International Mathematical Union

The International Mathematical Union (IMU) is a worldwide organization devoted to cooperation and communication across the mathematical sciences. It brings together national mathematical organizations and related international societies, providing a framework for collaboration in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematical education, and the history and communication of mathematics. The Union is a member of the International Science Council and is best known publicly for its role in supporting the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the field's principal global congress and one of its most significant recurring scientific gatherings. The IMU's origins date to 1920. Its first institutional period ended when the organization was dissolved in September 1932. It was rebuilt after the Second World War through a constitutive convention in New York in 1950 and became legally re-established on September 10, 1951, after ten countries had joined. Its postwar activities were formally inaugurated at a General Assembly in Rome in March 1952, where officers, commissions, and the first postwar Executive Committee were elected. The organization was also readmitted to the International Council of Scientific Unions, the predecessor of the International Science Council's relevant international framework, in 1952. The Union is a membership organization rather than a commercial brand. Its full members are countries represented by adhering organizations such as national academies, mathematical societies, research councils, or appropriate government bodies. Countries developing their mathematical institutions may participate as Associate Members, while multinational and regional mathematical societies can join as Affiliate Members. The membership meets every four years in a General Assembly, which elects officers, approves the budget, establishes commissions, adopts statutes and bylaws, and makes other major institutional decisions. The Union's Executive Committee manages its affairs between assemblies and includes a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary, six members-at-large, and the past president. A central part of the IMU's public role is the administration or support of prizes presented at the ICM. These include the Fields Medals, awarded since 1936; the Abacus Medal, formerly known as the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize; the Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize; the Chern Medal; and the Leelavati Award. Through these distinctions, the Union highlights exceptional research, influential applications of mathematics, and contributions to mathematical culture and outreach. The IMU also maintains a substantial education and development agenda. Its International Commission on Mathematical Instruction works on mathematics teaching and learning through its own executive structures and international meetings. The Commission for Developing Countries coordinates assistance for mathematicians and mathematical institutions in lower-resource settings. Programs described by the Union include research and conference grants, volunteer teaching placements, mentoring initiatives, support for African mathematics networks, and assistance for educational activities in emerging regions. The Committee for Women in Mathematics addresses the participation and working conditions of women in mathematics and organizes the World Meeting for Women in Mathematics as an ICM satellite event. Other bodies address the history of mathematics and electronic information, publishing, and communication. In 2010, the IMU General Assembly selected Berlin as the site of the Union's permanent office. The office opened on January 1, 2011, and is hosted by the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics. The IMU communicates with the mathematical community through publications including the electronic IMU-Net newsletter and annual IMU Bulletins. Its present identity is therefore that of a global coordinating and service institution: it does not sell conventional consumer products, but organizes scientific infrastructure, international recognition, professional collaboration, educational initiatives, and development support for mathematics worldwide.

The International Mathematical Union was established in 1920 to provide an international structure for cooperation among mathematicians and mathematical institutions. Its first existence was relatively brief: the organization was dissolved in September 1932. The interruption reflected the political and institutional difficulties affecting international scientific cooperation during the interwar period, although the available reference material does not identify a single formal cause for the dissolution. The Union was reconstructed after the Second World War. A constitutive convention held in New York in 1950 initiated the reestablishment process, and the organization became legally re-established on September 10, 1951, once ten countries had become members. The first major postwar General Assembly met in Rome in March 1952. That meeting inaugurated the activities of the renewed Union, elected its first Executive Committee and officers, and established the institutional basis for subsequent international work. In the same year, the IMU was readmitted to the International Council of Scientific Unions, strengthening its position within the international scientific community. After its revival, the IMU developed a recurring governance model centered on four-year General Assemblies and an Executive Committee. National adhering organizations represent member countries; these may be academies, mathematical societies, research councils, or government bodies. Associate membership provides a route for countries developing their mathematical institutions, while affiliate membership allows multinational and regional mathematical societies to participate in work aligned with the Union's objectives. The General Assembly is the principal decision-making body, with authority over elections, commissions, budgets, statutes, and bylaws. The Executive Committee conducts the Union's business between assemblies and helps appoint committees connected with international congresses and prizes. The International Congress of Mathematicians became the principal recurring platform associated with the IMU. The Union supports the congress and other scientific meetings, while also coordinating prestigious distinctions presented in connection with the ICM. The Fields Medals, first awarded in 1936, became the best-known of these honors. Later additions included the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize, subsequently renamed the IMU Abacus Medal, the Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, the Chern Medal, and the Leelavati Award. Together, these prizes recognize research excellence, important applications, broad mathematical influence, and contributions to the public understanding or advancement of mathematics. The Union's remit expanded beyond congresses and awards. The International Commission on Mathematical Instruction established a close institutional relationship with mathematics education, while the International Commission on the History of Mathematics and the Committee on Electronic Information and Communication addressed historical scholarship and changes in mathematical information and publishing. The Committee for Women in Mathematics developed a global focus on the participation of women and organized the World Meeting for Women in Mathematics as an ICM-associated event. Support for developing countries became an increasingly prominent part of the IMU's work. The Union took organized steps in this area in the early 1970s and later consolidated many initiatives through the Commission for Developing Countries, formed in 2010. Its activities have included grants for research travel and conferences, support for African mathematics networks, mentoring partnerships, volunteer lecturers, and assistance for mathematics education in emerging regions. Reports on mathematics in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia documented challenges and opportunities and helped frame later programs. A major administrative transition occurred in 2010, when the General Assembly selected Berlin for the Union's permanent office. The office opened on January 1, 2011, and is hosted by the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics. The Berlin office gave the organization a stable administrative base while preserving its international membership and globally distributed activities. The IMU also continued to communicate through IMU-Net, an electronic newsletter issued every two months, annual IMU Bulletins, and guidance on mathematical publishing practices. Today, it operates as an international scientific union whose principal functions are coordination, representation, recognition, education, and capacity building in mathematics.

• 2023

  Hiraku Nakajima begins presidential term

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  Hiraku Nakajima became president for the 2023–2026 term.

• 2014

  MENAO symposium held alongside the ICM

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The IMU held a symposium on mathematics in emerging nations before the opening of the International Congress of Mathematicians.

• 2011

  Permanent Berlin office opens

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The permanent office opened on January 1 and was hosted by the Weierstrass Institute.

• 2010

  Berlin chosen as permanent office location

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The General Assembly selected Berlin for a permanent administrative office.

• 1952

  Postwar activities inaugurated in Rome

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The Rome General Assembly elected officers and commissions and inaugurated the renewed Union's activities.

• 1951

  IMU legally reestablished

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The Union was legally reestablished on September 10 after ten countries had joined.

• 1950

  Postwar reestablishment process begins

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  A constitutive convention in New York initiated the reconstruction of the Union.

• 1936

  Fields Medals enter the IMU prize tradition

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  Fields Medals began being awarded at the International Congress of Mathematicians and later became a central distinction associated with the IMU.

• 1932

  Union dissolved

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The first incarnation of the IMU was dissolved in September 1932.

• 1920

  International Mathematical Union established

  [1]International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org

  The IMU was founded as an international organization for cooperation in mathematics.

A non-commercial global coordinating institution for mathematics, positioned around international scientific cooperation, recognition of mathematical excellence, education, professional networks, and support for mathematical capacity in developing countries.

• International scientific congress

  International Congress of Mathematicians

  The ICM is the principal global congress supported by the IMU. It provides a recurring forum for presenting major mathematical research, building international professional relationships, and recognizing achievements through the Union's major prizes. The congress also serves as a focal point for satellite meetings, educational activities, and discussions involving mathematical development and inclusion.

• Scientific prize · 1936

  Fields Medals

  The Fields Medals are among the most prominent distinctions in mathematics and are awarded in connection with the International Congress of Mathematicians. They recognize outstanding mathematical research and are traditionally presented to several recipients at each congress. The medals form the most widely recognized component of the IMU's international recognition program.

• Scientific prize · 1986

  IMU Abacus Medal

  The IMU Abacus Medal is the prize formerly known as the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize. It recognizes significant contributions in mathematical aspects of information sciences and related fields, and is awarded in the context of the International Congress of Mathematicians.

• Scientific prize · 2006

  Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize

  The Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize honors mathematical research that has produced a major impact outside mathematics, including through technology, business, or broader scientific applications. It forms part of the IMU's program of distinctions presented at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

• Scientific prize · 2010

  Chern Medal

  The Chern Medal recognizes an individual whose accomplishments have had a profound influence on the mathematical field. It is one of the major honors associated with the IMU and is awarded at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

• Mathematics outreach award · 2010

  Leelavati Award

  The Leelavati Award recognizes exceptional contributions to public awareness, understanding, or appreciation of mathematics. It broadens the Union's recognition activities beyond research achievement to include communication and engagement with society.

• Development and capacity-building programs · 2010

  Commission for Developing Countries programs

  The Commission for Developing Countries coordinates assistance for mathematicians and institutions in the developing world. Its activities include research and conference grants, volunteer lecturers, mentoring, regional networks, and support for mathematical education and research capacity. Programs are intended to build durable local communities rather than provide only one-time event support.

• Scientific communications

  IMU-Net and IMU Bulletins

  IMU-Net is an electronic newsletter issued every two months to report on Union decisions, recommendations, international mathematical events, and developments of interest to the mathematical community. Annual IMU Bulletins provide members with information about current activities and institutional work.

• 2014Mathematics in Emerging Nations: Achievements and Opportunities

  Global · Emerging and developing countries

  The IMU organized a day-long symposium before the 2014 International Congress of Mathematicians to discuss mathematical achievements, institutional needs, and opportunities in emerging nations. Participants included mathematicians and representatives from diplomatic, scientific, business, and philanthropic communities.

  Outcome. The symposium created a high-level forum for discussing international support for mathematics and highlighted experiences from individual mathematicians and developing countries.

  Source
• 2010Commission for Developing Countries

  Global · Developing countries

  The IMU consolidated earlier development initiatives through the Commission for Developing Countries, with a mandate covering support for mathematicians, research institutions, conferences, education, and professional networks in lower-resource settings.

  Outcome. The commission became the main coordinating structure for the Union's developing-world activities, including grants, mentoring, volunteer teaching, and regional capacity-building projects.

  Source

• 2010

  Establish a permanent office in BerlinStrategy

  Background

  The IMU sought a stable administrative base for its increasingly extensive international activities while retaining its global membership structure.

  Action taken

  At its General Assembly in Bangalore, the Union selected Berlin as the location of its permanent office.

  Aftermath

  The office opened on January 1, 2011, hosted by the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics.

  Source

• 2010

  Create the Commission for Developing CountriesStrategy

  Background

  The IMU had supported mathematics in developing countries through multiple initiatives since the early 1970s and needed a structure to coordinate this work.

  Action taken

  The Union formed the Commission for Developing Countries to bring together its earlier and continuing development programs.

  Aftermath

  The commission coordinated grants, conference support, mentoring, volunteer lecturers, regional networks, and related capacity-building efforts.

  Source

• 2010

  Introduce the Chern Medal and Leelavati AwardOther

  Background

  The IMU expanded the range of achievements recognized through its International Congress of Mathematicians prize program.

  Action taken

  The Union began awarding the Chern Medal and Leelavati Award.

  Aftermath

  The prize portfolio covered both profound mathematical influence and contributions to public engagement with mathematics.

  Source

1. 1International Mathematical Unionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Mathematical Union official websitemathunion.org