the role of mathematics in the development of developing countries

The Role of Mathematics in the Development of

Developing Countries

Michel Waldschmidt

Neishabour July 23 2005

http://math.jussieu.fr/~miw

Mathematics House

Plan

• A concrete example

• Basic Sciences and Development

• « Pure » Mathematics

• Organisms of scientific cooperation

• Mathematics in developing countries

• Conclusion

An example where mathematical modelisation is useful

International Conference at St Louis du Senegal

« Mathematics and applications to the problems of development in Sahel »

Supported by CIMPA

december 15-20, 2003

The river Senegal

Barrage to stop salted water

30 km

6 km

Cutting the tongue

Barbarie Tongue

TOWN SAINT-LOUIS

RIVER

Opening barbarie tongue river Senegal, St Louis

Applications of researches in physics

• Computers (microprocessors, optic lecteurs)• Telephones (transmission between fixed

dialers, optic cables)• Television (emission and reception of

waves)• New materials• Study of the sand and its properties.

Applications of researches in mathematics

• Credit cards (cryptography)• Internet (data compression)• Medecine (reconstruction of images,

scanner, medical images)• Building (simulation of the deformation of

bridges and sky-scrappers related to winds and earth quakes)

Mathematics as a tool

• Nuclear Physics • Synthesis of chemical molecules • Automatic recognition of forms, data processing, error

correcting codes (telecommunications)• Conception of mobile robots (work in hostile

surrounding)• Automatic driving systems (landing under any weather

condition)• Oil extraction: Computer Commutative Algebra

(Gröbner bases, Zanjan CIMPA School)

L’explosionL’explosion

des des

MathématiquesMathématiques

« Mr Fourier thought that the main aim of mathematics was public utility and explanation of natural phenomenons.

A philosopher like him should have known that the unic goal of Science is the honor of human spirit, and therefore a question of number has the same value as a question of the world system. »

Carl Gustav Jacobi

Joseph Fourier

Gustav Jacobi

Henri Poincaré

• « Mathematics deserve to be studied for themselves, the theory which can be applied to physics should be developed as well as others.»

« Mathematics have always progressed under a double stimulation, one from inside coming from studying the problems arising from mathematics itself, the other coming from outside arising from other sciences, from engineering, services and from the society in general. »

Jean Pierre Bourguignon, director of IHÉS(Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, France)

Mathematics as a cultural component

• Mathematics is a universal language, it provides a structure to thinking, enables to treat the problems in a scientific, rational way.

• It is a necessary step to access basic culture. • Helps to create an intellectual elite• Historical development of mathematics• « Free» (not finalized) research• Regional centers of excellence

Hidden face of mathematics

• If we consider either art or mathematics, we are in the world of ideas and imagination

Roger Rotmann, Director of National Center for Contemporary Art Georges Pompidou, 18/03/2004

Usefulness of cooperation

• (Re)constitution of an intellectual elite in Developping Countries

• To create a network of academic people of high level who are indispensable for economic development (able to collaborate with industrials)

• Avoid brain drain (sandwich theses - cotutelle)

• Reciprocal benefit of exchanges

• Francophony

To enable countries from south to acquire the necessary expertise for

their development

• Teaching: preparation to the formation of technicians, engineers, scientifics - education is a preliminary basis for development

• Technology• Computer science• Banks, insurances (actuariat),… (jobs in mathematics and in physics)

• Reduction of communication costs increases the agglomeration of richness rather that its dispersion.

• A consequence of polarisation is a concentration of expertise in the centers to the detriment of periphery.

• Poor countries should find means for their prosperity which do not come from rich countries.

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To develop networks in southern countries

Unión Matemática de America Latina y el

Caribe Southeast Asian Mathematical Society

African Mathematical UnionQuickTime™ et un

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Mathematics in India

• Tata Institute, Bombay (Mumbai): Homi Bhabha, Tata, Nehru

• DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) • Bangalore: silicon valley

« Pure » Mathematics

• Non peaceful applications : DAE Department of Atomic Energy in India and IAEA for ICTP

• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization• Cooperation with Iraq,…• Concurrence with countries like China and

India

French Cooperation

MAE

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Budget of Foreign Affairs in 2000: 9 billions French Francs (1.5 billion Euros)

(Ministry of Economy and Finances: 8,3 billions French Francs)

A general institut for cooperation

• IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)

French Institute of scientific research for the development in cooperation

ex ORSTOM (Office de recherche scientifique et technique outre -mer)

• Budget: 180 millions € (1 600 positions, including 1 200 researchers or engeeniers).

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A specialized institute

• CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement)

• Budget: 78 millions € (1 800 people, including 900 staffs).

Other french institutions which take part to the cooperation

(Institut National de Recherche

en Informatique et en Automatique)

(Institut National de Recherche

Agronomique)

(Centre National de la

Recherche Scientifique)

COPEDComité pour les pays en développement

• Committee for developing countries (Academy of Science)

• Aim: to promote initiatives which will help french scientific research in connection with developing countries

• January 2002: workshop with CIMPA, SMF and SMAI (the two french mathematical societies) on the subject :

Mathematics and developing countries.

Learned Societies• SMF (Société Mathématique de France =

French Mathematical Society)

• SMAI (Société de Mathématiques Appliquées et Industrielles= Applied and Industrial Mathematical Society )

• SFP (Société Française de Physique = French Physical Society)






CIMPA

• Centre International de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées (1978) International Center of pure

and applied mathematics • Budget: 250 000 €

Including salaries: 600 000 €

• Between 5 to 8 schools per year

• Contribute to workshops and networks

CIMPA : since 1978, 124 schools and 55 Seminars, workshops in the field of Pure and Applied Mathematics

and Computer Science In 41 south countries including• 15 in Africa• 5 in South East Asia and India• 10 in Latine America and Caraïbean• 6 in Middle East• 3 in East Europa6 451 trainees, 700 lecturers (110 from south

countries

UNESCO

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

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ICTP

• International Center for Theoretical Physics (1964) under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

Abdu Salam Centre, Trieste 17 Millions €

(85% from italian gouvernment)

« Associate members » from south countries

ISP

• International Science Program, University Uppsala (Sweeden)

Faculty of Science and Technology

Born in 1961

3,8 Millions € / year

Physic, Chemistry, then Maths.QuickTime™ et un


ISP: International Science Program• Constitution of networks North/South and South/South, Visits in developed countries of scientifics from

developing countries

Africa: Cameroun, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambie, Zimbabwe

Asie: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thaïland

Latin America : Colombia, Equador, Perou


ICMS Edimburg

• International Center of Mathematical Sciences (1990) • The main aims of the ICMS are • To create an environment in which mathematical

sciences will develop in new directions. • To encourage and exploit those areas of

mathematics that are of relevance to other sciences, industry and commerce (trade).

• To promote international collaboration within these aims and in particular with mathematicians in the developing world.

• EMS CDC

European Mathematical Society

Committee for developing countries

IMU CDE

International Mathematical Union

Commission on Development and Exchanges




• Physics in Developing Countries









UNO United Nation Organization

FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations helping to build a world without hunger

HWO: Health World Organization The United Nations Children's Fund








The World Bank is an institution for development Whose aim is to reduce poverty by increasing growth

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) QuickTime™ et un


AMMSI

• The African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative

• The Challenge of Strengthening Mathematics in Africa





Budget : 1,8 million US$/year

Mathematicians in the world

• World Directory of Mathematicians 2002 (International Mathematical Union)

• 57 000 mathematicians in 71 countries (53 900 in 1998)

• CNFM (Comité National Français des Mathématiciens)

• ~ 3 000 mathematicians in France (2 855 in 1998)

ASIAPays PNB /Habitant

milliard de $ $ US

Japon 4 300 33 500Singapour 86 20 700Corée S. 470 9 900Malaisie 86 3 500Thaïlande 122 2 000Chine 1 200 940Indonésie 150 700Inde 500 480Vietnam 35 430Cambodge 3,5 280

Country NPB NPB/inhabitant

Mathematicians in Asia

Japon 2 988Chine 1 258Corée du Sud 500Vietnam 362Inde 347Taiwan 142Singapour 98Hong Kong 87Corée du Nord 39Philippines 23

Source: World Directory of Mathematicians

Wuhan

MumbaiChennai

Hyderabad

Mathematics in China

• Cultural revolution

• International Congress of Mathematics in 2002 (Beijing) - science and technology

• Academia Sinica

• Peking University (Beida), Tsinghua

Cooperation between France and China about mathematics

• Wuhan: Centre Sino-Français de Mathématiques, 1980-90

• Shanghai: Institut Sino-Français de Mathématiques Appliquées.

• Peking University (Beida), Tsinghua

Mathématics in India

Institute of

Mathematical Sciences

(IMSc Chennai)

Harish Chandra Research Institute

(Allahabad)

• Indo French Centre for the promotion of advanced research

• A program of scientific cooperation between France and India, supported by the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the French Ministry of Foreign Affaires(Foreign Office)

Indo-french Cooperation in mathematics

• Fr. Racine (Tiruchirappalli, Madras)

• Tata Institute (Laurent Schwartz,… )

• Cyber University Bangalore/Toulouse

• IFIM Institut Franco-Indien de Mathématiques = Indo French Institute of Mathematics.

Mathematicians in Middle East

Turquie 123Iran 75Arabie Saoudite 55Koweit 38


Basic Sciences in Iran


AFRICAPays PNB /Habitant

milliard de $ $ US

Afrique du Sud 113 2 600Tunisie 20 2 000Algérie 54 1 700Maroc 35 1 200Angola 9 660Côte d'Ivoire 10 610Cameroun 9 560Bénin 3 380Nigeria 39 290Mali 3 240Madagascar 4 240Niger 2 170


Mathematicians in Africa

Egypte 392Afrique du Sud 220Cameroun 44Tunisie 6Burkina Faso 3Côte d'Ivoire 2


Some centers of research in Africa

• CARIM: Centre Africain de Recherche en Informatique et en Mathématiques = African Research Center in Computer Science and Mathematics (Cameroun)

• IMSP: Institut de Mathématiques et de Sciences Physique (Porto Novo)

• National Center for Mathematical Sciences (Accra, Ghana)

• National Mathematical Center (Abuja, Nigeria)• Senegal• Benin

Two networks

• CARI (Colloque Africain de Recherche en Informatique = African meeting for research in computer science)

Coordinator: INRIA• GIRAGA (Groupe Africain de Recherche en

Algèbre Géométrie et Applications = African Research Group in Algebra, Geometry and Applications)

Supports: CIMPA, ICTP, UNESCO

Other networks

• EDP = PDE (Partial Differential Equations) Contrôle-Modélisation (Saint Louis du Sénégal, Ouagadougou, Nouakchott) 1999 - 3 seminars of 2 weeks every year

• RAGAAD Réseau Africain de Géométrie et Algèbre Appliquées au Développement = African Network in Geometry and Algebra applied to the development (Niger, Sénégal, Burkina-Faso, Mali)

• RAMAD Réseau Africain de Mathématiques Appliquées au Développement = African Network in Mathematics Applied to the development (Yaounde + Congo, Centrafrica, Tchad)

• Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Centrafrique, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinée, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sénégal, Tchad, Togo.

CAMESComité Africain et Malgache pour l’Enseignement

Supérieur(African and Malgache Committee for

Higher Education)

Mathematic Research in the french langage part of Africa

Claude Lobry:

Mathematical Research

in Africa

Is it necessary for the

development?

L’Harmattan (ed.), 2003

SARIMA• Soutien aux Activités de Recherche Informatique et

Mathématique en Afrique = Support to the Activities of Research in Computer Science and Mathematics in Africa

• Improve the potential of research of academic research teams in the the region with priority solidarity (ZSP Zone de Solidarité Prioritaire) in Africa and in the Mediterranean Region in fields of mathematics, science and Information Technology.

• FSP (Fonds de Solidarité Prioritaire) Interministériel - MAE

400 000 € per year for 4 years. Institutions: INRIA, CIMPA Approved in 2002, starts in 2005

Latine AmericaPays PNB /Habitant

milliard de $ $ US

Mexique 600 6 000Uruguay 15 4 400Chili 66 4 300Venezuela 103 4 100Costa Rica 16 4 100Argentine 154 4 100Brésil 500 2 850Pérou 55 2 050Colombie 80 1 800Guatemala 21 1 750Paraguay 6 1 200Bolivie 8 900


Mathematicians enLatin America

Brésil 561Mexique 203Chili 109Venezuela 85Argentine 78Uruguay 28Cuba 21


Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada

(Rio, Brésil)

Mathematics Modelization Center in Santiago du Chili

Franco-Chile laboratory, Centre de modélisation mathématique april 2000

unité mixte de recherche CNRS

Other research centers in Latine America

• IMCA Instituto de Matemática y Ciencias Afine (Lima, Pérou)

• IVIC Instituto Venezolano de

Investigaciones Cientificas (Caracas, Vénezuela)

• UNAM Universidad National

Autonoma de Mexico (Mexique)

Main points:

• Fundamental Research is an essential component of Sustainable Development

• Basic science is international, without borders, all countries are entitled to participate.

Objections

• « We have enough problems to solve in our countries »

• « The situation is hopeless! »

Conclusions

• There is a place for a strong cooperation based on academic structures. A large number of contacts between french scientists and scientists from developing countries already exist, for instance thanks to the scientists who have studied in France.

• The funds which should be necessary are comparatively not high, but so far they are not sufficient.

• It is part of the mission of scientists, professors and researchers to participate, and this should be considered as part of their job, not only on a voluntary basis.

Conclusions

• All the efforts which have been devoted in the past by the french scientific and cultural cooperation has given good results.

• The existing potential will soon disapear if the scientific research is not properly organized.

• Basic sciences need to be supported in developing countries.

the role of mathematics in the development of developing countries

Documents

france mathematics

role of mathematics

problems of development

main aim of mathematics

cultural component mathematics

economic development

data processing

director of ihsinstitut