Professor Mori
Professor Shigefumi Mori of the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences has been elected the next President of the International Mathematical Union (IMU). The appointment was made at the 17th meeting of the IMU General Assembly, which took place in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea on 10 and 11 August. His term will be from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018.
The IMU is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU), and the only international academic organization in existence that is focused on mathematics. Its activities include hosting the quadrennial International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the first day of which features the awarding of the Fields Medal, which is often called the "mathematician's Nobel Prize".
Professor Mori spoke of his new role as the IMU President as follows: "I decided to accept the appointment despite the enormous responsibility involved, thinking that it might allow me to give back to mathematics some of what I had received from it. It is sobering to think that I will be the very first person from Asia to lead this worldwide organization. Over recent years, Asian and other emerging-market countries have made great strides in mathematics. One of my goals as IMU President is to contribute to further advances in these regions."
