Michael Shangtong Li

Shangtong Li (李尚桐), who also goes by Michael, is a dedicated student-athlete with a passion for uncovering new phenomena through lab work and fostering meaningful connections with others. He firmly believes that helping one another in every situation is essential to making the world a better place. He is the Founder of Mathpactical, where he seeks to empower young mathematicians can save the world through adopting impact-generating daily actions.

 

Growing up, Michael has seen his fair share of tough losses on the sports fields, and he has learned how to rally his teammates against such adversity. He often tries, at times more successfully than others, to drum up enthusiasm, and he participates in team meetings to discuss strategies and boost morale. For Michael, setbacks on the field are part of his growth story, and he believes he can make lasting friendships as he and his team strive for improvement together. 

 

Michael understands the importance of pursuing leadership in and out of school, and he wishes to inspire the same for his fellow classmates. At school, he is part of the varsity badminton team, where he plays in the double format, and often competes in inter school or city level competitions. He finds badminton as an athletic endeavors which also double functions as a social event where he gets to meet other youth from different parts of Singapore. To expand his impact, he conducts service activities through supporting the special olympics initiatives in badminton, where he designs fitness activities customized based on the needs of the community. He is additionally a member of the U16 squad in his school’s soccer team. Academically, his favorite subjects are those where he gets to learn more about mathematics and computer science. 

 

Outside of school, he is interested in developing an AI-related project that focuses on addressing real-world problems, aiming to create practical and impactful solutions. In addition to this, he is currently working on a research paper that explores the implications of AI on the labor market. His research seeks to analyze how advancements in artificial intelligence influence employment trends, job creation, and displacement, providing valuable insights into the evolving dynamics between technology and the workforce.

 

Looking ahead, Michael aspires to take an interdisciplinary approach centered on mathematics and computer science to co-design solutions with like minded individuals and organizations. This will lead to a fulfilling and successful career that enables him to make a significant impact in the world.​