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家人才方面的经验相互对比，相辅相成。美国的比赛通常强调对许多简答题的快速回答。苏联的竞争要求写得更仔细、更长，回答的问题更少。美国的课外项目大多提供数学方面的高级培训，由大学教职员工授课。苏联在课堂之外的经历通常是由高中老师或学生自己引导的，更多的是涉及对问题的更深层次的探索，这些问题不需要学生自己的背景。美国学生在发展数学证明和讨论方面需要练习。正因为如此，他们在奥运风格的问题上表现不佳。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，参加苏联数学能力较高的高中生国际夏令营。对美国人来说，学习苏联的所作所为是很重要的，特别是在快速变化的苏联社会，培养他们优秀年轻数学家的一些传统可能会消失。一项允许美国人了解这些传统并借用容易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.