Istvan has been passionate about mathematics for as long as he can remember. His journey into informatics began when he was introduced to JavaScript, sparking an interest in programming as a way to control “one of the most powerful things in the world,” computers. However, Istvan has chosen to pursue mathematics at university – both for the challenge, and the opportunity to deepen his understanding. He shares his enthusiasm for linguistics puzzles and public transportation systems, along with reflections on competition culture, collaboration, and curiosity.

We caught up before he started university (interview edited for length and clarity):