IHES in Hong Kong: A Week of Science, Dialogue, and Creativity

In early February, IHES held a series of events in Hong Kong, highlighting its international reach and its commitment to scientific dialogue, outreach, and creative exchange.

The week opened on February 2 with the first IHES fundraising event in Hong Kong, hosted by Qube Research & Technologies, as part of its 4th fundraising campaign. The event brought together members of the Institute’s community to celebrate mathematics and theoretical physics through a conference on Algorithmic Collusion. The keynote was delivered by Nan Chen, Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who shared sharp perspectives at the intersection of technology, economics, and regulation.

Qube Research & Technologies also reaffirmed its support for IHES and its 4th fundraising campaign, “Liberté, j’écris ton nom.”

On February 3, IHES participated in a scientific outreach breakfast co-organised with Campus France Hong Kong, the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, and the Croucher Foundation. The event featured a talk by Yijun Wan, mathematician and IHES visitor, entitled “Can Randomness Be Your Ally? Maths, Algorithms, and Strategy,” offering an accessible perspective on the links between mathematics, algorithms, and real-world decision-making.

On the same day, Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES and mathematician, delivered a Frontiers of Mathematics Lecture titled “Symmetries in Algebraic Geometry: Distribution of the Hodge Locus” at the Institute of Mathematical Research, at the invitation of Ngaiming Mok, Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, HKU.

On February 5, IHES was honored to be hosted by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau for a reception gathering supporters and members of its international community. The event celebrated the excellence and international reach of French fundamental research and highlighted IHES’s latest recruitments: Hong Wang, Permanent Professor in Mathematics, and Zhongkai Tao, Junior Professor in Mathematics and Choose France laureate.

The week concluded on February 6 with a private visit at Boogie Woogie Photography celebrating the union of art and fundamental science. Hosted with Galerie Kraemer, the visit of the exhibition “Home Is a Map” by Antoine de Saint Vaulry was followed by a presentation of IHES and its fundraising campaign “Liberté, I Write Your Name,” creating a meaningful space for dialogue between art and science.