08/05/2025

Brazilian Academies of Sciences bid farewell to Jacob Palis.

Illustration by researcher Andre Nachbin, created in 2003.

The French Academy of Sciences and the World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS), as well as other institutions, bid farewell this Wednesday (7) to Jacob Palis, an internationally renowned mathematician and central figure in the development of science in Brazil. Emeritus researcher and former director of IMPA passed away in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 85. Scientific institutions in Brazil and abroad highlighted Palis's role in consolidating mathematical research in the country and his global influence.

In a statement sent to members of the French Academy of Sciences, Étienne Ghys, the institution's perpetual secretary , described Palis as a "remarkable teacher" and praised his scientific career. "Palis developed an intense scientific activity at IMPA, which he helped to elevate to the highest international level and which he directed for many years. A charismatic personality, he trained numerous brilliant students from almost all over South America."

The TWAS, of which Palis was president between 2004 and 2006, expressed deep sadness at the loss of their “colleague, friend and former president.” In a message to the family, Marcelo Knobel, executive director of the institution, recalled the researcher's commitment to science and the ideals of the institution. “As a member of our Academy since 1991 and even more so during his presidency, he was deeply committed to the cause and objectives of TWAS. We will miss him very much,” the institution stated.

In Brazil, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) observed a minute of silence during the 2025 Magna Meeting, which took place at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro.

Institutions mourn the loss of Jacob Palis.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) issued a statement of condolence, highlighting the researcher's importance to the advancement of Brazilian science and his international standing. The statement mentions the Balzan Prize, which he won in 2010, as a milestone of international recognition.

In a statement, Faperj (Rio de Janeiro State Research Support Foundation) described Palis as a brilliant mathematician and one of the most respected and awarded scientists in the country. "He contributed to the modernization of Brazilian mathematical research, being a tireless advocate in the pursuit of more resources for national science," the foundation stated on its website.

The president of BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development), Aloizio Mercadante, also issued a statement of condolence for the loss of Palis. "I received with sadness the news of the death of the mathematician Jacob Palis, one of the most respected scientists in Brazil. The researcher will be remembered for his significant contribution to the area known as 'dynamical systems,' which earned him the Baldan Prize, and for his commitment to Brazilian democracy," Mercadante recalled.

The image illustrating this article is by researcher Andre Nachbin, taken in 2003 in homage to Palis. The illustration is accompanied by the phrase: "some believe in palliatives, others in a Palis-Active"—an allusion to the scientist's remarkable leadership and tireless dynamism on multiple fronts.

Check out the full notes:

l'Académie des sciences
Chère Consœur, cher Confrère,
This is a great sadness that nous vous faisons part du décès de Jacob Palis Júnior, survenu da 9 mai 2025 à Rio de Janeiro, à l'âge de quatre-vingt-cinq ans. Il avait été élu membre étranger de notre Compagnie, dans la section de Mathématique, le 4 mars 2002. Jacob Palis a joué un rôle déterminant dans l'émergence d'une école de recherche mathématique d'exception au Brésil. Il est l'auteur de contributions fondamentales à la théorie des systèmes dynamiques. Formé initialement comme ingénieur au Brésil, I obtained a doctorate at Berkeley in 1968 under the direction of Stephen Smale. De retour dans son pays, il mena une activité scientifique considérable à l'IMPA (Institut de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées), qu'il contrib à hisser à l'un des premier rangs au niveau mondial et qu'il directe de nombreuses années. Personnalité charismatique, il forma de nombreux élèves brillants, venus de presque toute l'Amérique du Sud.

Docteur Honoris causa de plusieurs universités, president de l'Union mathématique internationale (1999-2002), de l'Académie des sciences du Tiers Monde (2004-2006) et de l'Académie des sciences du Brésil (2007-2016), il était membre d'une dizaine d'académies étrangères, dont la National Academy of Sciences des États-Unis et l'Académie Leopoldina. Il reçut le prix Balzan en 2010, et la France lui décerna la Légion d'honneur en 2005. Au fil des ans, sess collaborations scientifiques avec la France s'étaient intensifiées, notamment avec nos regrettés confrères Michel Herman et Jean-Christophe Yoccoz. Un laboratoire international du CNRS, hébergé à l'IMPA et portant le nom de Yoccoz, témoigne encore de ces liens étroits; Jacob Palis en était l'ami fidèle.

Ses recherches ont principalement porté sur la stabilité des dynamiques et sur la frontière subtile entre chaos et comportement régulier, dominé par les cycles. Les conjectures de Palis, formulates au début des années 2000, demeurent un program de recherche majeur, proposing une liste ambitieuse de proprietés censées valoir pour « presque tous les systèmes dynamiques ». Avec sa disparition, nous pardons un reschedulable maître.

Veuillez recevoir, chère Consœur, cher Confrère, l'expression de notre profond regret et de nos salutations les plus sincères.

Le Bureau de l'Académie des sciences

Condolences from TWAS
To the Family of Professor Jacob Palis, It is with profound sorrow that we learned of the passing away of our Fellow, Friend, and former TWAS President, Professor Jacob Palis. As a Member of our Academy since 1991 and all the more so during his presidency, he was deeply committed to the cause and objectives of TWAS and for many years he actively supported us. We shall greatly miss him. On behalf of the entire TWAS Membership, the President, the Council and the Staff, please accept our most profound condolences for this terrible loss.

Yours sincerely,
Marcelo Knobel
TWAS Executive Director

Note from MCTI

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) expresses its deepest sorrow for the passing of the renowned mathematician Jacob Palis Júnior, which occurred on May 7, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro.

The MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) shares the scientific community's grief over the loss of an international reference in the field of dynamical systems. Jacob Palis Júnior was a champion of science and a central figure in the development of mathematics in our country.

Professor and former director of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA), a social organization linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Palis also presided over the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), demonstrating his leadership and dedication to Brazilian science. His significant scientific contributions have been recognized internationally, including the awarding of the Balzan Prize in 2010.

In this moment of profound sadness, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation expresses its solidarity with the family, friends, and the entire academic community, recognizing and reaffirming Jacob Palis Júnior's legacy of excellence and invaluable commitment to the advancement of science in Brazil. His inspiring career will continue to motivate future generations of scientists.

Faperj Note

FAPERJ deeply regrets the passing this Wednesday, May 7th, of the former president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) and former director of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA), Jacob Palis.

A brilliant mathematician and one of the most respected and awarded scientists in the country, he contributed to the modernization of Brazilian mathematical research, promoting the internationalization of science in Brazil and being a tireless advocate in the pursuit of more resources for national science. He worked in the area of dynamical systems, which serve to model evolutionary phenomena in nature and other areas. He organized the International Symposium on Dynamical Systems (1971) at IMPA, attracting renowned researchers and creating opportunities for young talents to develop cutting-edge research in the country.

In addition to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, he presided over the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), and was a foreign member of the United States National Academy of Sciences, the Accademia dei Lincei, the Chinese Academy, the German Leopoldina Academy, the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, and the Académie des Sciences, among others.

He has gained international recognition and received numerous awards and titles, including the TWAS Prize in Mathematics (1988) from the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS); the National Science and Technology Prize (1990) from the Brazilian Government; the Inter-American Prize for Science (1995) from the Organization of American States; the Balzan Prize in Mathematics (2010) from the Balzan Foundation; and the Solomon Lefschetz Medal (2013) at the Congress of Mathematicians of the Americas.

He received the Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit (1994); the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor (2005) from the French Government; and the Order of Naval Merit (2012) from the Brazilian Navy, as well as honorary doctorates from several foreign and Brazilian universities.

Jacob Palis has a long history of contributions to FAPERJ, having served as president of the Foundation's Superior Council on more than one occasion.