Primary, secondary and university teachers: all together for math

On June 26, the 15th anniversary of Insmi, an acronym as opaque as it is little-known, stood for the National Institute of Mathematical Sciences and their Interactions. In fact, it was recently renamed to a more explicit name: CNRS Mathematics. That day was a real birthday party at the CNRS's Paris headquarters, with cake, candles, and even musicians singing Happy Birthday .

Mathematics has, of course, been present at the CNRS for much longer. What was new in 2010 was the "N," for national: it was about taking on a far-reaching mission, going beyond the CNRS, by structuring all mathematical research in France. Because this research is not limited to CNRS researchers: of the approximately 3,800 mathematics teacher-researchers in the country, only 480 report to the CNRS. The mathematical community is historically mixed: many begin their careers at the CNRS and then continue their careers at university.

The word "community" came up in every speech. This is no coincidence: mathematicians share customs and values ​​specific to their discipline. Thus, it is understood that a young researcher cannot be recruited from the laboratory where they defended their thesis. Similarly, a promotion—from associate to research director, or from lecturer to professor—almost always involves a change of laboratory. The aim is to standardize themes across the region and limit the mandarinate, which has virtually disappeared from our discipline.

Another unique feature of this community: it costs little. Some say, with a smile, that mathematicians only need chalk for their blackboards. This is obviously a caricature that must be denounced immediately! We need libraries—now digital—and, in this, the role of the Insmi is crucial, particularly through a structure called Mathdoc, which guarantees broad and often free access to the documentation that we consider a major issue in science. The mathematical community has always been a pioneer in open science. We also need places for exchange: the Henri-Poincaré Institute in Paris and the International Center for Mathematical Encounters in Marseille play this role of "great scientific instruments," where colleagues can share their ideas and results.

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