IMM wins the Elsevier Mathematical Sciences Sponsorship Fund

Using Mathematics to Tackle Social Discrimination: IMM Wins Elsevier Mathematical Sciences Sponsorship Fund

The International Mathematics Master (IMM) has been awarded the Elsevier Mathematical Sciences Sponsorship Fund for an ambitious and socially driven project titled “Building Mathematical Capacity against Social Discrimination: A Pilot Youth Hackathon Initiative.”

The initiative will take place in March 2025 in Lahore, hosted by the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) a leading center for mathematical research and education in Pakistan.

At its core, the project explores a powerful idea: mathematics is not just about numbers, it can be a tool to understand, predict and ultimately challenge social discrimination.

Mathematics Meets Social Justice

The event will bring together 40 talented undergraduate students, with a strong emphasis on participation from underrepresented groups, to work collaboratively on mathematical models addressing urgent social questions:

How does social discrimination spread within societies?

What are the dynamics behind unfair decision-making?

How do multiple disadvantages such as gender, disability, or socio-economic background intersect to limit access to STEM education?

Through an intensive hackathon, participants will design and analyze mathematical models aimed at predicting and understanding discrimination dynamics in markets, institutions and educational systems. The work will draw on tools such as statistical modeling and signal detection theory connecting abstract mathematics to real-world challenges.

Participants will be divided into three groups, each of them facilitated by IMM students and tasked with tackling real-life problem through a structured modeling process. Facilitators, chosen among students from IMM Pakistan, will guide BSc level participants in modeling mathematical solutions to understand, analyze or address contemporary issues related to discrimination. As mentors, IMM students will shape the hackathon experience from start to finish. They will define the group themes, lead the introductory and brainstorming sessions, and support participants during the modelling process, helping them translate social questions into mathematical frameworks. Motivation, curiosity, and teamwork are the only prerequisites, no prior mentoring experience needed.

For IMM students and former scholars based in Pakistan, this project is more than just an event—it’s an opportunity to step into mentorship roles, gain experience with informal education, and explore how mathematics can be a tool for social change. 

The initiative requires full presence in Lahore, with monetary compensation provided alongside full coverage of travel and accommodation.

Applications for facilitators (deadline: 30th January): https://forms.gle/XFwbWcRLzaXt6x9q9

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