| The Spirit of Ramanujan Math Talent Initiative is presented by Ken Ono, Thomas Jefferson Professor of Mathematics at the University of Virginia; Art of Problem Solving; Expii, the open, personalized learning platform; and the Templeton World Charity Foundation, in conjunction with Pressman Film, producers of the motion picture "The Man Who Knew Infinity". The Spirit of Ramanujan Math STEM Talent Initiative strives to find undiscovered STEM talent around the world.
The creators of the Spirit of Ramanujan Math Talent Initiative were inspired by the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a gifted mathematician and the subject of the film. In 1913, Ramanujan, a poor Hindu college dropout who was self-taught in mathematics, reached out to renowned British mathematician G.H. Hardy in his search for mathematical peers and colleagues. Hardy was so astonished by Ramanujanʼs mathematical theories that he invited Ramanujan to Cambridge to study and collaborate. From the start, Ramanujan was fighting against the odds because of his poverty, his location, and the inflexibility of formal schooling. Yet with his brilliant mind, his dreams, and the support of the mathematical community, he defied those odds and went on to change the future of mathematics. Together with Hardy, Ramanujan innovated vast tracts of mathematics before returning to India in fragile health. Tragically, he died at 32, leaving three enigmatic notebooks that drive cutting-edge research to this day. |
