THE YOUNG MATHEMATICAL STORY AUTHORS (YMSA)
2021 COMPETITION
The Young Mathematical Story Authors (YMSA) competition is the world's first annual international competition set up to encourage young mathematics learners (8-15 years old) from around the world to embed their mathematics learning in a meaningful and engaging context through creating their own mathematical story picture book. This competition is organised by MathsThroughStories.org.
Judging Criteria
- Ability to clearly explain the chosen mathematical concept in the story without assuming readers' knowledge of the topic;
- Ability to embed the chosen mathematical concept in a meaningful context;
- Ability to show how characters' knowledge of the chosen mathematical topic can help them solve a problem(s);
- Ability to represent the chosen mathematical concept contextually (in words), visually (via page illustrations), and symbolically (via using correct mathematical symbols, notations and language);
- Accuracy of mathematical concepts presented in the story;
- Ability to come up with an engaging plot and story;
- Gender and ethnicity balance in characters;
- Overall presentation and standard of writing (e.g. quality of illustrations, the use of punctuation, spelling, etc.)
Judging Panel
In addition to Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai (Founder of MathsThroughStories.org and Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Reading, UK), our judging panel also includes two of the world's most prolific and best-selling mathematical story authors, Stuart J. Murphy and Cindy Neuschwander. Both Stuart and Cindy have also kindly agreed to let us name our annual awards for the winners of the 8-11 and 12-15 age group categories as The Stuart J. Murphy Award and The Cindy Neuschwander Award respectively.
Quick Stats
This year, we received entries from 626 students across 62 schools and homeschooling sites in 12 countries around the world. Our competition is also very inclusive with 389 female students, 235 male students and two self-identified non-binary students participated in the competition this year.
If you want to learn more about our upcoming 2022 competition, click here.
If you want to learn more about our 2020 competition, click here.
If you want to learn more about our 2019 competition, click here.
RESULTS
THE STUART J. MURPHY AWARD
(THE 8-11 YEARS OLD CATEGORY)
THE CINDY NEUSCHWANDER AWARD
(THE 12-15 YEARS OLD CATEGORY)
