Closing Date: 1 Jun 2025
Mathematics for Humanity
Mathematics for Humanity--Activities Worldwide
Knowledge Exchange for Humanity--Collaboration between Academia and External Partners with a Commitment to Human Welfare
Mathematics Action Coalition for Humanity
Launched in 2023 this new programme of activities in the mathematical sciences is devoted to education, research and scholarly exchange with the potential for direct relevance to the betterment of humanity. If you are interested in submitting a proposal you should contact the Centre Manager in the first instance.
You can find here a list of proposals funded thus far.
ICMS invites proposals for activities that revolve around three inter-related themes:
A. Integrating the global research community (GRC)
B. Mathematical challenges for humanity (MCH)
C. Global history of mathematics (GHM)
Development of the three themes will facilitate the engagement of the international mathematical community with the challenges of accessible education, knowledge-driven activism, and transformative scholarship.
Within each of the three themes, researchers can apply for funding of one or more of the activities in the list below. For theme A in particular we consider that a coherent plan of multiple activities over an extended period would be of the most benefit. Anyone interested in putting forward a proposal – even if for an activity not currently in this list but that would meet the objectives of a particular theme – is encouraged to discuss their ideas with either ICMS Director Minhyong Kim or Deputy Director Beatrice Pelloni.
1. Research-in-groups. This is a proposal for a small group of three to six researchers to spend from two weeks to three months in Edinburgh on a reasonably well-defined research project. The membership of the group should be strongly aligned to the goals of Mathematics for Humanity. The researchers will be provided working space and funds for accommodation and subsistence.
2. Research course or seminar. A group of researchers can propose a course or a seminar on topics relevant to one of the three themes. These should be planned as hybrid events with regular meetings in Edinburgh that can also be accessed online. Proposals should come with a detailed plan for attracting interest and for the dissemination of ideas.
3. Research workshops. These are five-day workshops in the standard ICMS format, of course with a focus on one of the three themes.
4. Research school. These are hybrid schools of two weeks length. These should come with substantial planning, a coherent structure, and be aimed towards post-graduate students and early career researchers.
5. ICMS Meetings for Peace You can propose activity of any of the above types, whose main contribution to the betterment of humanity is to bring together researchers from at least two regions in conflict to discuss common topics of interest and work towards common solutions to scientific challenges.
Previously Funded Proposals
Media
A Plan to Address the World's Challenges with Math, Quanta Magazine (May, 2023)
Mathematics for Humanity at GESDA 2024
Scientific Committee
The programme is overseen by a specialised Scientific Committee (a sub-committee of the ICMS Programme Committee) who will be responsible for the assessment of all submissions and will support the Director in the selection of proposals.
John Baez University of California, Riverside
Karine Chemla CNRS, Paris
Sophie Dabo University of Lille
Nalini Joshi University of Sydney
Reviel Netz Stanford University
Bao Chau Ngo University of Chicago and VIASM
Raman Parimala Emory University
Fernando Rodriguez Villegas International Centre for Theoretical Physics
Emily Shuckburgh University of Cambridge
Terence Tao University of California, Los Angeles
Support Mathematics for Humanity
The Mathematics for Humanity Project of the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences supports the effort by mathematical scientists to work for the betterment of humanity. It accepts a wide range of proposals with concentration on three themes.
Our Partners
ICMS is primarily supported by EPSRC, the University of Edinburgh, and Heriot-Watt University.
Mathematics for Humanity is in the process of building up a network of partners from around the world as follows:
Mathematics for Humanity flyer