VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED AT IMO 2019
This should be read in conjunction with the IMO 2019 policies on data protection, processing personal information, child protection. These policies are still under construction, so should not be viewed as final versions.
If you wish to register early interest as a volunteer, send an email to volunteer@imo2019.uk with volunteer in the subject line. Please introduce yourself, explain your connection with maths or maths olympiads, and express a tentative interest in one or more of the categories of IMO2019 volunteer expained below.
No mathematical background is needed for any of these roles. Any DBS checks which need to be made will be paid for by the IMO 2019 organization.
Team Guides
Each IMO team will have a team guide who will use their knowledge of how to function in the UK to make the IMO experience as pleasant as possible for their team and its leaders. Each country will bring a designated adult (usually the deputy leader) who is in loco parentis, so this is not the job of the team guide. The main functions of a team guide consist of giving advice, helping with language issues, transmitting information about arrangements from IMO2019 organizers to participants, and alerting IMO2019 organizers to any urgent problems which need to be resolved. Team guides must have a DBS check and provide references. There will be a Chief Guide who will set policy, and co－ordinate the team guides. Team guides will be resident at the University of Bath.
At previous IMOs, most team guides have been university students. Having foreign language skills (especially of languages less used in the UK) would be particularly useful. It is important that Team Guides are responsible people, and that they actively enjoy the company of teenagers.
Team Guides must be available for training on 13th July and then resident (accommodation provided) at the University of Bath until 22nd July.
Invigilators
This task will involve working at the University of Bath.
Each IMO exam lasts 4 hours 30 minutes. A very large number of invigilators are needed in order to ensure the safe and secure sitting of the papers. Invigilators also facilitate communications between the IMO jury (Celtic Manor, Newport) and the exam site (the Sports Hall of the University of Bath). This will involve carrying and transmitting messages (questions of clarification etc), and scanning scripts. Some designated invigilators will have DBS checks (to assist students who are ill, and enter the designated exam toilet areas for security checks). There will be a Chief Invigilator who will co－ordinate and set policy for invigilators.
Monday July 15： invigilator training day; Tuesday July 16 contest day 1; Wednesday July 17 contest day 2. The invigilation days will be long, and it will be an intense experience. However, it is a short commitment in terms of days, and vital to the successful functioning of IMO2019. At previous IMOs, invigilators have often been academics, schoolteachers or students.
Administrative Personnel
We will need a team of administrators to handle all sorts of IMO activities (including registering arrivals, handing out documents, supporting communications and computing, giving advice on local geography, facilities and services, and much else besides). Administrative help will be needed both at the University of Bath, July 14－22 (with Sunday July 14th being peak activity (students’ arrival day), and at Celtic Manor, Newport July 10－17, with peak activity on July 11th (leaders’ arrival day). DBS checks will be required since administrators may have access to personal information.
Accommodation may be provided, dependent on circumstances
Jury Guides
No mathematical background is needed.
A small team of energetic people are needed to facilitate the activities of the IMO jury. This is like a UN General Assembly. Microphone running (to facilitate speeches) is a key part of this role. Thursday 11th-Weds 17th, accommodation provided at or near Celtic Manor Resort Hotel, Newport. No DBS check is needed. At previous IMOs, jury guides have often been students
Ceremony Organizers
The IMO2019 opening ceremony will be in The Forum, a theatre in Bath on Monday 15th July. This will be a jovial affair, with a parade of the nations (many in national costume), some entertainment, and as few speeches as possible. It is, however, vital that there is strict segregation between the jury site people (who have seen the exam papers), and University of Bath based people, who have not. Thus, as well as making the ceremony run smoothly, there is a policing aspect to crowd control. The closing ceremony will be at the University of Bath on Sunday 21st July. This is a more sober affair, with medals and presentations, and as few speeches as possible. Accommodation will be provided if necessary.
Transport: (including someone in charge please!)
Coordinating meet and greet, both of team leaders (mainly Thursday July 11) and students (mainly Sunday July 14), and excursions (July 18,19). Accommodation will be provided if necessary. IMO 2019 has hired a coach company which will do a lot of the work, but there need to be IMO 2019 volunteers on hand to solve problems as they arise. There is also the overseeing of the transport as people leave the IMO on July 22nd.
General
People with design skills, typesetting skills, internet skills etc please make yourself known if you are prepared to volunteer to work in advasnce of IMO 2019.
Register an early interest
If you wish to register early interest as a volunteer, send an email to volunteer@imo2019.uk with volunteer in the subject line. Please introduce yourself, explain your connection with maths or maths olympiads, and express a tentative interest in one or more of the categories of IMO2019 volunteer expained above.
