Official statement from the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics

Some Peruvian media outlets have been reporting on the difficulties faced by Claudio Vicente Espinoza Choqquepura, a former student of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA). The IMPA administration deeply regrets the situation and expresses its solidarity with the suffering of Claudio's family and friends. Likewise, it feels obligated to correct the incorrect information disseminated in these news reports, restoring the truth of the facts.

Claudio began his doctoral studies at IMPA in August 2011, as a CAPES/MEC scholarship recipient. He received his scholarship until July 2015, that is, for 48 months, which is the maximum time allowed by the funding agency. During this period, IMPA also paid his bench fee with its own resources. In addition, from the end of 2012, IMPA instituted a transportation and food allowance for all its students, including Claudio.

At the end of this 4-year period, Claudio should have presented his doctoral thesis for defense, but he did not. Even so, IMPA kept him on as a doctoral student so that he would have more time to finish his work, and he continued to receive transportation and food allowances paid by IMPA.

Unfortunately, from that point on, Claudio cut off all contact with IMPA, including with his advisor. He stopped enrolling in courses, as required by the doctoral program regulations – his last enrollment dates back to August 2015 – and also did not respond to our emails. According to information we are receiving, he has also cut off contact with his own colleagues.

Thus, in the absence of news and after consulting his advisor, his enrollment at IMPA was suspended in September 2016. It should be noted that throughout this time Claudio never requested assistance from the Institute, nor did he inform them that he was experiencing difficulties. Only recently did he visit his advisor to inform him that he was returning to Peru.

We warmly wish Claudio a speedy and complete recovery, and hope he returns to the world of mathematics, which he loves so much, as soon as possible.

Cordially,

IMPA Management

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Official note from the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics

Some Peruvian communication media came to inform us of the difficulties that Claudio Vicente Espinoza Choqquepura, former student of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA), is experiencing. The management of IMPA deeply regrets the situation and sympathizes with the suffering of Claudio's family and friends. Therefore, you feel that it is your obligation to rectify incorrect information linked to these news, contributing to the veracity of the facts.

Claudio began his doctorate at IMPA in August 2011, as a director of CAPES/Ministerio de Educación de Brasil. Received the scholarship from July 2015, or for 48 months, which is the maximum time allowed by the funding agency. During this period, IMPA paid in the same way, with its own resources, the “bench fee” (money for academic activities). Furthermore, from the end of 2012, IMPA instituted transportation and food assistance for all its students, including Claudio.

At the end of this 4-year period, Claudio should have presented his doctorate thesis, to defend it, but not soon. Therefore, IMPA keeps him as a doctorate student so that he has extra time to finish his work, including retaining the transportation and food assistance paid by the institution.

Unfortunately, from then on Claudio cut off all contact with IMPA, including his supervisor. He didn't want to enroll in subjects, as required by the doctorate regulations – the last registration was in August 2015 -, he also responded to our electronic mails. According to the information we have received, it appears that he has also lost contact with his own colleagues.

In this way, due to the lack of news and subsequent consultation with his supervisor, in September 2016 his enrollment in IMPA was suspended. It is worth noting that throughout this time Claudio never asked for help at the Institute, nor did he inform him that he was experiencing difficulties. Only recently did he visit his advisor to tell him that he was going back to Peru.

We hope for a prompt and complete recovery, and for Claudio to return to living with the mathematics he loves so much, as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

IMPA Directorate