Société Mathématique de France

Société Mathématique de France
Name	Société Mathématique de France
Formation	1872
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Paris
Location	France
Language	French
Leader title	President

Société Mathématique de France is a learned society founded in 1872 that promotes research and communication in mathematics across France and internationally. It connects mathematicians from institutions such as École Normale Supérieure, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne University, Institut Henri Poincaré and collaborates with organizations like Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Académie des Sciences, European Mathematical Society and International Mathematical Union. The society engages with historical figures and current researchers linked to Henri Poincaré, Évariste Galois, Jacques Hadamard, Émile Picard and contemporary groups at Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, École Polytechnique, Université Grenoble Alpes.

History

The society was established in 1872 in Paris with founders and early contributors connected to Camille Jordan, Joseph Bertrand, Charles Hermite, Henri Poincaré and Émile Picard, reacting to scientific developments following events such as the Franco-Prussian War and the reconstruction of French scientific institutions like Collège de France. Through the Belle Époque and the interwar period it intersected with mathematicians linked to André Weil, Élie Cartan, Sophie Germain’s legacy and debates involving David Hilbert, Felix Klein and institutions such as University of Göttingen. During and after World War II the society navigated disruptions affecting members associated with Jean Leray, Laurent Schwartz, Alexandre Grothendieck and exchanges with Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University and University of Cambridge. Late 20th-century ties involved collaborations with CNRS, Centre de Mathématiques Laurent Schwartz and participation in European programs with European Research Council and Horizon 2020 initiatives.

Organization and Governance

Governance comprises a council and elected officers including a president, secretary and treasurer, drawn from academics at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Paris Diderot, Université Lyon 1 and research institutes like Observatoire de Paris. Statutes reflect practices comparable to those of Royal Society, Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung, American Mathematical Society and the European Mathematical Society. Committees oversee publications, awards, and outreach, interacting with organizations such as Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique and partnering with regional bodies including Société des Amis des Sciences and university departments at Université de Strasbourg.

Publications

The society publishes journals and monograph series with editorial boards including editors from Annales scientifiques de l'École Normale Supérieure, Journal de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées, Bulletin de la Société Mathématique de France and comparable titles like Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences and Mathematische Annalen. Monograph and lecture series have featured authors associated with Jean-Pierre Serre, Pierre Deligne, Alain Connes, Yves Meyer and institutions such as Collège de France and Institut Fourier. The publishing program collaborates with international publishers linked to Cambridge University Press, Springer Science+Business Media and Elsevier for distribution and indexing alongside databases like Zentralblatt MATH and MathSciNet.

Awards and Prizes

The society administers prizes recognizing contributions in pure and applied mathematics, with laureates connected to names like Henri Lebesgue and Joseph-Louis Lagrange in historical context and modern recipients akin to Cédric Villani, Laurent Lafforgue, Jean-Christophe Yoccoz and Claire Voisin through shared networks at Collège de France, École Polytechnique and Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques. Prize committees coordinate with award systems such as the Fields Medal, CNRS Gold Medal, Shaw Prize and national honors awarded by Académie des Sciences and the Légion d'honneur.

Activities and Meetings

Regular activities include national congresses, thematic workshops and seminars held in cities like Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Nice, often co-organized with universities such as Université de Bordeaux and research centers like Centre de Recerca Matemàtica. Meetings feature plenary speakers drawn from institutions including Princeton University, Harvard University, University of Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and topics intersect with fields pursued at Institut Camille Jordan and seminars akin to those at IHÉS. The society participates in international events such as International Congress of Mathematicians, collaborates on summer schools with École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and supports lecture series at Institut Henri Poincaré.

Membership and Outreach

Membership spans doctoral students, professors, researchers and emeriti affiliated with Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, Université de Montpellier, Université de Nantes and research laboratories within CNRS and INRIA. Outreach programs target secondary education and public engagement through partnerships with museums like Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie and festivals such as Fête de la Science, and work with educational bodies tied to Ministry of National Education (France), competitions including Concours Général and initiatives inspired by historical exhibitions on Napoléon Bonaparte’s era of reform. International liaison maintains links with the International Mathematical Union, European Mathematical Society and national societies such as Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung and London Mathematical Society.

Category:Mathematical societies Category:Organizations established in 1872