08/05/2025

The press pays tribute to emeritus researcher and former director of IMPA.

The Brazilian press also paid tribute to mathematician Jacob Palis, emeritus researcher and former director of IMPA, who died this Wednesday (7), at the age of 85, in Rio de Janeiro. Considered one of the greatest scientists in the country and an international reference in Dynamical Systems, Palis was remembered for his scientific legacy, his institutional work and his decisive role in the training of generations of mathematicians.

RJTV (TV Globo) highlighted that the mathematician leaves "a great legacy for world mathematics, as well as an example of a life dedicated to science." The G1 portal recalled that Palis was "one of the leading scientists and one of the most awarded and respected mathematicians in the country." Read the article here.

In Folha de S.Paulo , Palis was remembered as one of the leading scholars of chaos in dynamical systems in the world. The newspaper recalled his career as director of IMPA, president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), and mentor to talents such as Artur Avila, the first Brazilian to receive the Fields Medal—the highest recognition in world mathematics. Read more here.

" In addition to the positions he held, he mentored numerous researchers—he has 141 'academic descendants'—that is, researchers trained by him or trained by other researchers who were mentored by Palis," the newspaper highlighted.

O Globo newspaper highlighted the scientist's importance in strengthening mathematical research in Brazil, emphasizing his role in placing the country on the international scientific stage. The newspaper also recalled his leadership of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and his dedication to training new researchers. See more.

" A multi-award winner, he was also of great importance as an academic leader in the country, especially for developing a management model within IMPA capable of training other great mathematicians and placing the institution on the world circuit of major collaborations in the field," he mentioned.

The Brazilian's outstanding career was also highlighted by Agência Brasil . The portal stated that "Palis leaves a legacy of research that contributed to the advancement of the global study of mathematics."

"One of the most important contributions was, in the 1990s, on 'global vision of the theory of dynamical systems', which remains one of the main research topics in the field, inspiring generations of researchers," the agency wrote.

Veja online and the R7 portal also highlighted the researcher's career, marked by awards, prominent positions, and international collaborations.

"Nothing like uncertainty. A mathematician decides to take a risk."

Palis' profile, published in Piauí, was featured on the magazine's main page this Wednesday (7) and Thursday (8) in homage to the scientist. The report “Nothing like uncertainty. A mathematician decides to take a risk”, by João Moreira Salles, recalled a dialogue between Palis and Elon Lages Lima.

“Tell me, Elon, who is the best foreign mathematician who has been to Brazil in recent times?” he asked the mathematician Elon Lages Lima in 1962, at the age of 22. “Steve Smale,” replied Lima, then 33, who had a doctorate from Chicago, where he had met Smale.

"Then he's the one I'm going to study with," Palis said. The report is available at this link.

Imagem: Revista Piauí