NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Students from area schools recently participated in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival, hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and spent the day working with faculty and SFA students to develop problem-solving skills through math puzzles, problems and games.
 
Organized in honor of the late Julia Robinson, the first woman mathematician to be named a member of the National Academy of Science, the festival supports locally organized events across the country with the aim of promoting collaboration and creativity in kindergarten through 12th-grade students and encouraging interest in STEM.
 
“We know that middle school is a stage when such interest declines for a lot of students,” said Dr. Jane Long, associate professor in the department. “Coming to our campus for a day of positive experiences with mathematical thinking in a non-competitive atmosphere can show students that a college major in STEM could be a great opportunity for them.”
 
To learn more about SFA’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, visit sfasu.edu/academics/colleges/sciences-math/math-stats.