Jacob Palis: 'the boy who carried water in a sieve'

A central figure in Brazilian and international mathematics, Jacob Palis was honored this Wednesday (30) at the 35th Brazilian Mathematics Colloquium. IMPA's Director-General, Marcelo Viana, gave a special lecture on the researcher's work in the area of Dynamical Systems and a round table moved the audience and brought the scientist's legacy closer to new generations. Prominent names from the scientific community participated in the tribute: Helena Nader, president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), Artur Avila, Fields medalist and extraordinary researcher at IMPA, Marcelo Viana, director-general of the institute, and Luiz Davidovich, professor emeritus at UFRJ and former president of ABC, Jerson Lima, former president of Faperj and Débora Foguel, member of the ABC board.

The tribute was marked by heartfelt testimonials and reflections on Palis's profound and lasting impact—not only in the scientific field, but also in the building of institutions and the training of people. "We owe him everything, not only in mathematics, but everything he did for science policy," stated Helena Nader, commenting on the guarantees Palis secured for Brazilian science, including in the constitutional sphere. Watch the video.

“Jacob always impressed me not only with his genius in mathematics and commitment to science and Brazilian society, but also with his profound appreciation for family. For him, family was not just a space of affection, but a true pillar of intellectual and emotional expression,” concluded the emotional president of the ABC, who also recited Manoel de Barros' poem “The Boy Who Carried Water in a Sieve” in homage to her friend.

The mother noticed that the boy
I preferred emptiness to fullness.
He said that empty spaces are larger and even infinite.[…]

Over time, that boy
who was brooding and strange,
because I liked carrying water in a sieve.[…]

The mother gazed at the boy tenderly.
The mother said: My son, you will be a poet!
You'll be carrying water in a sieve your whole life. […]

You will fill the voids.
with their pranks,
And some people will love you for your absurdities!

Beyond his scientific excellence, participants highlighted Jacob Palis's human and formative side. Davidovich recalled the constant encouragement the mathematician offered to new generations. “A very peculiar characteristic of Jacob was the attention and motivation he gave to young people. That was impressive. I myself was greatly motivated by him. I consider him to have been my mentor.”

Davidovich also made a point of highlighting Palis's vision for the future of science in Brazil. "He wanted Brazilian science to succeed here, but also to reach the world. This was clear throughout his career." Concluding his speech, the physicist quoted Guimarães Rosa: "People don't die. They become enchanted. Jacob was one of those enchantments—for everything he left behind in institutions and in people."

Artur Avila, affectionately described as Palis's "academic grandson," moved the audience by reflecting on the researcher's profound influence on his training and on the scientific culture of IMPA. "He wasn't there demonstrating technique, but rather pointing out the right directions and influencing how people would think. He imprinted a way of doing mathematics. IMPA has a vocation for attracting people from all over, and this happened thanks to Jacob's influence. There's no exaggeration on my part. It is with great appreciation, looking back, that I find Jacob's influence and mark."

Marcelo Viana, on the other hand, preferred to recall the leadership vision and courage of the institute's former director in transforming it into a Social Organization. “Jacob was director for ten years, and there are two aspects he instilled: one is the international character of IMPA, which became much more pronounced during this period. And the other was advocating, at the end of the 1990s, that IMPA become a Social Organization. I confess that when he started with this, I didn't quite understand why he was leaving the public sphere. I said: 'They'll be able to close IMPA easily.' He said: 'They can do that now. Just cut the budget,'” Viana recounted. “Many of the things that happened after IMPA became a Social Organization wouldn't have been possible before, such as the OBMEP [Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools], for example.”

Jerson Lima and Débora Foguel also shared memories with the audience and highlighted the support that the mathematician always gave to younger people.

Marcelo Viana gives a lecture in honor of Palis.

Earlier, Viana paid tribute to Jacob Palis with a lecture that filled the auditorium of the 35th CBM. The director-general of IMPA presented an overview of the researcher's scientific career, from his first discoveries to his most recent work. In his speech, he highlighted Palis's intellectual vitality, whose productivity and enthusiasm for research remained unwavering over the years. Watch it here.

The presentation motivated and encouraged everyone present, as Professor Maisa de Oliveira Terra from ITA (Technological Institute of Aeronautics) recounts: “This lecture was very important in understanding how, throughout his life, Jacob was a fruitful person with very significant contributions. It struck me that there are many important and recent contributions. So, even in his advanced age, he continued to be a fruitful researcher, connected to the needs and problems of the moment. This is very inspiring,” said the professor.

Karine de Almeida, PhD from UFPE, said that it is “inspiring to know that he returned from the United States to start a project from scratch in Brazil. It is a legacy he leaves behind, and the lecture was important to understand the contributions he made throughout his career and the legacy he left for others.”

The tribute to Palis is in recognition of the scientific and institutional contributions of the researcher, an international reference in the field of dynamical systems. President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences for three terms, Palis was one of the main figures in the development of mathematics in Brazil. Throughout his career, he trained generations of researchers and was a key figure in consolidating IMPA as a world-class center. Jacob Palis passed away in May, at the age of 85.