International Mathematical Union

International Mathematical Union
Name	International Mathematical Union
Founded	1920 (reconstituted 1951)
Headquarters	Berlin
Type	Non-governmental organization
Focus	International cooperation in mathematics
Website	https://www.mathunion.org/

International Mathematical Union. It is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting international cooperation in the field of mathematics. It is a member of the International Science Council and is best known for organizing the International Congress of Mathematicians and awarding the prestigious Fields Medal. The organization plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration among mathematicians worldwide and supporting the development of the discipline.

History

The organization was first established in 1920 in Strasbourg following the International Congress of Mathematicians (1920), with founding figures including mathematicians like G. H. Hardy and Charles-Jean de la Vallée Poussin. Its early activities were disrupted by the political tensions leading to World War II, causing it to become dormant. After the war, efforts led by mathematicians such as Marshall Stone and Heinz Hopf resulted in its reconstitution at a special meeting during the International Congress of Mathematicians (1950) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The new union was formally established in 1951, with its first general assembly held in Rome in 1952, marking a new era of post-war scientific collaboration that aligned with the founding of other bodies like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Organization

The supreme body is the General Assembly, which convenes every four years in conjunction with the International Congress of Mathematicians. Day-to-day governance is managed by an Executive Committee elected by the General Assembly, led by the President. Key committees include the Fields Medal Committee and the Abel Prize selection committee, which operate with strict autonomy. The union maintains close working relationships with other international scientific bodies such as the International Council for Science and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. Its permanent office, the Secretariat, has been located in Berlin since 2011, following previous locations including Bures-sur-Yvette and Helsinki.

Activities and prizes

Its most prominent activity is the organization of the quadrennial International Congress of Mathematicians, where it awards several of the field's highest honors. These include the Fields Medal, the Nevanlinna Prize (now the IMU Abacus Medal), the Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, and the Chern Medal Award. The union also oversees the selection process for the Abel Prize, in cooperation with the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. Beyond prizes, it runs development programs like the Commission for Developing Countries and supports initiatives such as the International Day of Mathematics. It also sponsors or endorses other major conferences, including the International Congress on Mathematical Education.

Member countries and societies

Membership is composed of national adhering organizations, typically the leading academy of sciences or mathematical society from each participating country. Founding members included societies from nations like France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. As of the 21st century, it has over 80 member countries, with notable admissions in later decades including the People's Republic of China and many nations from Africa and Southeast Asia. Each member country is represented by a national committee, such as the National Academy of Sciences for the United States or the Royal Society for the United Kingdom, which participate in the General Assembly.

Publications

While not a primary publisher, it sponsors and endorses significant publications in the mathematical community. A key output is the proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians, published by hosts like Springer Science+Business Media. It also publishes official reports, such as the ICM Proceedings and the World Directory of Mathematicians. The union collaborates on major reference works, including the Encyclopaedia of Mathematics and the digital library Project Euclid. Its newsletter, the IMU Bulletin, communicates news and reports on international mathematical affairs to the global community.

Presidents

The President is elected for a four-year term. The inaugural President of the reconstituted union was Marshall Stone of the United States. Subsequent presidents have included many eminent figures from around the world, such as Heinz Hopf of Switzerland, Lev Pontryagin of the Soviet Union, Lennart Carleson of Sweden, and David Mumford of the United States. More recent presidencies have seen leaders from Brazil, Japan, and South Africa, reflecting the organization's growing geographical diversity, with Hiraku Nakajima of Japan serving in the early 2020s.

Category:International Mathematical Union Category:Mathematical organizations Category:International scientific organizations