The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FCNM) at ESPOL reaffirmed its commitment to developing future generations of professionals by organizing, in collaboration with the Ecuadorian Statistical Society, the 2nd Ecuadorian Statistics Olympiad. This academic event brought together 552 participants from 54 schools across different provinces, fostering interest in data science among young people throughout the country.
Held from November 8 to 29, the competition challenged participants with statistical problems designed to introduce them to real-world applications of the discipline and demonstrate how statistics transforms data into information for informed decision-making.
The Olympiad was structured in two phases: an initial individual online round, followed by an in-person final phase, in which teams from different schools developed and defended a statistical project before a panel of expert judges.
Matías Navarrete, a student from Unidad Educativa Alborada in Cuenca, explained that he and his classmates were drawn to the challenge of trying something new, such as a Statistics Olympiad.
“We were very excited during the preparation process. Analyzing data was a really exciting experience—something different from anything we had done before,” he said. “It is something you genuinely enjoy; it is very engaging and fun to do.”
Similarly, Paul Villón, a student from Academia Naval Almirante Illingworth, stated that participating in the competition “was a challenge that opened new opportunities” and allowed him to “demonstrate other abilities,” particularly in data analysis and interpretation.
Through this initiative, FCNM and its Statistics program seek to promote scientific curiosity, strengthen evidence-based critical thinking, and recognize emerging talent in a field that is increasingly in demand in both academic and professional settings.
“Promoting statistical literacy among young people is essential because it provides them with tools to better understand information, think critically, and make informed decisions in a world driven by data,” said Professor Pamela Crow, organizer of the event.
FCNM plans to expand this initiative in future editions and continue creating opportunities that encourage young talent to pursue high-impact scientific careers.
