This page is our chapter’s hub for the ODE–Integration Bee project: local contests, training material, and archives, all connected to a wider international initiative.
What the ODE–Integration Bee is
The ODE–Integration Bee is a themed contest and training project that treats integrals and ordinary differential equations as an opportunity to explore deeper ideas, not just to perform mechanical steps. It encourages careful work, pattern recognition, and the habit of turning an integral into a structured problem that can be attacked in different ways.
- • Motivates students to practise beyond routine textbook exercises.
- • Connects integrals with ODE methods and special functions.
- • Builds a culture of friendly competition, collaboration, and curiosity.
Origins of the project
The ODE–Integration Bee was founded by Abdulhafeez Ayinde Abdulsalam while he was a student at the University of Ibadan. The idea was to give integrals more meaning and to bring contest-style excitement into ordinary coursework. From the very beginning, the project was organised in close collaboration with Segun Olofin Akerele, who served as one of the initial main organisers, together with a small group of committed supporters.
Since then, the project has grown beyond a single campus. A local edition is being planned in Slovenia, and a training event has been held at the University of Vienna, all contributing to the same overall vision: to take integrals seriously, to connect them to differential equations and special functions, and to make the experience welcoming to a broad range of students.
The international home of the project is the official website odeintbee.com, which keeps track of partner institutions, materials, and broader developments.
How our local edition works
The exact details can change from year to year, but future local editions are intended to follow a clear pattern:
- • Qualifiers: written or online rounds to select finalists, with problems grouped by level.
- • Main Bee: a live event where participants solve integrals or ODE-related tasks under time pressure, with clear rules and visible solutions.
- • Recognition: certificates, small prizes when possible, and public acknowledgement on the chapter’s channels.
For each edition, the rules and formats are published here before registration opens, so participants know what to expect.
Registration & logistics
Registration for our local ODE–Integration Bee is coordinated by the Abdulhafeez Ayinde Abdulsalam and Segun Olofin Akerele. This section is reserved for:
- • Eligibility information (levels, departments, and any limits on the number of participants).
- • Links to registration forms, sheets, or portals.
- • Dates, venues, and contact details for questions and clarifications.
Whenever a new edition of the Bee is announced, the organising team updates this section with active links and clear deadlines.
Training & preparation
The Bee is not limited to one day on the calendar. It comes with a training culture that our chapter can develop over time. Students can prepare using:
- • Practice sheets and past questions hosted in the Problems hub.
- • Short notes, slides, and recordings from preparatory sessions organised by the chapter.
- • Coding experiments in the Python Lab, Mathematica Lab, or SageMath Lab.
The broader ODE–Integration Bee project is also supported by expository material such as the slide series on “Elementary Special Functions & Integrals via ODE Conversions”, developed by Abdulhafeez Ayinde Abdulsalam. Our chapter draws on these resources when designing training sessions and follow-up seminars.
Problem, poster & media archive
Each edition of the Bee leaves behind material that is useful for future students and organisers. This page keeps those resources organised so that the tradition can grow instead of restarting each year:
- • Problem sets and official solutions, linked to relevant entries in the Problems archive.
- • Posters, banners, and digital designs, which can also appear in the Math-art gallery.
- • Photos, short write-ups, and bulletin-style summaries that capture the atmosphere of each edition.
Longer expository pieces or reflections about the ODE–Integration Bee appear in the Student Bulletin and linked from this hub.