IMU International Mathematical Union

Bulletin no 41, April 1998

Meeting of the Executive Committee of IMU

  • ICM/98
  • Grants to attend the ICM/98
  • ICM-2002
  • General Assembly
  • World Mathematical Year 2000
  • Change of Groups
  • Change in IMU Statutes
  • Miscellaneous

    • The Executive Committee of IMU met in Berlin, May 15-16, 1998 Excerpts of this meeting:

    ICM 98

     According to the Local Organizing Committee, chaired by Professor Martin Groetschel, who was invited to attend part of the E.C. meeting, the preparations for the Congress are proceeding well. The Executive Committee visited the location of the Congress. Especial attention was given to the Opening Ceremony and activities of the first day of the Congress.

    Grants to attend the ICM/98

     Besides the young research mathematicians from developing countries, the Organizing Committee of ICM/98 is raising funds for mathematicians from Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union to attend the Congress. In a much smaller scale, some funds are also being raised for mature mathematicians from developing countries.

    ICM-2002

    Applications to hold the ICM 2002 has been received from Norway and China. The Site Committee has decided to recommend to the next General Assembly that the Congress should be held in China. This decision was taken under the fundamental assumption that all mathematicians of the world will be allowed to participate in the meeting. Thus, the Executive Committee expects that the final vote at the General Assembly will take into account the importance of the host country to abide by ICSU's principle of free circulation of scientists.

    General Assembly 98

     The General Assembly shall take place in Dresden, on August 15 - 16 at Hotel Bellevue and the Executive Committee will meet on August 14, 1998. The E.C. sent a form to all National Committees to appoint the delegates to attend the ICM 98.

    World Mathematical Year 2000

    Meetings

    The Executive Committee, approved in principle, that IMU shall jointly sponsor the following meetings to be held in the year 2000:
  • ICME-9 - July 31 - August 7, to be held in Makuhari/Chiba (Japan)
  • THIRD EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICS, European Math. Society, July 10-14, to be held in Barcelona, (Spain)
  • INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS XIII, to be held in London, July 17 - 22.
  • FIRST LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN MATHEMATICAL CONGRESS - Latin American And Caribbean Union (UMALCA), August, to be held in Rio de Janeiro
    •  A few other cases were discussed, especially a meeting of the American Mathematical Society (Special Meeting on the theme "Mathematical Challenges of the XXIst Century", August)

    Book

    Mathematics Tomorrow - V. Arnold, M. Atiyah, P. Lax and B. Mazur are members of the Committee in charge to prepare a book of articles by prominent mathematicians on how they see the prospects of mathematics in the coming century

    Manifesto/Video

    It is expected that Professors Arnold, Mumford and Palis write a preliminary version of a manifesto from IMU to promote mathematics in the turn of the century, stressing its importance to society. It should also appeal to the mathematical community to engage itself in the promotion of a more creative teaching of mathematics at all levels.

    The Executive Committee wishes to support the production and distribution of video recordings of lectures delivered by outstanding mathematicians and aimed at general audiences. Prof. Donaldson agreed to initiate this effort, possibly working with Prof. Atiyah.

    Change of Groups

    The EC decided to invite Canada, Israel and Italy to apply to move from Group IV to Group V, in the IMU structure, as for January 1, 1998. At the same time, the EC also decided to invite Sweden, Switzerland and Netherlands to apply to move from Group III to Group IV, as for January 1, 1998.

    Change in the IMU Statutes

     The EC decided to recommend to the next General Assembly, the following addition to the IMU Statutes (all the other items remain the same, renumbered as necessary):

    CHANGE IN STATUTES of the INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICAL UNION

    Approved in the 63th meeting of the Executive Committee, held in Berlin on May 15-16, 1997

    III. AFFILIATION

    1. For the purpose of facilitating jointly sponsored activities and jointly pursuing the objectives of the IMU, multi-national mathematical societies and professional societies can be affiliated with the Union.

    2. The members of the Union shall elect the affiliate members by Postal Ballots or at meetings of the General Assembly upon recommendation of the EC. The affiliation may be terminated by the same procedure.

    3. Affiliate members have the right to participate in the General Assembly but shall have no voting rights.

    4. Such affiliate members have the right to submit proposals for joint activities to the General Assembly and to the President and Secretary for consideration of the Executive Committee.

    5. The Executive Committee, with the support of the Adhering Organizations and National Committees, shall look for ways to keep close relations with the affiliated organizations and to enhance mathematical activities in their regions. They shall receive the Bulletin of the IMU and be kept informed of all activities relevant to them.

    Miscellaneous

     Following previous discussions with EC Members and Members of the Fields Medal Committee, it was decided that IMU high appreciation for the work of A. Wiles, and perhaps others, should be expressed in some appropriate form. Also that this should be done at the Opening Ceremony of ICM-98. The following committee was appointed to suggest of such an event: Y. Manin (Chairman), B. Mazur and J-P. Serre.

    CDE - Professors David Mumford and Jacob Palis discussed their view points that IMU-CDE should try to originate and support projects of development of mathematics in less afluent regions of the world. A good example of that has just been proposed by H.Clemens to take place in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Perhaps this project can be expanded to all of Southern Africa if South Africa joins the effort.

    ICMI - About ICMI there were comments on the importance of teaching of sciences and the search for new talents, issues that are meriting widespread attention. In particular, ICSU has recently launched an ambitious project called Capacity Building on Science, aiming at attracting as many as possible primary and secondary school children to the beauty of Science all over the world. The EC will encourage ICMI to join in such an effort.

    Book on the History of IMU - The EC approved the idea of having a ceremony at the International Congress, to launch the book on the history of IMU, by Olli Lehto.

    The EC shall look for ways of supporting Ukranian mathematicians. Professors David Mumford and Jacob Palis will write to Prof. Drinfeld asking for suggestions.

    IMU Committee on Electronic Publishing - A Committee was formed to address the various aspects of electronic publishing that are of interest to mathematicians: L.Lovasz (Chairman), Neil Calkin, John Franks, Martin Grötschel, Joachim Heinze, Peter Michor, Andrew Odlyzko, John Price - Wilkin, Hans Roosendaal. The issue was presented to the EC members by Prof. Martin Gröetschel. He suggested a meeting of the committee, which was approved with a financial support of US$ 10,000 from IMU.

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