300 Years of Mathematics in Geneva

 

Three centuries of history and mathematics were celebrated through three key themes: honouring the past, engaging with the present, and inspiring the future.

We take great pride in being home to the second oldest Mathematics Chair in Switzerland. Although our department is modest in size compared to other world-renowned institutions, it has produced remarkable figures over the centuries, including four Fields Medal winners: Vaughan Jones (1990), Stanislav Smirnov (2010), Martin Hairer (2014), and Hugo Duminil-Copin (2022).

This anniversary was not just an opportunity to mark the occasion, but a special moment that brought together generations from all walks of life. Families, students, researchers, young and old, alongside distinguished Fields Medal laureates, came together to celebrate this legacy through three major events.

Inspiring the future: Workshops, stands, and performances

To kick off the celebrations, we wanted to demonstrate that mathematics is not reserved for an elite few. The day began with a special event dear to us: a mathematical festival, Maths en fête. In the spirit of making mathematics accessible to all, we organised interactive Mathscope workshops for children and their families, as well as two performances exploring mathematics in a fun and engaging way.

Honouring our past: Tribute to six legendary figures

Another key highlight of the celebration was a true journey through the past. We paid tribute to six key figures in mathematics with six short presentations: Gabriel Cramer, Georges de Rham, Michel Kervaire, Benoît Mandelbrot, André Haefliger, and Vaughan Jones. Their groundbreaking work has left an indelible mark on the evolution of our discipline, and their legacy continues to inspire today’s researchers. What made this event even more special was its ability to bring together people from all generations, from first-year students to emeritus professors.

Engaging with the present: Breaking down barriers

To conclude the day, Martin Hairer, Fields Medal laureate in 2014 and former student at UNIGE, gave a lecture titled « Pile ou face ? Des atomes aux feux de forêt ». The talk took the audience from the fundamental principles of probability theory to the behind the scenes of Hairer’s own research.

After the lecture, Martin Hairer was joined on stage by his fellow Fields Medalists, Hugo Duminil-Copin and Stanislav Smirnov, for a lively discussion moderated by Elise Raphael, co-director of Genève Évasions Mathématiques (G·EM). The conversation shed light on the human side of these three mathematicians as they shared stories of doubt, struggle, and discovery.

A surprising revelation emerged: in their research journeys, they do not only cherish moments of sudden insight, but also value the times when they encounter problems that cannot be solved immediately.

Another memorable moment followed when a 15-year-old participant asked, "What does a typical day look like for a mathematician?" This question captured perfectly the spirit of the event: breaking down barriers and making mathematics accessible to all, regardless of age or level of knowledge. The openness of the three laureates about their daily lives as mathematicians was both refreshing and inspiring.

Looking Towards the Future

We are deeply appreciative of our past and heritage, but even more excited about what the future holds for us. We will continue to contribute actively to research, pushing the boundaries of knowledge to advance mathematics. At the same time, we are committed to strengthening our ties with the city, building bridges between academic research and society.

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