Updated 1/22/2025
