Dozens of mathematicians from around the world participated in the conference at Bar Ilan University

The Emi Neter Institute at Bar-Ilan University is holding an international convention in memory of the institute's founder, Prof. Friedrich Hirtzbruch

The Emi Neter Institute for Mathematical Research at Bar-Ilan University is holding an international convention in memory of Prof. Frederic Hirzbruch, the founder of the Emi Neter Institute.

The gathering was attended by senior mathematicians from all over the world, Fields Medal winners, heads of major research institutes including: Prof. Efim Zalmanov, Prof. Klaus Holek, Prof. Gerd Martin Gruyal, Prof. Anatoly Liebgover, Prof. Ludmil Katzkov, Prof. Thomas Paternal, Prof. Don Zagier, Prof. Kim Wang and more.

Prof. Mina Teicher, head of the Emi Neter Institute at Bar-Ilan University  She said at the gathering: "Professor Hirzbruch is a model and an example of a first-class scientist with a commitment to the scientific community in particular and society in general. I am not surprised that important scientists from all over the world came to Israel to pay their respects to him and contribute to his legacy. Also, Prof. Hirzborch is considered a great fan and supporter of the State of Israel who has worked extensively to promote the scientific ties between Israel and Germany." Prof. Teicher shared a personal story told to her by Prof. Hirzbruch in her words: He was born and raised in Germany and was drafted into the German army at the beginning of 1945 when he turned 17. He did not have time to serve in active service but was captured by the Americans at the end of the war. In captivity he was appointed a cleaning worker, when one day the camp commander - an American officer, saw him walking around with a book and asked him the meaning of the book, Hirzbruch explained to him that he was preparing to study mathematics - which he plans to start studying at the university as soon as he is released. The officer admired the seriousness shown by the young man and arranged for his release from captivity before the release of the other POWs so that he could begin his studies. Later, (in the 60s of the last century) Hirzbruch arrived at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University in the USA - where he was offered a professorship in the School of Mathematics. He looked for and found the American officer - invited him to Princeton and thanked him personally for taking care of his release from prison before the wholesale release of the German prisoners of war. Prof. Teicher also said that in the end he returned to Germany (to the University of Bonn) where he was recognized thanks to his groundbreaking achievements and worked hard to nurture the scientific community and renew the legacy of mathematics studies in unified Germany after it was destroyed during the Nazi regime.

 Prof. Hirzbruch served as the founder and director of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn, Germany, won the Wolf Prize in 1988 (2000) and was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Bar-Ilan University in XNUMX (XNUMX). Prof. Teicher added: "Professor Hirzbruch's scientific achievements include the famous results in the fields of topology, algebraic geometry, and global differential geometry. These results marked the beginning of important theories, and they had a huge impact on the development of modern mathematics." Prof. Teicher concluded: "In fact, many mathematicians expanded Herzbruch's ideas and included them, while he himself preferred to be interested in private problems and concrete cases - which he solved while creating new methods that combine algebraic, geometric and arithmetic intuition in an innovative and unusual way. His lectures and cautionary articles, his active participation in the international workshops in Bonn and his dedicated work in scientific organizations - served as a catalyst for worldwide cooperation among the community of mathematicians."

Some of the lecturers who participated in the conference said that they felt pressure from other colleagues in the world not to travel to Israel for the conference, for example, Prof. Enrico Arvalo from the elite school in Pisa, Italy  He stated that he is fundamentally opposed to BDS and the mixing of politics in science and added: "I love Israel and it never occurred to me to lose such an important gathering because of politics."

The Emi Neter Institute at Bar-Ilan University has gained wide international recognition and therefore the International Mathematical Association chose to make a film about the institute and its head Prof. Mina Teicher. The film will be screened at the International Mathematics Congress that will be held next month in Rio de Janeiro. The institute's research activities emphasize the latest innovations and developments that are at the forefront of global research in contemporary mathematics and the geometry of the structure of the universe.

More of the topic in Hayadan:

• Emi Neter - lays the foundation for modern algebra
• פProfessor Mina Teicher has been elected as Vice President of the International Commission on Mathematics Education (ICMI)