QED: MC2's Math Symposium
A citywide showcase where students present original math and computer science projects, explore ideas with mentors, and share their discoveries with the community.
QED (short for quod erat demonstrandum) is Math Circles of Chicago’s annual math symposium. It is a one-of-a-kind event where students present math and computer science projects they’ve created themselves. From playful puzzles to real-world applications and pure math research, QED empowers young people to think deeply, work creatively, and share their discoveries.
Each December, more than 100 students present their work to judges including math professors, graduate students, and educators. Participants get the chance to earn recognition, win prizes, qualify for the City STEM Fair, and connect with mentors who can guide their future studies.
Helpful links:
Getting help with a project:
QED Prep and the Big Day
This document will give you instructions about formatting your QED paper, making a display board, and more. See the rubrics for our Junior/Intermediate and Senior Project levels, along with the rubric for Computer Science Projects.
Helping Out with QED
Graduate students, undergraduates, teachers, and math people in our community, we need you! Each year we need judges, administrative help, Guesstimathon runners, and more! If you'd like to volunteer to participate in making QED a reality, sign up now!
Questions? Email us at qed@mathcirclesofchicago.org