• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.23-34
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• 2012

The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) will next be held in Seoul, Korea from August 13th to 21st 2014. The ICM, currently hosted by the International Mathematical Union, has a history spanning a period of one hundred years and is traditionally held every four years. Felix Klein has often been credited with formulating the concept of the ICM, however George Cantor not only initially propagated the idea of forming a mathematical society in Germany, but also proposed organizing an international mathematical union. This study has endeavored to investigate the early period of development of the ICM. Specifically, this paper has studied the development of early 20th century mathematics through changes in the formulaic language of the ICM, the number of participants, the number of presentations, the nationality of plenary speakers, and the changes in sessions.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.41-52
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• 2012

The Great War of 1914-1918 had dramatic consequences for all aspects of European society. Academia, and the field of mathematics, was no exception to the changes which occurred following the conflicts conclusion. After the First World War, which left Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bulgaria and Turkey defeated, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh revisions to the old order. Many new nations emerged and the map of Europe was redrawn. The victorious powers also created the International Research Council (IRC) in 1919, and the International Mathematical Union (IMU) was founded under the IRC' s umbrella in 1920. At that time Germany, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria were excluded from participation and the IMU maintained an open anti-German policy. However, as time passed this policy became more sharply criticized and in 1928 ICM, the nonparticipants were invited to join. Having declined, controversy persisted until in 1931 the IRC was replaced by the International Council of Scientific Unions, and the IMU disappeared for over two decades until it was reestablished in 1951. During the time of the first tenure of the IMU it is argued by many that politics entered into the world of international mathematical cooperation. In this paper we study the real effects the Great War had on the international mathematical community and its mathematicians.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2013

The outbreak of the First and the Second World Wars cast great shadow across the Europe including mathematical society. The IMU led by French mathematicians after the First World War ceased to exist because it was used politically. As Europe ran into the Second World War, all the international mathematical activities were ceased. Prominent mathematicians were put into camp by Nazi or moved to the United States of America. After the war, European mathematicians did not have capacity to represent the international mathematical society anymore. This led Stone and other American mathematicians to form the new IMU, which was independent of political ideology. This paper studies the birth process of the new IMU after the War and some major events that happened to ICM in 1950s.

• The Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.11 s.402
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• pp.28-29
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• 2002

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.27-52
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• 2009

This article discusses the contributions of the leader Oswald Veblen, who was the president of AMS during 1923-1924. In 2006, Korea ranked 12th in SCIE publications in mathematics, more than doubling its publications in less than 10 years, a successful model for a country with relatively short history of modern mathematical research. Now there are 192 four-year universities in Korea. Some 42 of these universities have Ph.D. granting graduate programs in mathematics and/or mathematical education in Korea. Rapid growth is observed over a broad spectrum including a phenomenal performance surge in International Mathematical Olympiad. Western mathematics was first introduced in Korea in the 17th century, but real significant mathematical contributions by Korean mathematicians in modern mathematics were not much known yet to the world. Surprisingly there is no Korean mathematician who could be found in MaC Tutor History Birthplace Map. We are at the time, to have a clear vision and leadership for the 21st century. Even with the above achievement, Korean mathematical community has had obstacles in funding. Many people thinks that mathematical research can be done without funding rather unlike other science subjects, even though they agree fundamental mathematical research is very important. We found that the experience of early American mathematical community can help us to give a vision and role model for Korean mathematical community. When we read the AMS Notice article 'The Vision, Insight, and Influence of Oswald Veblen' by Steve Batterson, it answers many of our questions on the development of American mathematics in early 20th century. We would like to share the story and analyze its meaning for the development of Korean Mathematics of 21st century.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

Hans Freudenthal made important contributions to algebraic topology and geometry. He also made significant contributions in history of mathematics and mathematics education. In the 1970s, his intervention prevented the Netherlands from the movement of "new math". He had a very important role as a founder of realistic mathematics education and became famous internationally by that. Because he raised the profile of ICMI strongly, Bass used the expression 'Freudenthal Era' for the period that Freudenthal was the president of ICMI. Now many mathematics educator agree to use the Freudenthal Era when they mention about the history of ICMI. In this paper, we present on the life of Freudenthal and his contributions for mathematics education, especially ICMI.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1987

호주 정부는 1988년이 유럽인의 호주 이민 200주년이 되는 것을 기념하여 대대적인 행사를 추진하고 있으며 이 행사의 일환으로 1988년 7월 9일 부터 21일 까지 "제29회 국제수학경시대회"를 개최할 예정이다. 이 대회의 주최측에서는 우리나라에도 중ㆍ고등학생의 참가를 요청하였다. 필자들은 이 대회에 우리나라 대표를 파견할 경우를 대비하여 그 동안 IMO에 관한 여러가지의 정보를 조사한 바 대회 참가 여부에 대하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. 참가의 필요성 (1) 중ㆍ고등 학생들에게 수학에 관한 관심을 높히고, 나아가서는 모든 국민에게 과학적인 사고의 향상을 기대한다. (2) 궁극적으로 수학을 위시한 기초 과학, 응용 과학에 대한 전반적인 관심도가 높아져서 수학자 및 과학자의 저변 확대를 기대할 수 있고, 특히 수리적인 사고력이 뛰어난 사람을 조기에 찾아내어 2000년대의 과학 선진국 건설에 중추적인 역할을 맡을 인력자원을 확보할 수 있다. (3) 현재 중ㆍ고등학교 수학 교육이 계산 위주, 암기 위주로 되어 있고, 학력 고사를 위시하여 많은 시험이 객관적으로 사고력 배양이 고려되지 않고 있다. IMO 참가자를 선발하기 위하여 거국적인 경시 대회를 개최한다면 자연히 이를 대비한 주관식 문제를 접할 기회를 가지게 되고, 따라서 수학 교육의 목적중의 하나인 사고력 배양을 기대할 수 있다. (4) 우리 국민의 조직적인 사고력과 과학적인 두뇌를 세계적으로 자랑할 수 있는 좋은 기회이다. (5) 자라나는 새싹들에게 국제 대회의 기회를 주므로써 장차 우리나라의 수학 수준을 국제적으로 높힐 수 있는 기틀을 마련한다. 2. 우리나라 학생이 IMO에 참가하여 우수한 성적을 거둘수 있는지 여부 (1) 절대적으로 있다. 참가하는 첫 해부터 상위권에 들어갈 것이다. 우리의 중ㆍ고등학교 수학 수준이 세계 평균보다 약간 높다. 그리고 몇 년의 경륜을 쌓는다면 세계 1, 2위에 도전 할 수 있다. 이것은 올림픽이나 아시아 게임에 기울이는 비용의 몇 만분의 일을 가지고, 그 보다 훨씬 높은 수준의 국력을 과시할 수 있는 기회이다. (2)매년 그 성적이 올라가리라 생각한다. 예로서 우리와 비교하여 형편없는 국력을 가진 몽고가 8년간 꼴찌를 하다 1894년 대회에서 참가국 33개국 중에서 10위를 차지하였다. 미국은 참가 첫 해부터 2위를 하였고, 11년 동안 1위 2번, 2위 4번을 하였으며, 매번 5위 이내에 머물렀다. (3) 월남은 그 나라의 사정때문인지 자주 참가하지 못하였다. 그러나 참가할 때마다 항상 상위권에 속하였다. 이것은 월남 국민들의 수학에 관한 관심도를 나타낸다고 본다. 우리 국민도 월남 국민에 못지 않으리라 생각한다. 3. 한국수학교육학회가 주관하여 뛰어난 학생을 선발 할 수 있는지 여부 (1) 있다. (2)한국수학경시대회 (KMO) 위원회를 한국수학교육학회 산하에 구성하여 KMO를 주관하게 하고, 또 국내의 여러 수학경시대회에서 우수한 성적을 나타낸 학생중에서 일정한 인원(50명 정도)을 선발하여 특별히 선정된 훈련팀으로 하여금 조직적인 훈련을 시킨다면 된다. 4. 기타 (1) 과거 어떠한 형태로든 국제 대회에 참가한 경력은 전혀 없다. (2) 1960년대에 서울대학교 공과대학 학생회에서 주최한 수학경시대회가 있었으나 보잘것이 없었고, 현재에도 각 시도별 또는 대학주관의 경시대회가 있으나 거국적인 호응을 받지 못했다. 물론 국제 대회에 참석시키는 것은 엄두도 내지 않았다.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.127-146
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• 2007

From 1876 to 1883, British mathematician James Joseph Sylvester worked as the founding head of Mathematics Department at the Johns Hopkins University which has been known as America's first school of mathematical research. Sylvester established the American Journal of Mathematics, the first sustained mathematics research journal in the United States. It is natural that we think this is the most exciting and important period in American mathematics. But we found out that the International Congress of Mathematicians held at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, August 21-26, 1893 was the real turning point in American's dedication to mathematical research. The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by the American Baptist Education Society and John D. Rockefeller. The founding head of mathematics department Eliakim Hastings Moore was the one who produced many excellent American mathematics Ph.D's in early stage. Many of Moore's students contributed to build up real American mathematics research power in early 20 century The University also has a well-deserved reputation as the "teacher of teachers". Beginning with Sylvester, we analyze what E.H. Moore had done as a teacher and a head of the new department that produced many mathematical talents such as L.E. Dickson(1896), H. Slaught(1898), O. Veblen(1903), R.L. Moore(1905), G.D. Birkhoff(1907), T.H. Hilderbrants(1910), E.W. Chittenden(1912) who made the history of American mathematics. In this article, we study how Moore's vision, new system and new way of teaching influenced American mathematical society at early stage of the top class mathematical research. and the meaning that early University of Chicago case gave.