REd Issue 1

We discuss the impact of School Mathematics Competitions on the development of mathematical research, considering the example of the history of the Romanian mathematical school.

Education is nowadays one of the most sensitive subjects. What happens when 20 high school students decide to make steps towards creating that practical and updated education system we all crave for? The Experiments Factory is a startup based on social entrepreneurship that aims to make science comprehensible and fun. Not only has it done experiments shows with over 2,000 kids, but also launched an experiment kit for families after a crowdfunding campaign.

Traditional learning methods are lately enriched alternative methods to increase performance and to simultaneously develop multiple skills. In this article, I want to present a series of practical methods that we have developed and applied lately for early learning for knowledge sciences. At the same time we want to highlight the role of museums and science centers in learning from 2 to 99 years and the benefit of learning by teaching method.

The aims of this paper are to identify the most important trends in information technology like virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence and to explain the impact of these new technologies on the educational processes. The paper explains the benefits and the threats of technological changes in terms of economy, society and education and the impact of these changes on the way in which we will access and use information in the learning processes in near future.

The aim of this paper is to suggest a theoretical model for cell specialization. We postulated that the specialization is acquired through two fundamental mechanisms: Differentiation (which shapes the structure of the cell); Activation (which determines the cell to start functioning). A special kind of activation process is the “Brain Activation” process, as the function of the brain is not solely generating electrical impulses, but also mental processes.

Research in itself is not only a paradigm, but a paradigm shift at the same time, as each new piece of information has the potential of completely reshaping the way we see the world. But this can only happen by gaining access to multiple information sources and listening to different opinions, from scientists with different backgrounds, who share the same work and research ethics. And when it comes to medical publications, this can only be achieved through peer-review.

The Romanian education has always been a controversial subject. Since I have knowledge of myself, the majority of the things I have heard about it in the media were focused on its weaknesses: the failures of many high school students at their final exams and the innocent students paying for the frustrations of the unsatisfied and poorly paid teachers. Before leaving to the United States I could also have listed many problems related to this educational system, such as the teachers, and the big amount of information expected to be learned, or too less training for the national team representing Romania at the International Mathematical Olympiad. However, switching to such a different educational system as it is the American system and being in touch with other ones such as the Brazilian one, I have realized that many of the aspects of the Romanian education that I used to consider disadvantageous were not necessarily detrimental. The truth is that the Romanian school manages to create people who can handle not only situations that appear in the textbooks. The competition that exists at all times makes it clear that, for better or worse, someone will win and other one will lose. Not everything in life is sunshine and rainbows and that’s probably the most important lesson that I’ve learned in Romania, though I have become aware of it only after going abroad.

This article presents a personal account of good higher-education practices in America, as experienced at Harvard and Stanford. Key-scholars and decision-makers in Romania may consider replicating and/or adapting these elements to the local context. The analysis focuses on seven prominent features of the US model: student-centered community; ethics and value-based curriculum; skills for success; alumni networks; career support; monitoring and evaluation systems; and making a difference. The final section concludes, putting forth several recommendations on what Romania could learn from the US model.