Volume 10 Number 2 October 2023

Report from Latest Conference ICTMA21 in Awaji, Japan ................................................................................ 1
The Henry Pollak Award 2023 ........................................................................................................................ 4
Citation for the awarding of the Henry Pollak Award 2023 to Gloria Ann Stillman ........................................... 4
Welcome to ICTMA 22 in Linköping, Sweden, August 10-15, 2025 ................................................................... 6
News .............................................................................................................................................................. 6
News from Brazil ............................................................................................................................................ 6
The XII CNMEM marks the face-to-face meeting of the Brazilian community ................................................... 6
NEWS ABOUT BRAZIL'S MATHEMATICAL MODELING WORKING GROUP .......................................................... 7
Recent Dissertations ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Recent Publications of Interest ....................................................................................................................... 8

Report from Latest Conference ICTMA21 in Awaji, Japanby Toshikazu Ikeda and Akihiko Saeki
ICTMA21 was successfully organized by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Japan. It waschaired by Prof. Toshikazu Ikeda and vice-chaired by Prof. Akihiko Saeki and Prof. Keiichi
Nishimura. The conference took place in person from September 10th to 15th, 2023. It
adhered to the theme 'Collaboration in Mathematical Modelling Education,' emphasizing thesignificance of collaboration among students, teachers, researchers, and industry
professionals.
Based on the feedback received from the participants, the organizers confidently conclude
that the conference was a resounding success. For the first time, an Early Career Researcher
Day was incorporated into the ICTMA meeting. It featured lectures by Prof. Gabriele Kaiser,Şerife Sevinç, and Gloria Stillman.
The scientific program included a joint keynote speech by Prof. Merrilyn Goos and Prof. Susana
Carreira titled Conceptualising the relationship between mathematical modelling andinterdisciplinary stem education, three plenary lectures: Prof. Gilbert Greefrath's Teacher
education and mathematical modelling: pre-service teachers’ professional competence for theteaching of mathematical modelling, Prof. Jennifer A. Czocher's In their own words:
explanations of stem students’ reasoning during mathematical modelling, and Prof. Yoshinori
Shimizu's Lesson study and its relations to mathematical modelling. A plenary panel discussion
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took place led by Prof. Jonas Bergman Ärlebäck (Chair), Prof. Jinfa Cai, Prof. Gabriele Kaiser,
and Prof. Roza Leikin on the topic of Relations among problem solving/posing, creativity, andmathematical modelling.'Additionally, a special lecture titled IMMC: Celebrating 10 years of
influencing educational change’ was delivered by Prof. Benjamin Galluzzo and Alfred Cheung.

The opening ceremony took place on September 10th. Prof. Toshikazu Ikeda, the Chair of the
Local Committee, along with Prof. Gabriele Kaiser, President of ICTMA, and Prof. Yoshinori
Shimizu, President of JSME, delivered welcoming remarks. The ceremony concluded with aperformance of the traditional Japanese musical art form, known as the Koto. During theevenings of Monday and Tuesday, participants gathered for a happy hour. This provided an
opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures to share their experiences
and strengthen their relationships. On Thursday, two types of excursions to Kyoto and Himeji
Castle were organized.
Friday featured the general meeting, during which Prof. Vince Geiger was nominated andconfirmed as the new President of ICTMA. Additionally, Prof. Gilbert Greefrath and Prof.
Milton Rosa were appointed as international executive members. Prof. Gabriele Kaiser was
confirmed as co-opted member as well as Dr. Rina Durandt and Prof. Angeles Dominguez.
President and members of
the international executive
committee:
Toshikazu Ikeda, Angeles
Dominguez, Vince Geiger(President), Gabriele Kaiser,
Gilbert Greefrath, Jennifer
Czocher, Milton Rosa
(not on the photo: Jonas
Bergman Ärlebäck, Rina
Durandt, Hans-Stefan Siller)

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The revised constitution of ICTMA was discussed and approved through a vote. The
conference dinner featured a captivating performance of the traditional Japanese Taikodrumming, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the attendees.
The conference closed after the panel discussion with the Henry Pollak Award ceremonyhonoring Prof. Gloria Stillman. During the closing ceremony, Professor Toshikazu Ikeda, theLocal Committee Chair, and Prof. Gabriele Kaiser, President of ICTMA, expressed their
gratitude to all participants. Prof. Jonas Bergman Ärlebäck and Prof. Peter Frejd announced
that the next ICTMA22 will be held in Sweden. The ceremony concluded with anotherenchanting performance of the traditional Japanese musical art form, the Koto.
The conference featured a total of 107 accepted long/short presentations and poster sessions,with a total of 216 registered participants.
Submissions by country/area
30

26

25
20

20
15
10
5

6 5 5
4

6
1 0

3

1 0

2

1 1 0 1 1

2

1 1

2 3

1

2

1 0

0 0

Australia
BrazilChile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Denmark
Germany
Hong Kong
Iran
IsraelJapan
Malaysia
Mexico
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
NorwayPortugal
Korea
South Africa
Spain
SwedenTaiwanThailandTurkeyUgandaUSA
Viet Nam
Zimbabwe

010

Participants by country/area
120
96

100
80
60
40

0

21
8 6 4 7
2 1 3

4 1 5

1 5 1 1 1 1 2

10 6

10
4 8 1 2 2 1
1 1

Australia
BrazilChile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Denmark
Germany
Hong Kong
Iran
IsraelJapan
Malaysia
Mexico
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
NorwayPortugal
Korea
South Africa
Spain
SwedenTaiwanThailandTurkeyUgandaUSA
Viet Nam
Zimbabwe

20

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The Henry Pollak Award 2023
The ICTMA Career Research medal named The Henry
Pollak Award established at ICTMA18 in 2017 in
Stellenbosch has been awarded for the second time in
2023. The award of this medal reflects ICTMA's pride inan ICTMA member's outstanding research inmathematical modelling education. The ceremony took
place in 2023 at the official ICTMA21 conference in Japan.
The Henry Pollak Award is awarded to Prof. Dr. Gloria
Ann Stillman on the grounds of her impressive contribution and engagement to mathematicalmodelling and the ICTMA community.

The award winner G. A. Stillman (right) with laudator G. Kaiser (left)

Citation for the awarding of the Henry Pollak Award 2023 to Gloria Ann Stillman
by Gabriele Kaiser
The Henry Pollak Award in 2023 goes to Gloria Ann Stillman as she is fulfilling the criteria of
the award in an outstanding way.
1. For three decades, Gloria Stillman has been an active and prolific researcher within the fieldof mathematical modelling and applications in (primarily secondary) mathematics education
and related areas such as problem solving, cognitive demand and metacognition as well asteacher education. Her research achievements are certainly sustained and distinguished, bothin quantitative and in qualitative terms, and have been exhibited in many publications in highranking research journals, prestigious books, influential conference proceedings, and scholarly
reports. Many of her publications have significantly contributed to shaping the field ofmathematical modelling educational research, especially her work on modelling contexts,

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assumptions, blockages, and enablers as well as on metacognition, themes on which she hascollaborated extensively with other protagonists in the field.
2. In addition to its manifest impact within her primary area of research, Gloria Stillman’s
research has had a broad impact on curriculum change and development nationwide inAustralia, and in particular in the states of Queensland and Victoria, where she is also a coauthor of a series of secondary mathematics textbooks. Her research has also had an impact
on research and practice in the teaching of secondary school mathematics at large, as isreflected in an award-winning book with two co-authors. Also, her work on metacognition andon the use of digital technologies to support real-world problem solving has proved very
influential, in particular her studies of the role of anticipatory metacognition in the broader
context of STEM education.
Gloria’s impact has not only flown from her research studies and publications. She has also
played a significant part in mentoring doctoral and other students - secondary, tertiary as wellas graduate students, including several graduate students from other countries.
3. When it comes to active and participatory scholarship within the field of mathematicalmodelling education research, Gloria Stillman’s record of quality is remarkable. She has
participated in being an invited speaker (several times in a keynote role) at a large number ofconferences on but also beyond mathematical applications and modelling in mathematics
education. Moreover, she has been a member of several committees within the field, includingorganising committees of high-profile conferences and sub-conferences, such as ICME Topic
Study Groups. She has been an editor or co-editor of several books and book series – including
Springer’s International Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematical Modelling- as well as special journal issues on mathematical modelling educational research and relatedareas. This has already been mentioned during the conference several times.
Gloria is well connected within a great network of collaborators and close colleagues from allover the world, with many of whom she has been engaged in numerous research projects,
oftentimes of a long duration.
4. Not many protagonists in mathematical modelling education research can muster a recordof long-standing research-related contributions and service to ICTMA similar to Gloria’s. She
has been an active member of ICTMA since 1997 and has presented research at almost every
ICTMA since then. She was the chair and co-organiser of ICTMA15 in Melbourne. She has
contributed substantially to the ICTMA books, of which she has been a co-editor of several
volumes. She developed the ICTMA Newsletter, which she edited 2007-2017. She was anelected member of the ICTMA International Executive 2007-2019, serving as its Secretary
2009-2015 and as ICTMA President 2011-2019.
Against this background, it is evident that Gloria Ann Stillman is an eminently worthy recipientof the Henry Pollak Award for 2023.

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Welcome to ICTMA 22 in Linköping, Sweden, August 10-15, 2025
by Jonas Bergman Ärlebäck and Peter Frejd
In 1989 the fourth International Conference on Teaching of Mathematical Modelling andApplication (ICTMA4) was arranged in Roskilde in Denmark. For ICTMA22 in 2025 we extend
an invitation to all researchers, teachers and mathematicians interested in the teaching andlearning of mathematical modelling and applications to return to Scandinavia again – but
this time to Sweden and the city of Linköping! August the 10th an early research career day
is planned as is the welcome reception. The official academic program will start on August
11th. https://liu.se/en/article/international-conference-ictma22

News•

The journal Computation published by MDPI is in the process of soliciting articles for the
special issue “Computations in Mathematics, Mathematical Education, and Science”. If
you are interested in contributing an article to this special issue, please visit
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/computation/special_issues/56MLF9N68C.
I was recruited to serve as Guest Editor for the special issue. Thank you for yourattention to this announcement (Sergei Abramovich)•

A new book in the series "International Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning ofMathematical Modelling" is published. This volume provides a snapshot of the current
state-of-the-art in theory, research, and practice in the area of mathematical modellingin education. The various chapters reflect the work carried out at ICME-14 held in
Shanghai in July 2021, within the scope of Topic Study Group 22 and Survey Team 4:Greefrath, G., Carreira, S. P., & Stillman, G. A. (Eds.). (2023). Advancing and Consolidating
Mathematical Modelling: Research from ICME-14. Springer.

News from Brazil
The XII CNMEM marks the face-to-face meeting of the Brazilian community
by Débora Da Silva Soares
Between August 24 and 26, 2023, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
hosted the XII National Conference on Modelling in Mathematics Education, in the city ofPorto Alegre, RS, Brazil. With the theme “Mathematical Modelling in Pandemic Times:
challenges, perspectives and values”, the event marked the face-to-face meeting of theBrazilian community of Mathematical Modelling in Mathematics Education after a 4-year
gap without the event being held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The event was attended by students, teachers and researchers from 5 regions of Brazil,
totalizing 11 states and the Federal District. Additionally, it received participants from
Colombia. There were 236 registrants and 94 work presentations, in the modalities of
Scientific Communication, Experience Report and Posters, in addition to the Opening Lecture,a Conversation Circle, four Thematic Debates and the Closing Panel.
In an atmosphere of joy and emotion, the event provided several reunions, new meetings,alignment of partnerships, as well as the sharing of research and experiences developed andlived by the participants. In many instances there were memories about Ubiratan D'Ambrosio,
and the event ended with his picture being shown to the audience!
Highlights of the event were the display of part of the collection from the Women in
Mathematics Exhibition, which seeks to emphasize the female presence in the area; theavailability of part of the IMEzinho collection, a space created at the Institute of Mathematics
and Statistics (IME) at UFRGS that aims to offer some support to mothers and fathers withchildren who attend the institute; and receiving the IME’s Diversity Stamp, which aims toguarantee diversity in events held by the institute.
For more information about the event, including access to the proceedings, you can accessthe website www.ufrgs.br/cnmem and the Instagram account @12cnmem. We invite the
ICTMA community to participate in the next editions of the event!

NEWS ABOUT BRAZIL'S MATHEMATICAL MODELING WORKING GROUP
by Elizabeth Souza and Adriana Borssoi
Still in the Brazilian context, the researchers are preparing to submit their work to the IX
International Seminar on Research in Mathematics Education (SIPEM), where, grouped in
Working Group number 10 (WG-10) of the Brazilian Society of Mathematical Education(SBEM). They will discuss consolidated research in the area in debates with other fields ofresearch. We invite the ICMTA community to submit papers to Working Group WG-10 to beevaluated and debated at the SIPEM. The event will be held in November 2024. Detailed
information will be available on the website shortly:
http://www.sbembrasil.org.br/sbembrasil/
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Recent Dissertations••

Kawakami, T. (2023). Research on the learning and teaching of data-driven modelling inschool mathematics (unpublished doctoral dissertation). The Joint Graduate School(Ph.D. Program) in Science of School Education Hyogo University of Teacher Education.
Supervisors: Akihiko Saeki, Kazuhiko Nunokawa, & Yoichi Maeda.
Spooner, K. (submitted) Exploring Tertiary Students Mathematical Modelling
Experiences: Insights for Practice. The oral examination is scheduled for the end of
November.

Recent Publications of InterestÄrlebäck, J. B., & Albarracín, L. (2023). Fermi problems as a hub for task design inmathematics and stem education. Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications: An
International Journal of the IMA, hrad002. https://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/hrad002
Auning, C., & Auning, M. (2023). Students’ explanations of a complex natural phenomenonusing mathematical modeling as a design feature in a model-based inquiry unit. Nordic
Studies in Science Education, 19(1), 62–77. https://doi.org/10.5617/nordina.8965
Cevikbas, M., Greefrath, G., & Siller, H.-S. (2023). Advantages and challenges of using digitaltechnologies in mathematical modelling education – a descriptive systematic literature
review. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1142556
Frejd, P., & Vos, P. (2024). The spirit of mathematical modeling – a philosophical study on
the occasion of 50 years of mathematical modeling education. The Mathematics
Enthusiast, 21(1–2), 269–300. https://doi.org/10.54870/1551-3440.1626
Fukushima, T. (2023). The role of generating questions in mathematical modeling.
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 54(5), 827–
859. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2021.1977402
Gerber, S., Quarder, J., Greefrath, G., & Siller, H.-S. (2023). Promoting adaptive interventioncompetence for teaching simulations and mathematical modelling with digital tools:
Theoretical background and empirical analysis of a university course in teacher
education. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1141063.
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1141063
Hartmann, L.-M., Krawitz, J., & Schukajlow, S. (2023). Posing and Solving Modelling
Problems—Extending the Modelling Process from a Problem Posing Perspective.
Journal Für Mathematik-Didaktik, 44(2), 533–561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13138-02300223-3
Jung, H., & Magiera, M. T. (2023). Connecting mathematical modeling and social justicethrough problem posing. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 25(2), 232–251.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10986065.2021.1966713
Kanefke, J., & Schukajlow, S. (2023). I find this task interesting, so do you? Preservice
teachers’ judgments of students’ enjoyment, boredom, and situational interest
regarding tasks with and without a connection to reality. Journal of Mathematics
Teacher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-023-09581-8
Khamidov, J. A., & Akhadova, K. (2023). The role of mathematics in the formation of designcompetence of future architects and building engineers. Science and Innovation, 2(1),
97–102. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.7541432

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Lopes, A. P. C. (2022a). Advanced algebraic thinking processes in students’ modelling
activities. Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications: An International Journal of the
IMA, hrac024. https://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/hrac024
Lopes, A. P. C. (2022b). Aspects of attitudes towards mathematics in modeling activities:
Usefulness, interest, and social roles of mathematics. International Electronic Journal of
Mathematics Education, 17(4), em0711. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12394
Lopes, A. P. C. (2023). Critical consciousness in engineering education: Going beyond criticalthinking in mathematical modeling. European Journal of Engineering Education, 1–24.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2023.2203082
Meyer, J. F. C. A., & Lima, M. (2023). Relevant mathematical modelling efforts forunderstanding COVID-19 dynamics: An educational challenge. ZDM – Mathematics
Education, 55(1), 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-022-01447-2
Schukajlow, S., Krawitz, J., Kanefke, J., Blum, W., & Rakoczy, K. (2023). Open modellingproblems: Cognitive barriers and instructional prompts. Educational Studies inMathematics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-023-10265-6
Spooner, K. (2023). Using mathematical modelling to provide students with a contextual
learning experience of differential equations. International Journal of Mathematical
Education in Science and Technology, 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2023.2244472
Steffensen, L. (2023). Sustainability and mathematical modelling in 5th grade. Prometeica Revista de Filosofía y Ciencias, 27, 241–251.
https://doi.org/10.34024/prometeica.2023.27.15290
Steffensen, L., & Kasari, G. (2023). Integrating Societal Issues with Mathematical Modelling in
Pre-Service Teacher Education. Education Sciences, 13(7), 721.
https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070721
Stohlmann, M., & Yang, Y. (2023). Investigating the alignment to mathematical modelling ofteacher-created mathematical modelling activities available online. International
Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 54(5), 671–686.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2021.1961030
Wang, T., Zhang, L., Xie, Z., & Liu, J. (2023). How does mathematical modeling competency
affect the creativity of middle school students? The roles of curiosity and guided inquiry
teaching. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1044580.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1044580

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Thanks
We would like to thank all colleagues who have contributed to this newsletter with theircomments and texts.

ICTMA The International Community of Teachers of Mathematical Modelling and Applications
EditorGilbert GreefrathUniversity of Münster, Germany
greefrath@uni-muenster.de

President
Vince Geiger
Australian Catholic University
Vincent.Geiger@acu.edu.au

Please send future contributions to the editor by email <greefrath@uni-muenster.de>. The
next Newsletter will be published in March 2024. We are interested in your contributions to
any of the current sections including project reports and problems.

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