India’s first mathematics centre will come up at IIT-Bombay

Two premier research institutes from the country – the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) — have come together to set up the India’s first mathematics centre. Located in the IIT-B campus, the National Centre for Mathematics will be modelled on the world’s first mathematics centre — the Oberwolfach Mathematics Research Institute in Germany.

Two premier research institutes from the country – the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) — have come together to set up the India’s first mathematics centre. Located in the IIT-B campus, the National Centre for Mathematics will be modelled on the world’s first mathematics centre — the Oberwolfach Mathematics Research Institute in Germany.

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“The centre will cater to all mathematicians. While there are conferences for mathematicians, there is no organised platform for them to come together. Mathematics centres are already established across the world in countries like China, France and Canada,” said JK Verma from the department of mathematics, IIT-B.

The centre will conduct research-level workshops, national and international seminars, foundation courses, instruction schools for teachers and facilitate research collaborations among scientists.

As directors of both institutes signed the 10-year memorandum of understanding on Thursday, Devang Khakhar, director, IIT-B said, “We hope that the centre will become a vibrant hub for discussion new ideas, catalyse research, and become a vehicle to promote collaborative research.”

The centre will also focus on applied mathematics, a field not been entirely explored in India. “Mathematics and its applications are vital for progress. The centre will make useful contributions to the mathematical life of the scientific community,” said Mustansir Barma, director, TIFR.