18/03/2024

Jacob Palis is awarded a medal in his hometown.

Emeritus researcher and general director of IMPA from 1993 to 2003, Jacob Palis was one of those chosen by the City Council of Uberaba (MG) , the city where he was born, to receive the Major Eustáquio Medal . Created in 1985, the honor is the most prestigious in the city and recognizes benevolent individuals who have performed acts of real importance related to the municipality, as well as illustrious figures, on an honorary basis.

The award will be presented to the researcher on April 1st, at the Esmeralda Auditorium of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, during the opening ceremony of EMALCA – the School of Mathematics of Latin America and the Caribbean. The event seeks, primarily in the Triângulo Mineiro region and surrounding areas, talented young people to pursue postgraduate studies in mathematics, science, and engineering. The initiative aims to improve secondary school teachers in Uberaba in school mathematics topics and encourage students to continue university studies in mathematics, science, and engineering. This edition of EMALCA is dedicated to Jacob Palis. Registration is open.

Biography

Born in Uberaba (MG), Jacob Palis, 83 years old, graduated in engineering from the former University of Brazil (current Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/UFRJ). He completed his master's and doctorate degrees at the University of California (USA) in the 1960s.

In the early 1990s, he was a member of the Scientific Council of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and president of the institution from 2003 to 2005. Palis was also secretary-general of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) from 2001 to 2006 and president of the entity between 2007 and 2012.

He also presided over the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) from 2007 to 2016 and the International Mathematical Union (IMU) from 1999 to 2002. In 2005, Jacob was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor by France.

In 2018, he received another award: the medal of Officer of the Legion of Honor of France, for his outstanding work in promoting world science and scientific relations between France and Brazil. More recently, in 2019, he won the Abdus Salam Award, shared with physicist Sandro Radicella and the Marie Curie Library.