CNRS Mathematics celebrates its 15th anniversary!
Almost fifteen years to the day after the ministerial decree establishing its creation, the Insmi (CNRS Mathematics) celebrated its 15th anniversary on Thursday, June 26, 2025. This anniversary was an opportunity to discuss its national missions and its past, present, and future challenges. Here is a chronological look back at a timeless moment.
The event opened with speeches by institutional representatives, including
- Christophe Besse, Director of Insmi,
- Gilles Halbout, Advisor on Education, Higher Education and Research to the President of the French Republic,
- François Germinet, Special Advisor to the Minister for Higher Education and Research,
- Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France Regional Council (recorded speech), who signed the decree as Minister for Higher Education and Research,
- and Antoine Petit, CEO of the CNRS.
The afternoon continued with a round table discussion, “Different perspectives on a national institute for mathematics,” moderated by Matthias Cléry of the Committee for the History of the CNRS, with the participation of:
- Bruno Bouchard, President of Paris-Dauphine University,
- Isabelle Chalendar, Director of the UFR de Mathématiques at the Université Gustave Eiffel,
- Isabelle Gallagher, President of the Société Mathématique de France,
- Etienne Ghys, Permanent Secretary (First Division) of the Académie des sciences,
- Christian Peskine, Professor Emeritus at the Institut de mathématiques de Jussieu.
The rest of the program was devoted to a review of the history of the discipline since the creation of the Insmi, through the presentation “Mathematics at the CNRS, from prehistory to the Insmi,” by Matthias Cléry and Denis Guthleben of the Committee for the History of the CNRS (Comité pour l'histoire du CNRS).
After a short break, the audience enjoyed two scientific presentations: “Optimal transport and data science,” presented by Julie Delon, university professor at MAP5 and winner of the 2024 CNRS Silver Medal, and “Algebraic geometry starting from conic sections,” presented by Alessandra Sarti, deputy scientific director of Insmi in charge of research units and researchers.
Finally, there will be a highlight of video testimonials punctuated by speeches from Guy Métivier, director of Insmi from 2010 to 2013, Christoph Sorger, director of Insmi from 2013 to 2017, and Pascal Auscher, director of Insmi from 2017 to 2021.
The afternoon ended on a festive note with a 15-question quiz, before everyone blew out the 15 birthday candles together.
