Decision of the International Mathematical Union regarding the next ICM in Russia

Link to the full official statement.

The Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) has decided that:

  1. The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2022 will take place as a fully virtual
    event, hosted outside Russia but following the original time schedule planned for Saint
    Petersburg.
  2. Participation in the virtual ICM event will be free of charge.
  3. The IMU General Assembly (GA) will take place as an in-person event outside Russia.
  4. A prize ceremony will be held the day after the IMU GA, at the same venue as the IMU GA, for
    the awarding of the 2022 IMU prizes.
  5. The dates for the ICM and the GA will remain unaltered.
  6. We will return with further practical information regarding the two events.

[…]

We, the Executive Committee of the IMU, have analyzed the situation carefully. We strongly
condemn the actions by Russia. Our deepest sympathy goes to our Ukrainian colleagues and
the Ukrainian people.

[…]

As for the General Assembly, we consider it of vital importance to meet in person. However,
as we cannot meet in Saint Petersburg, we will find an alternative venue outside Russia for the
GA.

See also the message to the IMU Executive Committee sent by the Azat Miftakhov Committee.

Update on the case of Azat Miftakhov

On October 6, 2021, the IMU Executive Committee issued a statement concerning the case of our colleague Azat Miftakhov who has been arbitrarily detained by Russian authorities since February 2019:  “The IMU expresses its wish that Miftakhov be allowed to complete his doctorate in France, enabling him to pursue a career in mathematics, and asks that he be released at the earliest opportunity so that he can take up his studies in France.”

Continue reading →

“Cambridge colleges accused of exploiting ‘gig economy’ tutors’’ (Guardian)

“Nearly half of undergraduate tutorials are delivered by staff who lack proper contracts, research shows

Colleges at the University of Cambridge have been accused of using overworked and underpaid gig economy workers to provide the institution’s famous one-on-one tutoring system.

Research by members of the University and College Union found nearly half of undergraduate tutorials, or “supervisions” as they are known, are delivered by precariously employed staff who lack proper contracts. One-third of supervisors are postgraduate students or freelancers, including those who have recently completed their PhDs.’’

See the full article here.

The International Mathematical Union must support Azat Miftakhov

The Azat Miftakhov Committee, supported by 308 mathematicians and 3 mathematical societies, sent the following letter to the International Mathematical Union Executive Committee, concerning the case of our colleague Azat Miftakhov. Mathematicians who wish to support this letter can sign it by filling out the form here; an updated list of signatories will be sent to the IMU in a few weeks.

UPDATE 25/09/2021: Open letter by Ahmed Abbas and Cédric Villani to the IMU.

August 23, 2021

Dear members of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) Executive Committee,

Continue reading →

Mathematics at the University of Leicester

The London Mathematical Society has been informed that the University of Leicester is consulting over a proposal to reduce the size of its Pure Mathematics Group to be teaching only, in order to “meet the rising market demand of artificial intelligence, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science”. The Society strongly opposes this proposal and believes it to be seriously flawed for the following reasons.
Source: https://www.lms.ac.uk/news-entry/09022021-1444/mathematics-university-leicester

Continue reading →

An “academic for peace”, Altina Tunel, still deprived of his passport by the Turkish State

On April 12, 2021, two years after his passport was confiscated, Tuna Altinel speaks on video from Istanbul: his message can be viewed or read.

See also the recent resolution adopted by University Lyon 1, where Altina Tunel is Professor of Mathematics, calling on President Macron to take action, so our colleague can return to us. [official version in French]

Support committee: Website / Twitter account / YouTube Channel

Academics of Peace

Communiqué de Sociétés Savantes Académiques de France

Collectif des Sociétés Savantes Académiques de France
Contact : contact@societes-savantes.fr
Site web : https://societes-savantes.fr/

Communiqué de Presse du 31 octobre 2020


Les responsables de sociétés savantes signataires condamnent fermement le contenu des trois amendements 147, 150 et 234 adoptés en séance de nuit le 29 octobre au Sénat, avec le soutien du gouvernement.


Ces amendements déposés à la dernière minute modifient profondément les procédures de recrutement des enseignant.e.s-chercheurs et restreignent les libertés académiques et scientifiques.

Continue reading →