Research oriented towards interdisciplinarity
The interaction of mathematics with other disciplines and with the economic world has always been a source of inspiration because of the questions it raises and the new problems it brings, even contributing to the development of new branches of mathematics.
The Insmi supports orientations that bring new mathematics to the frontiers of related sciences such as biology, physics, medicine, ecology, computer science, engineering sciences, etc.
This research at the interfaces is developed not only with the various CNRS institutes but also in close partnership with the major institutions such as the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (Inria), the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Inrae).
Interdisciplinary interactions at the Insmi can take several forms: cross-support and cross-call for proposals between institutes or within the Mission for Transversal and Interdisciplinary Initiatives (MITI); collaborative programmes with other institutes; cross-assignments of researchers.
Mathematicians involved in interactions
Laure Saint-Raymond (Bôcher Prize 2020) works on fluid mechanics and its applications in geophysics and hydrodynamics.
Nalini Anantharaman and Sylvia Serfaty (Poincaré Prize 2012) are interested in the interfaces of mathematics with quantum physics.
Jean-François Le Gall (Wolf Prize 2019) has developed models that have helped the mathematical understanding of quantum gravity in two dimensions.
Claude Bardos (Maxwell Prize 2019) works on nonlinear partial differential equations, kinetic theory, and mathematical fluid mechanics.
Yvon Maday (Pioneer Prize 2019) has introduced powerful methods for numerical simulation, such as spectral methods, model reduction, domain decomposition, models and simulation in medical sciences, fluid-structure interaction and ab-initio chemistry. Several of his works have led to the launch of start-ups and are widely used in industry.
Benoît Perthame (Inria Grand Prix 2015) has developed the interface between biology and mathematics on crucial issues such as chemotaxis and cell development.
Raphaèle Herbin's work (CNRS Medal for Innovation 2017) has led to the development of a new class of algorithms for fluid mechanics, with numerous industrial applications. For example, the algorithms that are now the basis of the IRSN's CALIF3S software, used for nuclear safety calculations.
Yves Meyer (Abel Prize 2017 and Gauss Prize 2010) revolutionised the engineering sciences by developing the theory of wavelets, introduced in the context of oil research.
The work on control theory by Jean-Michel Coron (Maxwell Prize 2015) contributed to the regulation systems of the Meuse and Sambre rivers in Belgium.