MCTIC and CNPq honor IMPA researchers.
Ricardo Fonseca / MCTIC
Emeritus researcher at IMPA, Jacob Palis from Minas Gerais, was honored this Monday morning in Brasília, at the start of the festivities for the 14th National Science and Technology Week (SNCT), which this year has the theme "Mathematics is in everything".
In addition to the honor bestowed by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) – which annually highlights the contribution of a professional dedicated to the scientific development of the country – ten IMPA researchers are part of the "Great Names of Mathematics" exhibition, organized by CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development).
Also launched today at the CNPQ stand in the City Park Pavilion, which concentrates the activities of the SNCT in Brasília, the exhibition recounts the trajectory of 22 names in mathematics in the country – half of them are from IMPA. In addition to Palis and Marcelo Viana, director-general of IMPA, there are Fields Medalist and extraordinary researcher at IMPA, Artur Avila; emeritus researchers Maurício Matos Peixoto, Manfredo do Carmo and César Camacho; Carolina Araújo; Elon Lages Lima (1929-2017); Wellington de Melo (1946-2016), Ricardo Mañé (1948-1995) and Leopoldo Nachbin (1922-1993).
'Curió' of Brazilian Mathematics
“In some bird species, like the curió, there are some individuals that not only sing very well but also have the ability to inspire others to sing. Such birds are extremely valuable. Jacob is the singing curió of Brazilian mathematics,” said Marcelo Viana about Palis. Both work in the field of dynamical systems.
Palis, who previously presided over IMPA from 1993 to 2003 – as well as the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), and the International Mathematical Union (IMU) – received a commemorative plaque from the Secretary of Policies and Programs for Research and Development of the MCTIC, Jailson de Andrade, for his contribution to science in Brazil. In addition to the plaque, Palis's name will be given to the community center at the Exhibition Pavilion in Parque da Cidade.
Ricardo Fonseca / MCTIC
The choice of Mathematics as the theme for the 2017 National Science and Technology Week (SNCT) is part of the activities of the 2017-2018 Mathematics Biennium, during which Brazil is carrying out a series of events. In July, the country hosted, for the first time, the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and, in 2018, also for the first time, it will host the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the world's largest event in the field.
Also as part of the week's activities, CNPq is organizing, starting at 2 pm this Tuesday (24), at its headquarters in Brasília, the event "Mathematics at CNPq", with lectures by prominent researchers, such as the general director of IMPA, Marcelo Viana. He will talk about the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools – OBMEP and the Scientific Initiation and Master's Program (PICME) at IMPA. Topics such as the Scientific Initiation scholarship program (José Ricardo de Santana, director of Institutional Cooperation at CNPq) and Mathematics in Postgraduate Studies (Keti Tenemblat, professor at the University of Brasília) will also be addressed.
Ricardo Fonseca / MCTIC
In Rio, IMPA has prepared a vast program for the National Science and Technology Week, with workshops, an exhibition of 3D objects, a film club, and lectures. From October 25th to 27th, from 9 am to 12 pm, the most important Latin American center for postgraduate education in the field opens its doors to show teachers and students of Basic Education something that its students and researchers have known for a long time: it is indeed possible to have fun with Mathematics.
Below is the IMPA schedule:
October 25th | Wednesday
Welcome – 9:10 AM to 9:30 AM
Lecture by IMPA researcher Roberto Imbuzeiro – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Origami Workshop (Learn geometry in a different, dynamic and visual way, using small pieces of colored paper) / 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM; 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Imaginary – Interactive mathematics exhibition, with image galleries and models for three-dimensional printing / 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM; 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Robot that solves Rubik's Cube – It's made of Lego and can solve the Rubik's Cube quickly. Seeing it in action is a great way to get closer to robotics / 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM; 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Film Club – Screenings of videos related to Mathematics and intended for the general public. Suitable for all ages / 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM; 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Snack delivery, photo with Aramat, and departure / 12:00 PM to 12:15 PM
October 26th | Thursday
Welcome / 9:10 AM to 9:30 AM
Lecture by high school student Antonio Azevedo (OBM medalist) / 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Lecture by IMPA researcher Milton Jara / 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Magic Cube Workshop – Learn more about the history of the creator of this puzzle and its relationship with algebra, combinatorics, and symmetries / 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Origami Workshop – Learn geometry in a different, dynamic, and visual way, using only small pieces of paper / 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM; 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Straw Workshop – A different and fun way to create geometric figures / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Imaginary – Interactive mathematics exhibition, with image galleries and models for three-dimensional printing / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Robot that solves Rubik's Cube – It's made of Lego and can solve the Rubik's Cube quickly. Seeing it in action is a great way to get closer to robotics / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Imaginary – Interactive mathematics exhibition, with image galleries and models for three-dimensional printing / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Film Club – Screenings of videos related to Mathematics and intended for the general public. Suitable for all ages / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Snack delivery, photo with Aramat, and departure / 12:30 PM to 12:45 PM
October 27th | Friday
Welcome / 9:15 AM to 9:30 AM
Lecture by Pietro Pepe, a graduate student in Mathematics and Computer Engineering and medalist at OBMEP / 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Lecture by IMPA researcher Emanuel Carneiro / 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Hanoi Tower Workshop – A game that helps develop memory, consisting of a tower, pegs, and discs / 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Origami Workshop – Origami techniques are used here for you to create various constructions of Plane and Spatial Geometry / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Straw Workshop – A different and fun way to create geometric figures / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Imaginary – Interactive mathematics exhibition, with image galleries and models for three-dimensional printing / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Film Club – Screenings of videos related to Mathematics and intended for the general public. Suitable for all ages / 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM; 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Snack delivery, photo with Aramat, and departure / 12:30 PM to 12:45 PM