Hard work adds up to success for maths graduate

Mathematics has been a lifelong passion for University of Queensland graduand Ivan Zelich. "Ever since I was young, I always enjoyed playing around with numbers and I liked to find tricks to solve mathematical equations quickly," he said. "This hobby turned into a great passion of mine, especially when I started to read mathematical literature and compete in high school Olympiads." Ivan finishes his time at UQ as Valedictorian for the Faculty of Science, something he said was an unexpected honour. "It certainly means a lot to be recognised for three years of hard work and it is a wonderful way to close off my undergraduate experience. "I think mathematics has a certain reputation as being all about solving equations and therefore not that creative, but in my opinion it is probably one of the most creative pursuits out there since it has no boundaries on imagination, much like creative writing. "Mathematics is also very versatile, in that the skills one must develop to be a mathematician, such as problem solving, are needed in many jobs outside of academia." Ivan used those skills to solve a simple equation - how to complete his undergraduate degree in two years rather than three. He studied six subjects each semester ahead of a year of honours, achieving Dean's Commendations for Academic Excellence in all six semesters, the James Cecil Stevenson Memorial Prize in 2017 and the Giuseppe Sciacca International Award for Mathematics along the way.