More than 2,300 mathematicians have put their names to a petition calling for the relocation of the prestigious International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) away from Philadelphia, USA. The burgeoning protest signals deep unease over American domestic and foreign policy, with researchers citing concerns about safety, accessibility, and broader geopolitical tensions that they argue contravene the congress's international mission. The International Mathematical Union (IMU), the body overseeing the quadrennial event, is reportedly reviewing the situation, though organizers have so far indicated the congress will proceed as scheduled.
The petition's signatories, a growing number drawn from dozens of countries, point to a range of specific issues they deem incompatible with hosting such a significant global scientific gathering. Among the primary grievances are recent U.S. military actions, particularly the bombing of Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran's foremost science and engineering institution. This act, coupled with what organizers describe as a "climate of uncertainty" surrounding U.S. immigration enforcement and visa suspensions affecting numerous countries, has fueled fears among potential attendees. The presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has also been cited as a deterrent.
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This wave of dissent is not merely a passive protest; several mathematical societies have declared their non-attendance. The French Mathematical Society has explicitly stated its boycott, while Brazil's main math society will not maintain an official presence, though individual mathematicians from these nations may still participate. These actions underscore a palpable disconnect between the idealized notion of a borderless scientific community and the realities of an increasingly fractured geopolitical landscape.
The threat of boycott highlights a widening chasm between the ideals of international scientific collaboration and the practical challenges posed by current political climates. Petition co-author Tarik Aougab has noted that the petition has already served a purpose by drawing attention to the plight of academics in countries like Iran and Cuba. While some academics, like Professor Tian An Wong of the University of Michigan Dearborn, have grappled with the moral implications of holding the ICM in Philadelphia without explicitly endorsing a move, the sheer volume of signatories indicates a significant body of opinion is opposed to the current arrangement.
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The ICM, an event synonymous with the awarding of the Fields Medal and the showcase of cutting-edge mathematical breakthroughs, is scheduled to convene in Philadelphia this July. The organizers, however, maintain that holding the congress in person in the United States is crucial at a time when international collaboration in science faces considerable hurdles. Their stance, however, appears increasingly at odds with a substantial portion of the international mathematical community who fear that the chosen venue, rather than fostering collaboration, may actively impede it.
