Tribune News Network
Doha
This year’s World Mathematics Team Championship–Qatar 2024, held under the theme ‘Algebra and Balancing’, concluded on December 1 at Qatar Foundation (QF). The event celebrated the legacy of Muslim scholar Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi, known as the Father of Algebra, whose groundbreaking contributions continue to influence mathematics, astronomy and geography.
Mohammed Al-Janahi, Elementary School Principal at Awsaj Academy, part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, remarked: "What makes Al-Khwarizmi unique is not only his achievements but also his progressive vision, which integrated various sciences and sparked an unprecedented scientific renaissance. Today, whether performing calculations on computers or applying concepts of algebra and algorithms, we are reminded of this genius who showed that science is a universal language transcending borders and time.”
Al-Janahi emphasised that Al-Khwarizmi’s book, ‘The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing’, is more than a mathematical text; it serves as an academic reference and the cornerstone of modern algebra. This underscores the profound impact Al-Khwarizmi has had on the evolution of mathematics.
"Mathematics inspires students to explore and delve deeper into scientific fields,” Al-Janahi added. "It underpins many other disciplines, including physics and engineering.”
Al-Janahi’s innovative approach to teaching mathematics incorporates poetry and song into interactive clips shared on an educational online platform accessible to all students. This method simplifies scientific concepts, making them more relatable to students’ daily lives.
He believes that learning about the achievements of scientists who contributed to the advancement of this field can enrich students’ knowledge and enhance their appreciation for mathematics.
"Mathematics is a field that demands continuous effort and years of research and development to achieve progress,” he said. "This can only be accomplished through commitment and perseverance – precisely what this championship offers students as a scientific platform to unleash their potential and nurture their passion for learning.”
Al-Janahi explains that events such as the World Mathematics Team Championship–Qatar 2024 can lay the foundation for future scientists as their journey is fueled by a passion for learning and a love for knowledge. He emphasizes that the championship transcends its competitive nature to become an intellectual and scientific journey, inspiring young minds to be part of a continuous scientific legacy rooted in the past.
"It’s not about titles or prizes,” he says, "but about the same pursuit of knowledge that drove the great scientists throughout history.”
According to Al-Janahi, this championship offers students a unique opportunity to explore mathematics – one of the oldest sciences known to humanity – which functions as a universal language connecting different civilizations, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.