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Eli said he was "quite shocked" to win the prize
Exeter student wins undergraduate essay prize
A student who was at the University of Exeter last year as part of the Study Abroad scheme has won the British Society for the History of Mathematics undergraduate essay prize.
The prize is awarded annually for an essay submitted by a student from a UK or Irish University on any topic in the history of mathematics.
The winning student receives a cash prize of £100, a free three-year membership to the BSHM, and they are also invited to give a talk at the upcoming BSHM Research in Progress meeting.
Mathematics student, Eli Hymson won the competition for his outstanding essay entitled: "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Foundationless Mathematics."
His essay was submitted as part of an assignment for the Mathematics: History and Culture module and he was encouraged to enter the competition by the module leader, Professor Peter Ashwin.
Eli was extremely happy to have won the competition and said: “At first I was quite shocked, honestly. Students from many top universities submit essays on really fascinating topics. Now that it has been a few days since the news, I'm thrilled and honoured that a piece of my work has been received so well.”
Eli thoroughly enjoyed his time at Exeter and felt that the College helped him to settle into life in the UK.
He said: “I miss Exeter nearly every day. The intellectual environment at the university and in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences is truly unique and special.
"Even as a one-term exchange student, I felt welcomed, included, and valued in my classes and societies, sometimes even more so than at my home university.”
Eli has since graduated with degrees in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Kansas and will begin a career as a Federal Banking Regulator in the US at the beginning of August.
Date: 4 September 2017