International Mathematical Union
Global union promoting cooperation in mathematics and awarding top prizes.
The International Mathematical Union (IMU) works to foster global collaboration in mathematics. It belongs to the International Science Council (ISC) and backs the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). Its membership consists of national math organizations from over 80 countries. The IMU’s goals include promoting international cooperation, supporting the ICM and other scientific meetings, awarding major prizes for outstanding research, and encouraging activities that advance pure, applied, or educational mathematics.
The union was first founded in 1920, but it dissolved in September 1932. It was reestablished in 1950 at a constitutive convention in New York, becoming legally active on September 10, 1951, once ten countries had joined. Its work officially began at the General Assembly in Rome in March 1952, where the first Executive Committee, president, and commissions were elected. That same year, the IMU was readmitted to the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). The past president was Carlos Kenig (2019–2022); the current president is Hiraku Nakajima. At the 2010 General Assembly in Bangalore, India, Berlin was chosen for the IMU’s permanent office, which opened on January 1, 2011, and is hosted by the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS), part of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Scientific Community.
The IMU works closely with the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) on math education. Developing countries are a major focus, with a significant share of the budget—including grants from individuals, societies, foundations, and agencies—spent on related activities, coordinated since 2011 by the Commission for Developing Countries (CDC). The Committee for Women in Mathematics (CWM) addresses issues for women in math worldwide and organizes the World Meeting for Women in Mathematics ((WM)²) as a satellite event of the ICM. The International Commission on the History of Mathematics (ICHM) is run jointly with the Division of the History of Science (DHS) of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science (IUHPS). The Committee on Electronic Information and Communication (CEIC) advises the IMU on math information, communication, and publishing.
The IMU awards several major prizes at each quadrennial ICM: the Fields Medals (two to four per congress since 1936), the IMU Abacus M
- founded
- 1920 (dissolved 1932, reestablished 1950)
- headquarters
- Berlin, Germany (permanent office opened January 1, 2011)
- current_president
- Hiraku Nakajima
- member_countries
- 83 full member countries, 2 associate members
- affiliate_members
- 5 (including African Mathematical Union, European Mathematical Society)
- key_prizes
- Fields Medals, IMU Abacus Medal, Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, Chern Medal, Leelavati Award
Lore & Background
The IMU was established in 1920 but dissolved in September 1932. It was reestablished in 1950 at the Constitutive Convention in New York, becoming de jure on September 10, 1951, when ten countries had become members. The General Assembly in March 1952 in Rome, Italy, inaugurated the new IMU's activities and elected its first Executive Committee, President, and various commissions. In 1952 the IMU was readmitted to the ICSU. The past president was Carlos Kenig (2019–2022); the current president is Hiraku Nakajima. At the 16th General Assembly in Bangalore, India, in August 2010, Berlin was chosen for the permanent office, opened on January 1, 2011, hosted by the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS).
Reader's Guide
The International Mathematical Union serves as the principal international body for fostering cooperation in mathematics, supporting the quadrennial International Congress of Mathematicians, and awarding some of the field's highest distinctions, including the Fields Medals, IMU Abacus Medal, Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, Chern Medal, and Leelavati Award. Its commissions address mathematics education (ICMI), developing countries (CDC), women in mathematics (CWM), history of mathematics (ICHM), and electronic information (CEIC). The IMU prioritizes developing countries, spending a significant portion of its budget on related activities, coordinated since 2011 by the CDC. It publishes an electronic newsletter (IMU-Net) every two months and annual IMU Bulletins. Through its Volunteer Lecturer Program, grants program, and support for initiatives like the African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative and Mentoring African Research in Mathematics, the IMU works to strengthen mathematics worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and other emerging regions.
Did You Know?
- The IMU was dissolved in September 1932 and reestablished in 1950.
- Its permanent office opened on January 1, 2011, in Berlin, hosted by the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics.
- The IMU awards the Fields Medals, IMU Abacus Medal, Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize, Chern Medal, and Leelavati Award at the International Congress of Mathematicians.
- The Commission for Developing Countries (CDC) was formed in 2010 to coordinate support for mathematics in developing countries.
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