About us

The Program for the Advancement of Mathematically Talented Youth was founded by the late Prof. Zvi Arad and Prof. Bernard Pinchuk in 1982. The program is operated by the Israel Center for the Advancement of Mathematical Sciences and operates in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics of Bar Ilan University. 2018 marked 36 years since the program was founded. The program includes over close to 9,000 students in grades 6-10 from all over the country.

The late Professor Zvi Arad

Professor Zvi Arad, one of the founders of The Program for the Advancement of Mathematically Talented Youth, was a math professor who specialized in abstract algebra, the theory of finite groups. Professor Zvi Arad created the "Table algebras" theory - an important branch of modern algebra.
The late Professor Arad served as a lecturer at Bar Ilan University, a Rector and Acting President of Bar Ilan University in the years 1989 to 1993. In addition, Professor Arad held various senior positions at Bar Ilan University, including Dean of the Faculty of Natural science and Mathematics and as head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Professor Arad served as a member of the Council of High Education in Israel and in 1995 was one of the founders of the Netanya Academic College where he served as the president of the college. Professor Arad published four books, regarding about 100 articles for the International Mathematical Press, and has been a member of the editorial board of the Chinese Academy's Algebra Colloquium, and the International Journal Systems of the American Mathematical Society (A.M.S.), and more.

Professor Bernard Pinchuk

Professor Bernard Pinchuk, one of the founders of The Program for the Advancement of Mathematically Talented Youth, is a mathematics professor who specializes in complex and harmonic analysis. Professor Bernard Pinchuk has authored numerous important articles in leading journals in mathematics in the United States and around the world.
Professor Pinchuk was a lecturer at Princeton University, the Hebrew University, and Bar Ilan University and a member of the institute for advanced study in Princeton. Professor Bernard Pinchuk has held various senior positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bar Ilan University, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as a member of various professional committees at the university and the Ministry of Education. In 1995 Professor Pinchuk was one of the founders of the Netanya Academic College where he served as rector and deputy to the President of the College.

Goals and objectives:

Opening a window to diversity in the world of mathematics and creating a positive learning experience in this field.
Cultivating independent thinking among talented students, through the acquisition of self-learning and research skills.
Developing mathematical thinking and acquiring strategies for solving various problems.
Uncovering the intellectual potential in talented students by setting new and interesting challenges.
Providing tools for effective time management, especially given the fact that most students in the program do not need to spend time in school in order to reach achievements.
Completion of the matriculation examination in the 10th grade at a level of 5 points with honors (a multi-year average stands at 96-98) in order to continue academic studies by the end of tenth grade.

The secret of success:

The reason our students achieve outstanding achievements and reach averages that are tens of points higher than the national average is due to the fact that the program is able to choose the top math students and work with them. This allows the classes to be held with no interruptions and can be spread over the entire 45 minutes of each lesson.
In order to lead outstanding students an excellent team is hand picked and specially trained for the job.
Our team consists of experienced teachers who are looking for additional challenges as well as young enthusiastic teachers at the beginning of their career ,some of which are students for advanced degrees.
Mathematical knowledge is very important, but no less important is the special nature of the teachers. Teachers enjoy teaching in the program because the lessons are delivered in the form of questions and answers, and not just frontal instruction. Students create a challenge and create interest for the teachers.
Caring teachers - If a student does not show up for a lesson or two, the teacher will contact him/her, the teacher allocates a certain time that he can be called for homework problems and then according to the difficulty or number of referrals will decide if he will answer / prepare solutions / bring to class.
Accompanying support and guidance - students will experience various challenges during the first year. In order to deal with these, students need parental help and support. The program staff always offers an attentive ear, assistance and advice.
Program Forum - The program runs a forum which provides academic help for the students. The students are given a username and password and are able to be active in the forum.