08/04/2024

Jacob Palis is honored with the Major Eustáquio Medal.

IMPA's emeritus researcher Jacob Palis was honored at the opening ceremony of EMALCA (Latin American and Caribbean School of Mathematics) with the Major Eustáquio Medal. IMPA's coordinator of Events and Scientific Activities, Suely Lima, Palis' wife, received the distinction on his behalf last Monday (1st).

Created in 1985, the Major Eustáquio Medal is awarded by the City Council of Uberaba (MG), Palis's hometown, and honors meritorious individuals who have performed acts of real importance related to the municipality, as well as illustrious figures, on an honorary basis. It is the most prestigious honor granted by the municipality.

This year, the EMALCA event, which runs until April 12th at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, also honors Palis. The meeting aims to identify talented young people, mainly in the Triângulo Mineiro region and neighboring areas, to pursue postgraduate studies in mathematics, science, and engineering. The initiative seeks to improve secondary school teachers in Uberaba in school mathematics topics and encourage students to continue university studies in mathematics, science, and engineering.

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.