The ECE had the privilege of hosting Hugo Duminil-Copin, 2022 Fields Medalist (equivalent to the Nobel Prize for Mathematics). The event took place on the Eiffel 1 Campus, in the EM0009 amphitheater, which was packed with students, professionals from various backgrounds, professors, and curious attendees. The event began with thanks from François Stephan, director of ECE, and José Milano, executive president of the Omnes Education group, after which the mathematician took the floor.
When Math Becomes a Game
Far from highly technical conferences or presentations, we were treated to a demonstration based on the game of Hex, showcasing how mathematics can be used to calculate winning probabilities.
The mathematician did not hesitate to compare his reasoning not to a formula but to “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. You know, those adventure novels similar to tabletop role-playing games, where you turn the pages based on your choices rather than in order. The idea was to understand how to deduce a winning strategy by imagining a fictional rulebook to achieve it, with the winner’s choices detailed.
When Math Makes Coffee
Hugo Duminil-Copin explained the theory of percolation. We won’t explain it as well as he does, but it involves the “Passage of a substance through an absorbent material.” He illustrated the example with the case of filtered coffee.
An Interview with Meryem Khuas, Hugo Duminil-Copin, and François Stephan
An interview then took place with Meryem, a 4th-year Engineer in the Cybersecurity Major, the Fields Medalist and the director of ECE.
A passionate exchange, pertinent questions
- My first question for you would be to know how you perceive the role of creativity in your own work and in the field of mathematics in general. How does this creative dimension influence your approach to complex mathematical problems?
- Furthermore, in your experience, how can we encourage more people, especially students, to see mathematics as something creative and meaningful in their daily lives?
- Finally, as a passionate lover of mathematics, I have noticed that some people view mathematics as a field reserved for exceptional minds. Moreover, as a researcher, how do you perceive the role of interdisciplinary collaborations in the advancement of mathematical ideas? Can you share an experience where collaborating with experts from other fields enriched your understanding of the problems you address?
A question-and-answer session followed in which the Mathematician gladly participated.
