"You know the classic joke about the extrovert mathematician? He's the one that looks at your shoelaces when he's talking to you," says Dr Bill Palmer, who is well aware of the pressures that the young maths whiz can face.
Dr Palmer, from the School of Mathematics and Statistics, says he's interested in producing well-rounded, normal kids who like to do maths at a high level, with no 'accelerated learning' or 'hot housing'.
It's this approach that attracted the judges of the 2007 BH Neumann Award, which Dr Palmer received at a function at the University of Sydney last night (28 August).
Together with Geoff Ball, Honorary Teaching Associate also from the School of Mathematics and Statistics, he runs the NSW committee of the Australian Maths Olympiad.
"Our goal is to encourage enrichment in mathematics and problem-solving. We are looking for people who are very capable in mathematics, but they are progressing normally through school. They are encouraged to like other things as well," says Dr Palmer.
'So if they are good at music, and they enjoy music - good! That's wonderful!"
BH Neumann Awards are awarded for "important contributions over many years to the enrichment of mathematics learning in Australia".
Dr Palmer's work with the Australian Maths Olympiad Committee (AMOC), along with all the other academics and teachers involved, is entirely voluntary.
Over a million children take part in the first round of the selection process, which culminates in just six being chosen to travel to the International Maths Olympiad.
"We are passionate about it. It is more than a hobby; we regard it as a service towards some very bright people.
"But we have to be alert to pressures that come from parents and schools. In NSW it is definitely prestigious to have a Maths Olympiad kid at your school.
"But we encourage them to be well-rounded. Generally mathematicians are a bit on the shy side, but these kids are not incredibly shy, they might not be extroverts, but they are lovely kids." -By By Elizabeth Heath, University of Sydney
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