A piece of pie for peace of Adhemar Bultheel Dept. Computer - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A piece of pie for peace of π Adhemar Bultheel Dept. Computer Science, KU Leuven Leuven, March 14, 2019 http://nalag.cs.kuleuven.be/papers/ade/PIDAG2019 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 1 / 31

The Big Three Who are these? Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 2 / 31

The Big Three What is the Link? Which does not fit? Alfred Nobel John Charles Fields Niels Abel (1833-1896) SE (1863-1932) CA (1802-1829) NO Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 3 / 31

The Big Three Three Mathematicians G¨ osta Mittag-Leffler John Charles Fields Niels Abel (1846-1927) SE (1863-1932) CA (1802-1829) NO Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 4 / 31

Niels Abel (1802-1829) Niels Abel Proved that a 5th degree polynomial cannot be solved using a finite number of algebraic operations Abel died at the age of 26 from tuberculosis Won the prize of the French Adad´ emie (posthumously) in 1830 Mittag-Leffler organized a centenary conference in 1902 to which Fields attended Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 5 / 31

Niels Abel (1802-1829), ´ Evariste Galois (1811-1832) Niels Abel Evariste Galois Proved that a 5th degree polynomial cannot be solved using a finite number of algebraic operations Abel died at the age of 26 from tuberculosis Won the prize of the French Adad´ emie (posthumously) in 1830 Mittag-Leffler organized a centenary conference in 1902 to which Fields attended ´ Evariste Galois also tried to win the prize wrote ideas in prison ( → Galois theory) died in 1832 (age 20) after a duel over a woman Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 6 / 31

G¨ osta Mittag-Leffler (1846-1927) G¨ osta Mittag-Leffler worked on theory of functions (complex analysis) defender of womens rights (Nobel Prize P&Marie Curie 1903) founder of Acta Mathematica became successfully businessman after retirement (1911) Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 7 / 31

G¨ osta Mittag-Leffler (1846-1927) G¨ osta Mittag-Leffler had villa in Djursholm that attracted visiting scientists worldwide Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 7 / 31

J.C. Fields (1863-1932) J.C. Fields Canadian mathematician (Harrington → Toronto) orphan at 18 (father was tanner with leather shops) worked on algebraic functions (1 book) mainly interested in promoting research in Canada visited Europe (Paris, G¨ ottingen, Berlin) as much as possible Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 8 / 31

1914 WORLD WAR I Leuven 1914 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 9 / 31

1914 WORLD WAR I Leuven Library 1914 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 10 / 31

1914 WORLD WAR I Leuven 1914 Belgium was invaded and Leuven destroyed manifest: ”Appeal of the 93” (signed by Planck and Klein) invasion and Leuven is all fake news (Hilbert and Carath´ eodory refused to sign) A cause of schism: some wanted to exclude the Germans from international scientific meetings, others wanted science to be above politics Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 11 / 31

1918 Global (re)organization of science 1918 London and Paris leading to inaugural meeting of the International Research Council (IRC) in Brussels 1919 ´ Emile Picard elected president exclude Germany forever from scientific meetings Mathematics = Int. Math. Union (IMU) (president C. de la Vall´ ee-Poussin) to organize IMC 1920 in Strasbourg (without DE) Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 12 / 31

1920 Strasbourg E. Picard C. de la Vall´ ee-Poussin G.H. Hardy and Mittag-Leffler tried to mollify ↔ Picard New IMC 1924 planned in the US (L.E. Dickson) split AMS about the boycott of DE Fields proposed to hold it in Toronto Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 13 / 31

1924 Toronto Toronto in 1924 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 14 / 31

1924 Toronto Toronto in 1924 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 15 / 31

1924 Toronto Toronto in 1924 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 16 / 31

1924 Toronto Toronto is approved (in US and CA) Fields starts crusade to get money uses his large network of colleagues and friends early 1924 leaves or Europe for personal diplomatic invites office in London + Paris, is travel agency wears out several secretaries sailed back to CA just before conference Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 17 / 31

1924 Toronto Organizing committee Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 18 / 31

1924 Toronto Associate committee Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 19 / 31

1924 Toronto Belgian representants Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 20 / 31

1924 Toronto Conference was big success 444 participants, 33 countries, 249 lectures BUT without the Germans Pincherle proposes to have the next meeting in Bologna 1928 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 21 / 31

1924 Toronto post conference Trans-Canada tourist train excursion (+ guide book) BAAS Fields joins to help and translate returns with angina pectoris several weeks out recovers and immediately starts with proceedings Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 22 / 31

1924 Toronto post conference Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 23 / 31

1924 Toronto Proceedings proceedings = 2 volumes of over 800 pages published in 1928 700 copies sold after cost reduction remains surplus of $2,700 set aside for 2 medals awarded at a next IMC to two young mathematicians Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 24 / 31

1928 Bologna Salvatore Pincherle Peace treaties were signed Germans allowed back in scientific unions also in IMU and IRC German boycot because IMC < IMU < IRC (Picard) Pincherle: ICM organized by Bologna University Next meeting Z¨ urich 1932 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 25 / 31

Diplomacy and medals 1929-1932 Fields back to Europe for bilateral diplomacy meetings LMS, SMF, DMV, ... meanwhile collecting money for medals IMC 1932 (Z¨ urich) the IMU ceased to exist and dissolved at IMC 1936 (Oslo) was only re-established in 1951 after WWII Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 26 / 31

Fields Medal 1932 Fields dies in Toronto from cerebral hemorrhage Synge takes over setting up the Fields Medal no reference to language, nationalities names 2-4 medals at IMC (IMU) every 4 years mathematicians under 40 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 27 / 31

Fields Medal Awarded first at IMC 1936 Oslo to Lars Ahlfors Jesse Douglas then interrupt till 1951 Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 28 / 31

Fields Medal Belgian winners (so far) Pierre Deligne (1978) Jean Bourgain (1994) Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 29 / 31

John C. Fields and π -Day J O H N C . F I E L D S 9 15 8 14 3 . 6 9 5 12 4 19 3 . 14 15 9 ≈ π Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 30 / 31

John C. Fields and π -Day J O H N C . F I E L D S 9 15 14 3 . 6 5 12 4 19 3 . 14 15 9 ≈ π Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 30 / 31

John C. Fields and π -Day J O H N C . F I E L D S 9 15 14 3 . 6 5 12 4 19 3 . 14 15 9 ≈ π Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 30 / 31

John C. Fields and π -Day J O H N C . F I E L D S 9 15 14 3 . 6 5 12 4 19 3 . 14 15 9 ≈ π Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 30 / 31

John C. Fields and π -Day J O H N C . F I E L D S 9 15 14 3 . 6 5 12 4 19 3 . 14 15 9 ≈ π Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 30 / 31

John C. Fields and π -Day J O H N C . F I E L D S 9 15 14 3 . 6 5 12 4 19 3 . 14 15 9 ≈ π Adhemar Bultheel (KU leuven) A piece of pie for peace of π Leuven, March 14, 2019 30 / 31