Glasgow and Dublin to host world’s leading mathematics congress in 2030
Glasgow and Dublin have been selected to jointly host the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in 2030, marking the first time the event will be staged across two countries.
The decision was announced by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) during this year's congress in Philadelphia, where the latest Fields Medals, often regarded as the mathematical equivalent of the Nobel Prize, were also awarded.
The successful bid was led by mathematicians at the University of Glasgow and Maynooth University, working alongside the Edinburgh, London and Irish Mathematical Societies. It received backing from more than 50 mathematical societies and organisations worldwide and overcame competing bids from Tokyo and Hong Kong.
The congress and the IMU General Assembly will take place at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow and the Royal Dublin Society, with around 6,000 delegates expected to attend. The ICM is regarded as the world's foremost gathering of mathematicians, bringing together researchers from across the globe to present advances in the discipline and recognise outstanding achievement through the award of up to four Fields Medals.
Professor Christoph Sorger, Secretary General of the International Mathematical Union, welcomed the decision.
"On behalf of the IMU, I congratulate Glasgow and Dublin on being selected to host ICM 2030, and we look forward to working with them to deliver an outstanding and influential program of events."
Professor Andy Schofield, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said the selection recognised both countries' long mathematical traditions and the collaborative approach taken during the bid.
He said the decision to hold the congress across two countries for the first time reflected the strength of the shared research communities linking Scotland and Ireland, adding that Glasgow looked forward to welcoming the international mathematical community in 2030.
The governments of the UK and Ireland have also announced that 2030 will be designated a dedicated Year of Mathematics, with a programme of activities intended to promote mathematics and inspire future generations of researchers and innovators.
James Lawless, Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said the congress would showcase the two countries' commitment to mathematics, research and education while highlighting the subject's role across scientific research, engineering, technology, finance and data science.
The congress was last held in the UK in 1958 and last took place in Europe in 2006. According to the European Mathematical Society, bringing the event back to the continent after 24 years provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation of mathematicians across Europe and beyond.
Pic: Thomas T
