Mathalon Juniors Bring Mathematical Thinking to Life at UOWD

Wednesday, 04 February, 2026

The University of Wollongong in Dubai recently hosted Mathalon Juniors – Math Concept Booths (MaCoB), welcoming school students, educators, and academics for a full day dedicated to exploring mathematics as a practical, creative, and relevant discipline.

Designed as an interactive, exhibition-style experience, the event invited young learners to step beyond formulas and demonstrate how mathematical thinking shapes the world around them. Through hands-on concept booths, students presented ideas that connected mathematics to real-life applications, encouraging curiosity, discussion, and confidence in explaining complex concepts.

Concept Booths Rooted in Real Life

Teams from 12 schools participated, with students working collaboratively under the guidance of their school coaches. Each booth explored a specific mathematical concept applied to real-world contexts, including sustainability, renewable energy, sound and perception, probability, trigonometry, accessibility design, statistics, and visual illusions.

Instead of relying on memorisation, students demonstrated strong conceptual understanding, originality, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly to a wide audience. The booth format encouraged dialogue, experimentation, and storytelling, helping students translate abstract concepts into tangible experiences.

Dr Zeenath Reza Khan and Dr Assane Lo curated the event, while a panel of judges evaluated the projects based on mathematical accuracy, real-life relevance, clarity of explanation, and presentation quality.

Judges praised the students’ depth of understanding, teamwork, creativity, and confidence, highlighting how effectively participants transformed complex mathematical ideas into engaging explanations.

Inspiring the Next Generation

A keynote address by Dr Mervat Madi set the tone for the day, encouraging students to see mathematics as a powerful tool for innovation, problem-solving, and future career pathways. Her message reinforced the idea that mathematics extends far beyond the classroom and plays a central role in shaping solutions across industries and communities.

Reflecting on the experience, Azeezat Amusa, Coach at the American School of Creative Science, Layyah, Sharjah, shared:
“Mathalon was an exceptionally well-organised and inspiring experience for our students. The professionalism, warmth, and smooth coordination throughout the day created an environment where students felt confident, motivated, and genuinely joyful about mathematics. It reminded us that mathematics can be both meaningful and exciting, leaving a lasting impact on our entire school community.”

Celebrating Achievement

The winners of the competition were Bright Riders School, Abu Dhabi, represented by Jiya Jinesh Kumar Doshi, Jessica Robiston, and Dhruv Sharma. Congratulations to the Runners-Ups as well, the American School of Creative Science, Layyah, Sharjah (Team 7), represented by Azzam Ala Mohammed Azzam Younis, Ali Mansoor Saadoon Al Rawaf, AbdulMatin Olatunde Suara, and Malik Abouzaid!

By bringing mathematical concepts into conversation with real-world challenges, Mathalon Juniors at the University of Wollongong in Dubai highlighted the power of mathematics as a tool for exploration, creativity, and problem-solving. The event offered young learners a platform to think critically, communicate confidently, and engage with mathematics as a living discipline—one that continues to shape how we understand and interact with the world.