Mathematical Sciences: A US - Soviet Exchange for High School Students of High Mathematical Ability

美国和苏联在培养青年数学人才方面的经验相互对照，相互补充。美国的竞赛通常强调对许多简短问题的快速反应。苏联的竞赛要求对更少的问题写得更仔细、更长的答案。美国的课外项目通常提供数学主题的高级培训，由大学教员授课。课堂外的苏联经验通常是由高中教师或学生自己领导的，并且更多地涉及对问题的更深入的探索，这些问题不需要学生自己的背景。美国学生需要在数学证明和讨论方面进行练习。正因为如此，他们在奥林匹克式的问题上表现不佳。这笔赠款将支持25名高中生和5名高中教师于1991年7月前往苏联，参加在苏联为具有高数学能力的高中生举办的国际夏令营。对美国人来说，了解苏联的成就是很重要的，尤其是在快速变化的苏联社会中，一些培养出优秀年轻数学家的传统可能会消失。一项允许美国人了解这些传统并借用易于运输的东西的计划是非常及时的。

American and Soviet experiences with developing talent in young mathematicians contrast with and complement each other. American competitions usually emphasize speedy response to many short-answer questions. Soviet competitions call for more carefully written longer answers to fewer problems. American extra-curricular programs most frequently provide advanced training in mathematical subject matter, taught by university staff. Soviet experiences outside the classroom are often led by high school teachers or by the students themselves, and more frequently involve deeper exploration of problems which need no background beyond the students' own. American students need practice in developing mathematical proofs and discussions. Because of this, they do not compete well on Olympiad-style questions. This grant will support 25 high school students and 5 high school teachers to travel to the Soviet Union in July, 1991, in order to participate in an international summer camp for high school students of high mathematical ability in the USSR. It is important for Americans to learn what has been done in the Soviet Union, especially since in the rapidly changing Soviet society, some of the traditions that have produced their excellent young mathematicians may disappear. A plan for permitting Americans to learn about these traditions and borrow what can be easily transported is very timely.