IHES ouvre ses portes aux lycéens
Blandine Galiay at the Centre de conférences Marilyn et James Simons, IHES IHES

IHES opens its doors to high schoolers

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, IHES opened its doors for a half-day visit to about sixty high school students, most of them girls, all passionate about mathematics and science, among the most promising and deserving from the Académie de Versailles.

Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES presents the N. H. Kuiper Library to high schoolers
Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES presents the N. H. Kuiper Library to high schoolers

Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES presents the N. H. Kuiper Library to high schoolersThe morning began with a tour of the institute and its various buildings. The students were able to discover the Bois-Marie setting, a vast domain conducive to inspiring research work, as well as the N. H. Kuiper Library. They learned about the history of the Institute and its associated scientific figures.

The visit continued with a playful experience related to the Institute’s sculpture “Skolem, choc de blocs & chiffres au vent”: the students were able to play a life-size mathematical game, presented by Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, former Director of IHES, now an honorary Professor.

Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, former Director of IHES, presents the sculpture « Skolem, choc de blocs & chiffres au vent » by Jessica Stockholder
Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, former Director of IHES, presents the sculpture « Skolem, choc de blocs & chiffres au vent » by Jessica Stockholder
High school students from the Académie de Versailles take part in the game in front of the sculpture « Skolem, choc de blocs & chiffres au vent »
High school students from the Académie de Versailles take part in the game in front of the sculpture « Skolem, choc de blocs & chiffres au vent »

The second part of the morning took place at the Marilyn and James Simons Conference Center. After an introduction by Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES, the high schoolers enjoyed the surprise visit of Cédric Villani, Fields Medalist in 2010, whose multi-faceted extraordinary career proves that mathematics can lead to multiple paths. A regular visitor at IHES, where he used to work, Cédric Villani feels that public outreach is particularly important in science and mathematics.

Cédric Villani, Fields Medalist in 2010, next to Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES, surrounded by high school students
Cédric Villani, Fields Medalist in 2010, next to Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES, surrounded by high school students

To conclude this morning, Blandine Galiay, winner of the Junior Maryam Mirzakhani 2021 prize from the Fondation Mathématique Jacques Hadamard, currently pursuing a Master’s degree at École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, gave a scientific talk and Mendes Oulamara, a PhD student from Université Paris-Saclay currently working at IHES, gave a short lecture on probability theory.

These two inspiring and interactive talks clearly peaked the high schoolers’ interest. Certainly, the whole visit should inspire several of them to further cultivate their passion for mathematics!

Blandine Galiay at the Centre de conférences Marilyn et James Simons, IHES
Blandine Galiay at the Centre de conférences Marilyn et James Simons, IHES
Mendes Oulamara at the Centre de conférences Marilyn et James Simons, IHES
Mendes Oulamara at the Centre de conférences Marilyn et James Simons, IHES