University of the Philippines – Los Baños Mathematical Sciences Society (UPLB MASS) will be celebrating the Mathematical Sciences Month (MSM) from October 4 to October 31, 2025, with the theme “From Equations to Exploration: Mapping the Universe with Mathematical Sciences.”
The world’s understanding of the universe has come a long way—from believing that all heavenly bodies revolved around the Earth to discovering other galaxies and celestial bodies beyond humanity’s reach. Mathematical sciences power the tools, models, and simulations that reveal the mysteries of the universe. To explore the vast horizons of mathematical sciences in astronomy, UPLB MASS has launched various activities for this year’s MSM: the National Mathematical Challenge, Teacher’s Seminar, STAT the Fact, George.getClues(), and the Annual Search for the UPLB Math Wizard.
The National Mathematical Challenge 2025 or “MATHEMATCH” is a competition open to Junior and Senior High School students nationwide and is one of the highlights of MSM. This competition calls for three participants per team to represent their school on the national mathematical stage. Now in its fifth iteration, MATHEMATCH aims to continue nurturing the interest of the youth and expanding their knowledge in the vast fields of mathematical sciences. It will be held on October 25, 2025, at Dante B. de Padua Hall in UPLB.
An event taking off alongside the National Mathematical Challenge is the Teachers’ Seminar, wherein teachers and coaches from the participating schools will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and application of the National Statistics Month theme, “Accelerating the SDG Pace of Progress: Mobilizing Data for All,” to reflect the astronomical relevance of data-driven education in the academic landscape of today.
UPLB MASS also wishes to celebrate National Statistics Month by conducting STAT the Fact, an event launched only last year. STAT the Fact is an online infographic-making competition open to Junior and Senior High School students nationwide. Participants will have the chance to visualize data and captivate the world with infographic entries following the National Statistics Month theme, “Accelerating the SDG Pace of Progress: Mobilizing Data for All.”
To celebrate computer science, UPLB MASS will launch a brand-new event — George.getClues(). This is a five-day university-wide interstellar scavenger hunt where undergraduate UPLB students from any degree program will search far and wide for cards of varying rarities containing computer science-related clues. This cosmic quest is designed to engage UPLB students in applying computer science concepts while boosting their confidence and fueling their interest in mathematical sciences through a fun and intellectually enriching journey across the academic cosmos.
Another magical highlight of MSM is the 49th Annual Search for the UPLB Math Wizard. This event has been casting its magic for nearly half a century. It is open to all UPLB undergraduate students from any degree program. Participants will have the opportunity to conquer Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Statistics, and Trigonometry and unleash their math magic.
UPLB MASS invites everyone to explore the universe of mathematical sciences and navigate through its relevance in various aspects. Launching an interstellar celebration of mathematical sciences is more than a showcase of skills—it is also a tribute to the astronomical power of mathematical sciences in our universe. With constellations of exciting events, this year’s MSM intends to inspire, challenge, and celebrate the bright minds that navigate the cosmos—creating stars that shine bright toward the future.
