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Stockholm 2004 EMS NEWS SStockholmtockholm 20042004 TheThe FourFourthth EurEuropeanopean CongrCongressess ofof MathematicsMathematics Ulf Persson (Göteborg, Sweden) How it came about together with the recent acceleration in the In spite of a difficult start, the fourth number of specialized conferences, often European Congress in Mathematics (ECM) referred to as workshops to emphasize their took place after all. As its President Ari focused and businesslike character, has Laptev revealed in an earlier issue of this sown doubts in the minds of many as to the newsletter, its eventual location in scientific relevance of such gargantuan Stockholm was not initially planned but meetings, which, cynics protest, are more was the result of a crisis perceived in the the occasion for tourism than serious scien- summer of 2000. Despite what many out- tific interchange. In such a perspective, the conveying of an idea (usually one is siders may have assumed, finding sufficient establishment of a European Congress may enough) and some motivation (which funding from Swedish sources was not a seem redundant. One may point out though should not be confused with justification straightforward matter (as the first bid that the situation of mathematics is not often of the type: ‘this has applications to made painfully clear). It was only due to the unique, but is shared by most academic dis- physics’) and placing the subject matter in daring and ‘savoire faire’ of Ari Laptev and ciplines, and that it is very important, a wider mathematical context. Apart from his colleague at Kungliga Tekniska among other things, to counter the frag- that, a good lecture can contain highly tech- Högskolan (KTH), Anders Lindquist, that mentation of a discipline with opportunities nical material, and there is no reason why sufficiently promising leads were extracted for the contemplation of it as a whole. For the audience should understand most of it from some of the major Swedish funding this to be fully successful there is both a as long as they have gotten something to institutions, thus enabling the Swedish need for the lectures to be directed to a gen- take home with them. It would be very dan- Mathematical Society to send a small dele- eral mathematical audience and for that gerous if mathematicians were to abandon gation to the executive meeting in London audience to seek out lectures not primarily their tradition of honesty and aim for mere- later that fall for negotiations. However, a within their own speciality. Popular sur- ly the ‘flashy’. To reflect on why your work final commitment to hold the congress was veys do not rank highly among the priori- is interesting and to try to truly motivate it, not made until just a week before Christmas ties of research mathematicians. They are should not be seen as a concession to igno- - after a rather tense encounter with the then notoriously difficult to do and the rewards rance, but rather as an additional source of President of the European Mathematical are marginal. A scientific committee selects inspiration for your own research. Society (EMS), Rolf Jeltsch. The meeting their choices primarily on the basis of sci- only came to a desired conclusion after a entific excellence and topicality of the sub- New features final short interview with the President of ject matter, not on expository skills; and Obviously this is not the place to com- the KTH, Anders Flodström, in which the notwithstanding the desirability of the latter ment upon how successfully the various latter agreed to the necessary financial this is basically a sound principle, tamper- speakers performed their task of communi- underwriting. The upshot was that the plan- ing with which would court disaster and cating to a general mathematical audience. ning and organization of the congress was seriously undercut the legitimacy of the Fortunately, although few lectures can be shortened by at least a year from what has whole enterprise. Thus selection as a speak- expected to please everyone, the lecture is been customary for this kind of event. er is seen primarily as recognition of scien- rare indeed that does not bring rewards to at tific merit and not as an opportunity, as well least a token number in the audience, and Why big congresses? Was it worth it? as an obligation, to communicate effective- one may argue that this is indeed all that is This is obviously not the place to delve ly. needed to make it worthwhile. However, deeper into that philosophical question, yet What is needed is a change of culture, there was a feeling among the organizers a few reflections may not be amiss. In the something that cannot be decreed but has to that something extra was needed to justify good old days, which meant up into the evolve slowly. On what constitutes a good yet another general conference in mathe- fifties, conferences were few and small, and lecture, one can of course argue, there obvi- matics, as well as serving as a rejuvenation in particular the International Congresses of ously being no specific rules on which of the concept. Two new features were Mathematicians (ICM) were rather select everyone can agree. And besides, in all added. One was to invite scientists in natur- and as a consequence not bigger than kinds of human interaction rules are simply al science, not only in chemistry and allowing group portraits to be taken. But there to be broken. It suffices to point out physics, but also mathematical biologists, when the ICM was held in Stockholm back that a scientific lecture, and especially a to give lectures. The other was to latch on in 1962, it was the largest scientific con- mathematical one, is not necessarily made to the pre-existing structure of the gress that had ever been held in Sweden. more accessible by the simple process of European Networks and thus give to the Since then the ICM have turned from rather ‘watering down’ (i.e. removing technicali- ECM a natural European anchoring. The exclusive meetings to large affairs attended ties and making unwarranted simplifica- first may be seen as somewhat controver- by the ‘mathematical masses’. This fact, tions). What is required of a lecture is the sial, wedding mathematics and its ultimate EMS September 2004 7 EMS NEWS justification too tightly to applications. Yet, (physically) distant from both. It is of fairly lunchtime, there was the temptation of the whether we like it or not, practical mathe- recent vintage, located on the main campus official cafeteria situated halfway between matical applications are what brings in of the University of Stockholm, easily the two locations (actually accessible from material resources, and for public relations accessible by the Stockholm Underground the Aula Magna remaining indoors the the importance of the willingness of mathe- (‘T-banan’, ‘T’ as in tunnel). Shaped like entire way, a godsend in the case of maticians to interact externally, and in the an amphitheatre, with options of subdivi- inclement weather). It provided the stan- process maybe also acquiring greater pub- sion, the Aula actually boasts a capacity dard Swedish lunch fare to be expected lic visibility, should not be underestimated. well in excess of the number of actual par- from that kind of self-serve establishment, From a less opportunistic standpoint, ticipants (around 900), which resulted in confidently assured of a captive audience, applications should not merely be seen as the somewhat unfortunate impression of not only by its isolated existence but also necessary justifications, but also as sources not only the lectures but also the opening due to pre-paid lunch coupons. of inspiration. The second new feature may hopefully ensure that the new tradition of ECM’s continues. The funding and organi- zation of a big international congress is indeed a major undertaking and the diffi- culties involved may be expected to increase with time rather than decrease. The European Union has already invested a formidable apparatus of networks replete with their own special conferences. What would be more natural than a unifying one, which should bring with it a large body of active participants, and hopefully also channels for necessary funding? At Stockholm, admittedly the network lectures played a rather marginal role, but if the idea is accepted and developed in future ECM’s they may provide the core activity onto which various extras may be attached as embellishments. Aula Magna After those general preambles it may be 4ecm staff studying new books at the booth of the EMS publishing house appropriate to describe the Fourth European Congress of Mathematicians as ceremony being sparsely attended. As The opening ceremony an actual event tied to a physical location at expected, the Aula along with its adjacent The conference got a head start on Sunday a given slot in time. The basic problem of hallways became the locus of the meeting. afternoon, on June 27, by providing regis- organizing a conference for one thousand Walking along its perimeter you had imme- tration outside the Aula. This involved get- odd expected participants is to find a lec- diate access to the young assistants donning ting a handy black briefcase, doubling as a ture hall big enough. Unlike the case of the yellow T-shirts, as well as to the various rucksack, with the logo of the 4ECM suffi- Olympics, the erection of new buildings is bookstalls providing not only opportunities ciently discreet to encourage post-confer- not an option. Of course big conferences for browsing but also seducing discounts. ence use. It would be tedious to list its con- are legion these days, but commercially The Springer stall also supplied piles of tents of ‘goodies’, but I am sure that most available space often comes with price-tags copies of the Stockholm Intelligencer (still people appreciated the free public transport not within the capabilities of mathematical smelling of fresh print), featuring short arti- passes intended to cover the entire period.
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