Teachers are like the lighthouse, enlightening all the succeeding generations. They devoted themselves to teaching and research, winning many students' respect and love. The series of interviews with teachers will share their insights on education so that more people can get close to GTIIT's classes and teachers and know about its characteristics and educational philosophy.

Nikita Kalinin

GTIIT Mathematics with Computer Science Program (MCS)

Associate Professor

Nikita Kalinin comes from Russia. After completing his undergraduate and master's degrees at Saint Petersburg University, he went on to pursue his Ph.D. in Geneva, focusing on tropical geometry and algebraic geometry. Then, after one year visit in Mexico, he moved back to Saint Petersburg and worked in theoretical economics at the Higher School of Economics. He joined the Mathematical Department of Saint Petersburg University in 2019 and worked there until 2022, after which he came to GTIIT and continued his teaching.

Enjoy the process of understanding math

Falling in love with mathematics was a "natural thing" for Nikita. He recalled, "My grandmother was a primary school teacher. When I was five years old, I helped her solve math problems when she was preparing to teach. By the time I was six, I could even check her students' math homework." Besides reading, he was also fond of mathematical puzzles. Mathematical problems encountered in books were like treasures that sparked his curiosity. When he was eleven years old, he joined a mathematical circle by chance and studied Olympiad mathematics there. Eventually, he won the gold medal at the International Math Olympiad in 2005.

Many people perceive mathematics as "boring" and "abstract", but for Nikita, the process of understanding mathematics itself is inherently fascinating. As the foundation of science, mathematics covers almost every corner of human knowledge, providing perspectives to observe the world. "I love the process of understanding something; it brings great pleasure when, after trying hard, you finally grasp those complex concepts. In mathematics, understanding and the discovery of new things are deeply connected, and my curiosity and thirst for knowledge are satisfied through exploration."

Nikita's research interests include sandpile model, tropical geometry, knot theory, symplectic geometry and algebraic geometry. Currently, he is focusing on questions in geometric number theory, exploring and discovering elegant formulas and relationships between them. That mathematics abstracts complex phenomena into simple and profound essences appeals to him. His research is driven by a deep appreciation for the intrinsic beauty of mathematical structures, rather than practical applications at this stage.

Like many young students today, his academic and research journey had also faced anxiety, particularly around figuring out what to do next and how to approach new problems. "This uncertainty often leads to a fear of choosing the wrong direction. And even when a path is chosen, it can be difficult to pursue it with perseverance." He suggested that students develop habits of doing sports, and keeping in a diary with negative thoughts, achievements and good experience can also be a way to alleviate anxiety.

In this rapidly evolving era of technological advancement, every industry is changing at an unprecedented pace, and mathematics, as the universal key to scientific exploration, has an almost immeasurable application prospect. In his view, the ability to analyze complex mathematical problems has become an indispensable core competency in many fields, including programming and engineering, and is a significant advantage in one's area of strength. Nikita firmly believes that mathematics students have diverse career paths. He mentioned, "All my classmates from my school and university have good, interesting jobs, but in distant areas – some have become programmers, some teach, and some do financial analysis. One of them is a writer."

Teach in line with the student's aptitude

The ancient and evergreen mathematics seeks patterns in randomness and distills essence from complexity. Nikita admitted that it is tough to learn math by yourself without guidance. As a guide for mathematics students, his goal is to provide the environment for students where they can learn how to study hard things like math. "I show the path, like a path in the forest, indicate what is important, what is less important."

Upon joining GTIIT, he found Chinese students are clever and respectful, quickly establishing a harmonious relationship like a friend to them. When teaching number theory, he observed that Chinese students were modest and reserved, may have fear of exposing that they do not understand something in front of the whole class.

To create a positive environment in class and encourage the students to ask questions, he innovatively introduced a type of "weekly homework" where each student should ask him questions and get bonus points for the final grade. "These questions are visible only to me. It is enough to ask something meaningful, already this gives 0.5 bonus points. If a question is important, and I find it useful to discuss or repeat it in a lecture, a student gets one bonus point. Thus, just by asking something meaningful, a student can obtain up to 6.5 bonus points. Then I start every second lecture by discussing questions from this homework."

The Mathematics Department at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology has a history of nearly 70 years. He believed GTIIT's unique advantage is that students can access Israel's top teaching resources without leaving their home country. Studying in such a multicultural campus will also greatly broaden their international perspectives.

"The environment of GTIIT is perfect. Especially I like the mountain near the north campus." Adapting to local customs, he spoke with great familiarity about Chinese tea culture, "I drink a variety of Chinese tea every day," including black tea, green tea, Pu'er tea, and Chaoshan Gongfu tea, all of which are his favorites. In his spare time, he likes playing the guitar, singing and playing the piano, as well as visiting the mountains and old villages around. This young teacher will continue to lead GTIIT students through the fascinating world of mathematics.

Teacher's Message

"I always encourage students to follow their interests."

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, provided by the interviewee