15/10/2018

IMPA celebrates 66 years of existence and success.

If it were a person, IMPA would be living what is called its "golden years." And that's exactly right. With plans and dreams, the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics celebrates its 66th anniversary on October 15, 2018.

IMPA was created in 1952 by pioneering mathematicians Lélio Gama (1892-1981), Leopoldo Nachbin (1922-1993), and Maurício Peixoto (1921). It is possible that, at the time, almost no one imagined that, in just over six decades, the institution would become one of the world's leading centers for the study and research of mathematics.

Today, IMPA enjoys international recognition and prestige. It produced a Fields Medal winner (2014) – the extraordinary researcher Artur Avila – and its staff includes award-winning mathematicians such as emeritus researcher Jacob Palis and director-general Marcelo Viana, among many others.

The organization of the 2017 International Mathematical Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro (IMO), Brazil's entry into the G5 – the elite group of world mathematics – and the holding of the first International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in the Southern Hemisphere (both in 2018) are memorable achievements in the history of IMPA.

Another great achievement is OBMEP, which brings mathematics education to all Brazilian states in a simple yet challenging way. Through the Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad, 18.2 million children and teenagers access a new learning space where mathematical knowledge is presented in a pleasant, engaging, and enjoyable manner.

It is also worth mentioning Law 13.358/2016, which established the Gomes de Sousa Mathematics Biennium 2017-2018. In addition to the IMO and the ICM, the Biennium facilitated the creation of the Mathematics Festival, which, in 2017, organized more than 20 workshops in its activity centers for children and their families.

Dialogue outside academia

According to researcher Emanuel Carneiro, IMPA “is an asset to the Brazilian and Latin American mathematical community,” and its impact on the international scene is due to “actions that never overshadow others, but rather add to new aspects of the institute's work.”

Carneiro stated that one of the institute's main merits is its external outreach, seeking dialogue not only with the academic community, but also with Brazilian society.

“The new website, with a broader communication focus; the increasingly popular YouTube channel, offering events for children and university students; the organization of the IMO, the ICM, and the Mathematics Festival are all adding to the perspective of the new campus, which represents a new stage in IMPA's history, that of further expanding this impact and this relationship with society,” said the mathematician.

Doctoral candidate Sandoel de Brito Vieira exemplifies the successful exchange between academia and society facilitated by IMPA. A standout in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) in the city of Cocal dos Alves (PI), he is a postgraduate student at the institute.

“It is memorable and noble that, as it celebrates its 66th anniversary, IMPA has maintained throughout its existence the vigor in presenting quality and commitment to the work it performs for the benefit of Brazilian mathematics. The institute, in addition to maintaining its dedication to cutting-edge research, has been responsible for training a large number of professionals who have been helping to disseminate mathematics throughout the country and the world. Being able to be part of the institution as a student is a great privilege, which I am fortunate and pleased to enjoy,” stated the student.

Looking to the future, the deputy director, Claudio Landim, states that "IMPA's leadership faces the enormous challenge of maintaining the institution's scientific quality in the coming years amidst an adverse environment."