Middle school students at IHES

Cédric Villani, IHES-University of Lyon Chair in Analysis since September 2022, wanted to set up a program that would give children, who are not familiar with the profession, access to research from an early age in order to awaken their minds and perhaps inspire them to take it up.

Thus, 41 students from the 7th grade of the Aimé Césaire middle school in Les Ulis, accompanied by four teachers, came to IHES on Monday, March 27 to discover the profession of researcher.

After visiting the Institute in small groups, they gathered in the amphitheater of the Marilyn and James Simons Conference Center. Cédric Villani first presented his career and research and then gave the floor to the post-doctoral students, all mathematicians, who gave a short presentation: Veronica Fantini on proof in mathematics, Edmund Heng on fractions and Mirek Olšák on computer science. Student participation was strong and there were many questions.

The afternoon ended with a snack during which the students were able to exchange with the speakers in an informal manner.

This first session for middle school students was very much appreciated by all participants, students and speakers alike.

The second session took place on June 1st with 29 students from a 7th grade class of the Mondétour middle school. The program remained on the same basis as the first session. This time, after Cédric Villani’s talk, Veronica Fantini gave a short presentation on units of measurement. Mirek Olšák explained how computers could solve problems, using as an example the problem of the rider’s game (in reference to the sculpture Skolem, Lump Bumps and Windy Figures). The students were delighted to learn about the scientific profession and the Bois-Marie estate.