Friday, 14 March 2025 The international mathematics competition Náboj gathered over 150 high school students from all over Slovenia
On today's International Day of Mathematics and Pi Day, March 14, 2025, we at the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technology at the University of Primorska celebrated with the international math competition Náboj.
This year, the competition was held for the first time in Slovenia and brought together 150 students from across the country. They participated in a two-hour challenge designed to test their mathematical knowledge.
In addition to fostering imagination and logical thinking, the event emphasized the importance of collaboration and team-building among peers, as highlighted by Assist. Prof. Dr. Ana Zalokar, the organizer and coordinator of the event.
"Thirty-two teams from across Slovenia participated in the competition, and we consider it a great success. Especially considering it was our first time organising this event in Slovenia and we were uncertain about what to expect. We were very pleased with the turnout; although we had announced 15 spots, 16 teams applied in each category. Our primary goal was to create a competition that was dynamic and team-oriented. The event was indeed dynamic, as teams worked on solving problems and then presented their solutions to evaluators for verification. If their solution was correct, they received a new task; if not, they returned to attempt solving the task again. This setup ensured plenty of action throughout the competition," she explained.
She also announced that the competition will be held again next year. "Based on the initial feedback, we can confidently state that the first edition was a success, and we have already set the date for next year: March 13, 2025," she added.
During the opening welcome, the competition tasks were presented to the students. The competition occurred in two categories: Junior (1st and 2nd years) and Senior (3rd and 4th years).
In the end, the winning teams were announced.
In the Junior Slovenia category, Gymnasium Bežigrad achieved first place, securing an impressive eighth position internationally out of 785 teams. Gymnasium Celje took second place, while Gymnasium Novo Mesto D claimed third in the same category.
Junior Slovenia category, Gymnasium Bežigrad
In the Senior Slovenia category, Gymnasium Bežigrad secured first place once again, achieving an impressive 35th position at the international level out of 743 teams. The second place went to Gymnasium Koper B, while Gymnasium Nova Gorica claimed third place.
Senior Slovenia category, Gymnasium Bežigrad
The winning teams were awarded certificates and a cash prize of €500.
Since 2005, the Náboj math competition has been held simultaneously across several countries. This format provides students with a unique opportunity to compare their skills and knowledge with peers from different nations. While results are primarily evaluated at the local level, the international comparisons add an extra layer of motivation and competitiveness. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the teams and wish them continued success in the future!
We sincerely congratulate all the teams and wish them much success in the future!
More about the competition> HERE
