Madhava Nurture Camp Experience at IIT Bhubaneswar

About the Madhava Nurture Camp:

The Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana, Pune, and HBCSE, TIFR, Mumbai conduct a mathematics competition for undergraduate students, the Madhava Mathematics Competition, every year. It is funded by NBHM. Students in the first, second, and third year of their BSc can participate in the competition. The top performers, around 50 students, are invited to attend a week-long camp, called the Madhava Nurture Camp, at one of the prestigious institutes of the country.

I appeared in the Madhava Mathematics Competition in the second year of my BSc in Mathematics in 2022. That year, the exam was conducted in two rounds. First, an MCQ round was held online and then, the top performers were asked to take a subjective round at their nearest exam center. Although I couldn’t qualify for the second round, I was invited to attend the camp to be held at IIT Bhubaneswar from June 20 to June 25, 2023.

IIT BBS Campus:

I reached the campus on June 19 in the evening. It is one of the largest campuses I have seen in my life. Situated in a secluded area of Bhubaneswar, it is spread across a lush green landscape. The institute has a great infrastructure with many facilities. Since our stay was only for a week, we couldn’t explore much. However the identity card allowed us to visit the library, student activity center, and our department. Overall, it is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever been to.

Food, Accommodation and Travel Support:

Since the NBHM funds this camp, both food and accommodation are provided at the campus free of cost. Also, travel support is provided through reimbursement of two-way 3AC railway fares. In the camp at IIT BBS, single rooms were provided to each participant. The rooms were of decent size with a balcony. The quality of food was also superb, with a lots of veg and non-veg options everyday.

Camp Lectures:

Mathematicians from various institutes of India were invited to deliver lectures on some topics from Algebra, Complex Analysis and Numerical Analysis. Everyday two lectures were held in the forenoon and then tutorials in the afternoon. The lectures were interactive. The professors gave us enough time to ponder over every question and also allowed us to discuss among ourselves.

Fun activities and trip:

Every evening we used to gather at a place and perform something. We used to sing, dance recite poems, jokes and play games. The PhD scholars of the department answered our doubts and guided us. They also told us about the ongoing research in Mathematics, in their department as well as in the world.

One evening, we went on a trip to the nearby Barunei Hills. That too was organised by the organisers and we didn’t have to pay for anything anywhere.

Valediction:

On the last day of the camp, June 25, we received our participating certificates and invaluable guidance from the senior profs.