Latin American Mathematical Union
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| Latin American Mathematical Union | |
|---|---|
| Name | Latin American Mathematical Union |
| Formation | 1964 |
| Type | International organization |
Latin American Mathematical Union
The Latin American Mathematical Union is a regional professional organization linking mathematical societies, research institutes, and universities across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The Union was established to coordinate activities among institutions such as the University of Buenos Aires, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Universidad de la República (Uruguay), and to connect with international bodies like the International Mathematical Union, the European Mathematical Society, the American Mathematical Society, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. Its initiatives engage scholars associated with entities including the Brazilian Mathematical Society, the Argentine Mathematical Union, the Mexican Mathematical Society, the Peruvian Mathematical Society, and the Colombian Mathematical Society.
History
The Union emerged in the 1960s amid collaborations among mathematicians linked to institutions such as Universidad de Chile, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Universidad de Buenos Aires Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, and Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada; it was shaped by meetings held in cities like Montevideo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Mexico City. Early leadership included figures who had affiliations with École Normale Supérieure, University of Cambridge, Princeton University, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley through visiting appointments and exchanges. The Union's development paralleled regional programs such as initiatives by the Organization of American States and projects funded by foundations like the Carnegie Corporation and the Ford Foundation, and it later coordinated with agencies including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Bank.
Mission and Objectives
The Union's mission aligns with promoting cooperation among professional societies such as the Argentine Mathematical Union, Sociedade Brasileira de Matemática, Sociedad Matemática Mexicana, Sociedad Matemática Peruana, and university departments at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Faculty of Sciences and Universidad de São Paulo Institute of Mathematics. Objectives include fostering research networks between groups at Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas (CIMAT), Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, and regional centers connected to the International Mathematical Union Commission for Developing Countries. The Union supports postgraduate training linked to programs at Universidad de Costa Rica, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Universidad de Antioquia, and Universidad de la República.
Organizational Structure
Governance is typically exercised by an executive committee and a council composed of representatives from national societies including Sociedad Chilena de Matemática, Sociedad Boliviana de Matemática, Sociedad Matemática de Puerto Rico, Asociación Colombiana de Matemáticas, and the Mathematical Association of Guatemala. The Union's secretariat coordinates with research institutes like CIMPA and connects delegations from ministries such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colombia), regional universities like Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and observatories of academic policy at bodies like the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Organizational roles have been held by mathematicians with prior appointments at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, École Polytechnique, Imperial College London, and national academies such as the Argentine National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.
Activities and Programs
Programs include regional research schools modeled after courses organized by Centro Internacional de Matemática Pura y Aplicada and partnerships with institutes like the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, the Fields Institute, and the Clay Mathematics Institute. The Union runs training for competition teams participating in events like the International Mathematical Olympiad and supports regional contests such as the Ibero-American Mathematical Olympiad. It administers mobility grants that facilitate sabbaticals between departments such as Universidade de São Paulo Department of Mathematics, Universidad de Buenos Aires Department of Mathematics, Universidad de Chile Faculty of Mathematics, and research groups at IMPA and CIMAT.
Publications and Conferences
The Union sponsors conferences, summer schools, and symposia often hosted at venues like Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and Universidad de la República (Uruguay), and collaborates with publishers and journals connected to Springer, Elsevier, American Mathematical Society, and regional presses. Proceedings and newsletters disseminate work from researchers affiliated with centers such as Instituto de Matemática Pura e Aplicada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, and university departments including Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and Universidad Simón Bolívar. Conferences attract speakers with ties to University of Oxford, University of Paris (Sorbonne), Stanford University, Seoul National University, and academies like the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.
Membership and Affiliations
Membership comprises national mathematical societies from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, as well as university departments such as Universidad de Puerto Rico Department of Mathematics and research institutes like CIMAT and IMPA. The Union maintains affiliations with international organizations including the International Mathematical Union, the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction, the European Mathematical Society, the American Mathematical Society, and regional bodies like the Organization of American States.
Impact and Contributions to Mathematics in Latin America
The Union has contributed to the growth of research groups in algebra, analysis, geometry, and applied mathematics at institutions such as Universidade de São Paulo, IMPA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Universidad de Chile. Its initiatives helped establish doctoral programs, doctoral committees, and research networks involving centers like CIMPA, Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas (CIMAT), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), and laboratories at Universidad de Antioquia. The Union's support has produced generations of mathematicians who have joined faculties at Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and national academies including the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.