IMU

📒 Mathematics Education Conferences

The cultivation of mathematics in European societies has been affected by three major factors: (a) invention of printing (15th century), (b) progress of transportation for mathematicians to move from one place to another and (c) education of mathematics and organization of mathematical societies mwb.

Different Associations, unions, commissions and conferences came up with the prevailing issues and problems of mathematics instruction. These agencies promote international co-operation, organize national and international meetings/seminars, and publish and distribute different views and remedial through proceedings mwb.

🌐 International Mathematics Union (IMU)

The International Mathematical Union (IMU) was founded in 1920. Long before its establishment, there had been organized international mathematical cooperation, which were already begun in the 1870s, and International Congresses of Mathematicians with well-defined rules and objectives had been held regularly since 1897 mwb. For example

• 1690-Hamburg Society
• 1778-Amsterdam Society
• 1864-Mathematical Society, Moscow
• 1865-London Mathematical Society
• 1872-Society of France
• 1883-Edinburgh Society
• 1884-Mathematical Circle, Italy
• 1884-New York Mathematical Society, becoming in 1894 the American Mathematical Society
• 1890-German Mathematical Society

🗣️ The History of IMU

The need for organized international mathematical cooperation was felt early by Georg Cantor, who was professor at the University of Halle, Germany. Two years later, when Cantor became the first president of the German Mathematical Society (1890), he had arrived at the idea of an international congress of mathematicians. In 1895 the American Mathematical Society also formally endorsed the idea of an international congress mwb.

At the close of the nineteenth century, Felix Klein (1849-1925), who had become a professor in Erlangen at the age of twenty-three, was already a legendary figure in mathematical circles, had a keen interest in the German Mathematical Society. In 1893 in Chicago, he proposed that mathematicians form international unions. Later, he was the first President of the International Commission on the Teaching of Mathematics, serving from 1908 to 1920 mwb.

In 1895, Cantor spoke about Switzerland or Belgium. In 1896, Swiss mathematicians gave their formal agreement to organize the first International Congress of Mathematicians in Zurich, and the date was 9-11 August 1897 mwb. To facilitate the direct communication between mathematicians all over the world in 1897 the first International Congress of Mathematicians was held in Zurich with 204 participants.

The great achievement of the 1897 Congress was that as planned, the ICMs became a permanent institution. First, it was decided to continue to hold ICMs every three to five years. The site of each Congress would be chosen at the end of the previous one. In Zurich it was formally decided to hold the next Congress in Paris, in 1900. Second, the Zurich Congress adopted well-defined rules. These applied to the 1897 Congress and were intended to guide future Congresses as wellmwb.

It was resolved in Zurich that the purpose of the Congress was (a) to promote personal relations among mathematicians of different countries, (b) to give surveys of the present state of the various parts of mathematics and its applications and to provide an occasion to treat questions of particular importance, (c) to advise the organizers of future Congresses, and (d) to deal with questions related to bibliography, terminology, etc. requiring international cooperationmwb.

The second ICM was held in Paris during 6-12 August 1900, under the presidency of Henri Poincare. David Hilbert (1862-1943), one of the great mathematicians of the twentieth century, presented his historical problems at the ICM-1900 and led the return of German mathematicians into the ICM in 1928mwb.

Since 1900, the ICMs have always taken place every fourth year, except for the interruptions caused by the First (1914-1918) and the Second (1939-1945) World Wars and the postponement of the 1982 Congress (Warsaw, Poland) by one yearmwb.

In 1904, the congress was held in Heidelberg, with 336 participants. The Rome congress in 1908, made two remarkable initiatives, which were proposed and accepted.

• First, A. Conti, from Bologna, suggested that before the next congress it be considered whether an international association of mathematicians should be established. Thus, the ideas of Klein and Cantor were reintroduced, this time as a formal proposal to the Congress.
• The second initiative concerned the teaching of mathematics.

There were reasons for establishing international cooperation. The educational systems of the major countries of Western Europe and North America had expanded at the beginning of the century, and in many countries innovators had attempted to carry out significant reforms of the school mathematical curriculum.

The Rome congress accepted the resolution: "The congress, recognizing the importance of a comparative study on the methods and plans of teaching mathematics at secondary schools, charges Professors F. Klein, G. Greenhill, and Henri Fehr to constitute an International Commission to study these questions and to present a report to the next congress".

The 1912 International congress of Mathematicians was held in Cambridge, England. The idea to form an international mathematical organization did not progress. Yet the four-year period 1908-1912 had proved too short for presenting a comprehensive survey of the different national reports. The mandate of the Commission was extended by four more years, to the 1916 Congress. The Commission thus obtained a more permanent character. D.E. Smith was appointed as a fourth member to the Central Committee, in addition to Klein, Greenhill, and Fehr mwb.

🐣 The birth of the IMU

The birth of the IMU can be traced was the founding of the International Association of Academies in 1899. Three German academies and the Austrian academy, had invited the Royal Society (London) to their joint 1897 meeting. While answering in the affirmative, the Royal Society proposed the affiliation of academies from other countries. In consequence, the constitutive meeting of the International Association of Academies (IAA) was held in October 1899 in Wiesbaden, Germany mwb.

Membership in the IAA increased rapidly, and regular meetings were held every three years. The IAA convened for the last time in 1913, in St. Petersburg. In the following year, the outbreak of the war put an end to its activities, although the Association was never formally dissolved. But indirectly, it paved the way for the foundation of the IMU mwb.

🍃🌙🪞🪷✨📜 The old IMU

The International Research Council (IRC), which was founded after World War I. The Constitutive Assembly of IRC was held in Brussels in 1919. In accordance with this program, the International Mathematics Union was first founded in 1920, shortly after the end of World War I, with its initial headquarters in Strasbourg, France mwb.

In 1926 the International Research Council decided to invite Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria to become members of the Council and its Unions. However, German scientists had not forgotten the boycott to which they had been subjected. Disregarding the recommendations from the German government, they declined to join mwb.

In 1928, attendance at the International Congress of Mathematicians was again free from political restrictions. Formally, the participation of Germans, who were not members of the Council, violated the rules of the IMU. The Congress ignored this provision, with the result that the IMU lost its grip on the Congresses. It became increasingly clear that the IMU had failed in its task to promote international cooperation in mathematics mwb.

In 1932, the "Old IMU" was suspended, paving the way for a new, more inclusive organization to emerge later.

In 1917, the U.S. President, Wilson, created a plan with 14 points to end World War I. The Allied countries did not agree with these points. In 1918, the German Government asked Wilson to start peace talks. Wilson gave them his 14 points. After three weeks of talks, Germany accepted the 14 points on October 23. The British and French were not happy with some of the points, which caused problems mwb.

During this time, Wilson had another idea for Britain and France. He suggested creating a group to help countries work together again in science. He proposed an International Research Council. This council would be made of smaller groups for different scientific subjects. These smaller groups could invite neutral countries to join, but not the countries that the Allies had fought against. Wilson's idea was accepted. In 1919, the International Research Council was started. The next year, the International Mathematical Union was also created in 1920 mwb.

This shift in the global scientific landscape, combined with the IRC's internal conflicts, led to its dissolution. In 1931, a new, more inclusive organization, the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), was established. Unlike its predecessor, the ICSU was founded on the principle of universal membership, allowing scientists from all nations to participate, thereby fostering a more truly international collaboration in the sciences mwb.

Despite the suspension of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) in 1932. Key activities included the establishment and first awarding of the Fields Medals, the ongoing work of the International Commission on the Teaching of Mathematics (ICMI), and the holding of International Congresses of Mathematicians (ICMs).

• At the closing session of the Zurich International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), Fields' offer to award two gold medals (later called Fields Medals) every four years was accepted with thanks.
• The International Commission on the Teaching of Mathematics (ICMI) was requested by the Zurich Congress to continue its work.
• Mathematicians (ICM-1936) was held in Oslo, Norway, at the University of Oslo, with Carl Størmer elected President.
• The first two Fields Medals were awarded at the Oslo Congress to Lars Ahlfors (Finland) and Jesse Douglas (USA), and these medals became known as the Fields Medals.

🧩 Foundation of IMU

The United Nations (UN), a name that during the war had denoted the nations allied in opposition to the Axis Powers, became the new world organization whose primary objective was the maintenance of international peace and security. Its charter was drafted at the San Francisco Conference in April 1945, which was the first major international political conference in the Christian Era not dominated by Europe. A shift from Europe to North America had also taken place in science, not least in mathematics mwb.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was set up as a specialized agency of the UN. UNESCO soon expressed the wish that a suitable working arrangement be achieved with ICSU mwb.

After World War II (1939-1945), the International Mathematical Union (IMU) was re-established in 1952, learning from the failures of its predecessor, which was suspended in 1932.

• The United States, chosen to host the next International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in 1940 (which was postponed due to the war), had an international mandate to lead the effort to reunite mathematicians globally.
• The U.S. Policy Committee for Mathematics, chaired by Marshal H. Stone, became the driving force behind establishing a new IMU.
• The IMU was officially declared in existence on September 10, 1951, after ten countries had adhered, with its first headquarters in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences.
• The first General Assembly of the new IMU was convened in Rome from March 6-8, 1952, marking its formal inauguration. It elected Marshal H. Stone as its first President and Enrico Bompiani as Secretary. The Union also formally applied for membership in ICSU.
• Crucially, the new IMU explicitly disconnected itself from the old Union, not recognizing its pre-WWII general assemblies and considering itself a new entity to avoid the "unhappy memories" of its predecessor.
• ICM-1950 at Harvard was the first postwar ICM and an early demonstration of the principle of openness, welcoming all mathematicians irrespective of nationality. The Fields Medals were awarded to Laurent Schwartz and Atle Selberg, following the tradition established in Oslo in 1936

Once founded, the task of the IMU was to find an appropriate role in the existing cooperation and to enhance and expand it. Success was ultimately achieved, but not until after the Second World War mwb.

In the history of the IMU the year 1897 stands out, when the institution of the ICMs was formed, then 1920 when IMU is formally established, then 1952 re-establishment of IMU. Therefore, the modern-day IMU was officially re-founded in 1950, with its inaugural General Assembly held in New York City in 1951. Since its re-establishment, the IMU has grown steadily, expanding its membership to include countries from all continents and becoming a truly global organization dedicated to collaborative, non-political scientific exchange mwb.

🌍 International Mathematics Union (IMU)

The International Mathematics Union (IMU) is a global, non-governmental, and non-profit organization dedicated to fostering international cooperation in the mathematical sciences. It serves as a collective voice for the international mathematical community, representing the interests of mathematicians worldwide mwb.

The IMU's primary goal is to promote the development of mathematical science in all its aspects, from fundamental research to its applications and education, and to support a wide range of international mathematical activities.

The IMU is best known for its role in organizing the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the largest and most significant meeting for the global mathematical community. During the ICM, the IMU presents some of the most prestigious prizes in mathematics, including the renowned Fields Medal, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of mathematics."

🏝️ Aims and Activities

The work of the IMU is guided by a clear set of aims and is carried out through various activities and initiatives. Key aims of IMU are

• To promote international cooperation in mathematics.
• To support and assist the development of mathematical science in developing countries.
• To encourage and support new international projects in mathematical sciences.
• To organize major international meetings, notably the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM).
• To recognize outstanding mathematical achievements and contributions.

🎯 Objectives of IMU

The main objective of IMU is to facilitate the collaborating effort among mathematicians a cross the world. The details of the main objectives of IMU are as follows:

• To develop research on mathematics education by supporting quadrennial international congress and regional conference on mathematics education all over the world.
• To apply a new trend in mathematical teaching for the development of science and technology.
• To encourage various international study groups for studying historical and cultural aspects and other important related subjects on psychology of mathematics, learning of mathematics on developing countries, history and pedagogy of mathematics and nature of mathematics.
• To give emphasis to research on mathematics teaching and learning activities and its field and to analyze critically.
• To pay special attention on teaching mathematics and to help in selecting of teaching techniques, teaching materials, and strategies, evaluation process etc.
• To involve such contents which represent modern values of mathematics by neglecting traditional content for the sake of worldwide prosperity like fundamental concepts of set, relation, operation and mapping, group, ring, field, vector space etc.
• To create suitable environment to develop knowledge, skill and attitude on teacher to make their teaching activities meaningful.
• To discuss problem of mathematics teaching and to find solutions in international conferences by sharing experiences.
• To give knowledge of mathematics that how mathematics can be used in the field of agriculture, architect and building, banking, biology, medicine, communication, games & fine arts, music, and social science etc.
• To enable the student to think logically and develop the process of understanding of mathematical concepts.

The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) is the flagship activity of the IMU. Held every four years, it is a global gathering of mathematicians featuring presentations on the latest research, lectures by leading experts, and a platform for international dialogue. At the opening ceremony of the ICM, the IMU awards several prestigious prizes:

• The Fields Medal: Widely regarded as the highest honor in mathematics, this medal is awarded to up to four mathematicians under the age of 40 for outstanding mathematical achievement.
• The IMU Abacus Medal: Formerly known as the Nevanlinna Prize, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to the mathematical aspects of information science.
• The Gauss Prize: This prize is for exceptional mathematical contributions that have found significant applications outside of the field of mathematics, highlighting the impact of the discipline on other sciences and technology.
• The Chern Medal: Honoring lifetime achievement, this prize is for an individual whose work has profoundly influenced the field of mathematics.

Beyond the ICM and its awards, the IMU actively works through its various commissions, such as the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI), which focuses on the improvement of mathematics education globally. The IMU also manages grant programs and supports initiatives to help mathematicians in developing regions, aiming to foster a more equitable and inclusive global mathematical community mwb.

Responsibilities of IMU

The IMU Executive Committee has expressed in recent years concerns about the quality of teaching and the motivation of students, about how this reflects on students choosing to do mathematics. The difficulties of enlisting mathematics majors appear to be an internationally widespread phenomena. Discussion between ICMI and IMU has given more emphasis to the theme, which has come to be called the "Pipeline Issue" and may be seen as related to various aspects of the teaching and learning of mathematics at the higher level. At the ICMI EC meeting held in Copenhagen during ICMI X, it was agreed with IMU president John Ball that ICMI would initiate, in cooperation with IMU, a "Pipeline Issue" project to investigate such matters.

ICM: Year, Host, and Participation

SN	Year	Host (City, Country)	Participants
1	1897	Zurich, Switzerland	204 M+ 38F
2	1900	Paris, France	250
3	1904	Heidelberg, Germany	336 full + 60 associate
4	1908	Rome, Italy	535
5	1912	Cambridge, UK	574
	1916	Stockholm, Sweden	(Planned, but Cancelled)
6	1920	Strasbourg, France
7	1924	Toronto, Canada
8	1928	Bologna, Italy	835
9	1932	Zurich, Switzerland
10	1936	Oslo, Norway	669 (487 + 182 family)
	1940	Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA	(Planned, but Cancelled)
11	1950	Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (Harvard)	Over 2,300
12	1954	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Over 1,500
13	1958	Edinburgh, UK	1658+757=2415
14	1962	Stockholm, Sweden	2107+987
15	1966	Moscow, Soviet Union	5594
16	1970	Nice, France
17	1974	Vancouver, Canada
18	1978	Helsinki, Finland
19	1982/83	Warsaw, Poland	110
20	1986	Berkeley, California, USA
21	1990	Kyoto, Japan	3950
22	1994	Zurich, Switzerland
23	1998	Berlin, Germany	3,346
24	2002	Beijing, China
25	2006	Madrid, Spain	4,500
26	2010	Hyderabad, India
27	2014	Seoul, South Korea	5,000
28	2018	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
29	2022	Virtual (Online)