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Let’s Get the Ball Rolling with SIMC2.0

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Let’s Get The Ball Rolling With SIMC2.0

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Let’s Get The Ball Rolling With SIMC2.0

Jeyasankar Shanmugapriya Vasubbratha, Danyson Wong De Sheng

The emcees of the SIMC2.0 2026 Opening Ceremony
The emcees of the SIMC2.0 2026 Opening Ceremony (Photo: Media / Wenchao)

The clock hits 9.30 a.m.  A buzz of excitement fills the air as students claim their seats in the auditorium. 250 students and educators from 63 schools across 27 countries have gathered here for one purpose –

SIMC2.0 has officially begun!

Launch of SIMC2.0 2026 by the Chief Judge, Chief Setter, Keynote Speaker, and NUS High School Principal
Launch of SIMC2.0 2026 by the Chief Judge, Chief Setter, Keynote Speaker, and NUS High School Principal (Photo: Media / Kai Ming)

The ceremony started with Ms. Soh welcoming the participants and educators. The Singapore International Mathematical Challenge jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and NUS High School is now better known as SIMC2.0 – where participants explore various applications of computational and mathematical modelling for real world problems.

Keynote speech by Professor Sow Chorng Haur
Keynote speech by Professor Sow Chorng Haur, Physics Professor at the National University of Singapore (Photo: Media / Wenchao)

Guest-of-Honour Professor Sow Chorng Haur began his keynote by addressing the extent of AI in our world today, even highlighting how the slides he used were made with AI from only a written script. Quoting George Box, “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” – he went on to showcase how AI is primarily useful because you can fail quickly and cheaply.

Audience members attempting the various brain wiring exercises by Professor Sow
Audience members attempting the various brain wiring exercises by Professor Sow (Photo: Media / Min)

But it was the next section that won the audience over – a demonstration that would show how our brains are wired imperfectly – when he got the crowd to try rolling one hand clockwise and the other in reverse. After much hilarity – he explained that this was not dissimilar to the imperfections inherent in AI.

From simple lithium-ion batteries to the spread of diseases across an entire country, the Professor showed how mathematical and computational modelling exists all around us and maintains its utmost importance despite its imperfections. We only need to close our eyes and open our minds to see it.

Release of the Sepak Takraw balls into the audience
Release of the Sepak Takraw balls into the audience (Photo: Media / Wenchao)

The Opening Ceremony then concluded with a cascade of colourful Sepak Takraw spheres rolling down the auditorium, representing the wave of innovation about to unfold.

We at the Publications committee wish all participants in both tracks the best of luck, a fruitful experience, and loads of fun!



Animation Designed by Yu Simu