Every year, on the third Thursday of March, more than six million students partake in the Math Kangaroo competition, allowing children aged 7 to 18 from across the globe to test their mathematical skills. This year, on March 20, the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics at Stony Brook University welcomed over 100 participants under the guidance of SchoolNova for the event's 20th consecutive year at the location.
The students, eager to engage in mathematical challenges, competed across six age categories, with tasks including solving 24 or 30 multiple-choice problems within a 90-minute span. Math Kangaroo, which began in Australia during the 1980s, expanded into the United States in 1998, initially involving one school in Chicago. Since then, participation in the U.S. has grown to over 52,000 students in 2025. SchoolNova, officially a competition center since 2006, has facilitated the involvement of hundreds of local students annually, with more than 30 achieving state wins and over a dozen placing in the top three nationally.
“The day SchoolNova hosts the Math Kangaroo is one of my favorites,” stated Marina Polonskaia, the director of SchoolNova. “It’s exciting to see students of all ages arrive with their families, eager to tackle engaging math problems together. Their expressions shift from deep focus to joyful smiles as they work through challenges.”
The competition strives to enhance students’ enjoyment and accessibility to math. Participants anticipate preparing for the event together, discussing problems and solutions, and celebrating their successes post-competition. Besides the competition thrill, they appreciate the festive environment, prizes, and sharing success with teachers and family.
“Math Kangaroo makes me stretch my brain and makes me think,” commented Sophie, a fifth-grade student at SchoolNova. “While becoming smarter is a part of it, I do Kangaroo for the thrill and to make me happy with what score I get, good or bad. It pushes me to be better and work harder.”
Luis Alvarez-Gaume, director of the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, mentioned, “The future belongs to the young, and it is important that they get motivated to learn the tools that will solve many of the challenges facing humans and the planet. Those tools involve science, and what SchoolNova is doing is precisely that: motivating, training and guiding our youth to excel in many STEM subjects that will help construct a less hostile future. It is an honor and a privilege for the Simons Center to host and to support SchoolNova activities. Like in relay races, we have to pass the baton to the next partners, and here those partners are our motivated youngsters.”
Alexander Abanov, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook and a mathematics and physics teacher for SchoolNova, added, “I truly enjoy the Math Kangaroo competition. It is unique in bringing together children of all ages, inspiring the belief that mathematics is beautiful for everyone.”
SchoolNova at Stony Brook, established in 2004, offers specialized education in mathematics, sciences, languages, and art. The institute is staffed by accomplished instructors, including Stony Brook University professors and educators with advanced qualifications. SchoolNova serves more than 450 students, offering both in-person and online education.
— Olga Kaufman