Hugo Duminil-Copin, Event Ambassador for the International Mathematical and Logical Games Championship

Laureate of the 2022 Fields Medal, Hugo Duminil-Copin, Permanent Professor in Mathematics at IHES and the University of Geneva, participated in the closing ceremony of the International Final of the Mathematical and Logical Games Championship, held at École Polytechnique’s Poincaré Lecture Hall in Palaiseau on August 26th.

Passionate about mathematical games, particularly the game of HEX, which is the focus of one of his public lectures, Hugo Duminil-Copin sponsored the 38th edition of the Mathematical and Logical Games Championship, whose final took place on August 25th and 26th.

With more than 27,000 participants, including 500 finalists aged 7 to 77, this year’s edition of the Games was particularly successful.

During the award and closing ceremony, organized by the French Federation of Mathematical Games (FFJM), Antoine Vanney, President of the FFJM, had the honor of welcoming several distinguished guests alongside Hugo Duminil-Copin. These included Laura Chaubard, President and General Director of École Polytechnique, Claire Waysand, Executive Vice President and General Secretary of ENGIE, and Philippe Marie-Jeanne, AXA’s representative on the IHES Board of Directors.

ENGIE, a major partner of the Mathematical and Logical Games Championship in 2024, has also been supporting IHES through its Foundation by funding visits from women scientists to the Institute and contributing to the budget of the annual IHES summer school for young researchers since 2023.

To promote gender equality in mathematics, two new initiatives supported by ENGIE were introduced this year by the FFJM: a mixed 2+2 team championship and the ENGIE Cup for Girls in High School. During the final, the Cup finalists had the opportunity to meet Hugo Duminil-Copin, as well as several representatives from ENGIE, who shared their career experiences.

These initiatives are already yielding significant results for the FFJM: with more than 40% female participation in the French Championship, the event counts a much higher proportion of girls compared to the percentage of female STEM students in France.

IHES congratulates all the finalists, and especially the girls who participated, for their involvement in this inspiring event!

The Institute also extends an invitation to the inauguration of the “Maths and Games” exhibition, organized by [S]cube, and also sponsored by Hugo Duminil-Copin, on December 5th 2024.

Photo credit : © École polytechnique – J. Barande