Five Cornell mathematicians from the College of Arts and Sciences have been invited to speak at the world-renowned International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) this year – an unusually high number and a great honor for the Cornell researchers, according to the department chair.

The ICM is the largest conference of its kind and meets every four years; the Fields Medals – mathematics’ highest honors – are awarded during the conference’s opening ceremonies.

The five Cornell faculty presenting are Allen Knutson, Kathryn Mann, Irena Peeva, Laurent Saloff-Coste and Xin Zhou.

“An invitation to speak at the ICM is powerful recognition of the mathematician's influence on the field and their vision for the future,” said Tara Holm, professor and chair of mathematics (A&S). “The speakers are chosen to give a snapshot of the most exciting developments in different areas of mathematics. There is also a tradition of setting out a vision for future mathematics.”

Cornell can also boast connections to six additional presenters at the ICM. Huijia Lin, Ph.D. ‘11, Daniel Remenik, Ph.D. ‘09, and Tianyi Zheng, Ph.D. ‘13 all received their doctoral degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. Presenter Malabika Pramanik was a Michler Fellow at Cornell from 2015-16; Charlie Smart was an assistant professor from 2013-15; and Bernd Sturmfels was on the faculty from 1989-96.

Cornellians have a long history of speaking at the ICM; there has been at least one speaker with Cornell connections at every meeting since 1924. For example, the late William Thurston, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Mathematics, gave a plenary address in 1978; he subsequently received the Fields Medal in 1982. 

Read the full story on the College of Arts & Sciences website.