site.btaMathematics Days in Sofia International Conference Opens at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

The Mathematics Days in Sofia international conference opened at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ (BAS) central building on Monday. Held under the auspices of President Iliana Iotova, the forum will run until July 10 and brings together more than 200 researchers from over 30 countries.

The event is organized by the BAS Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, the Sofia University's Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics and the Union of Bulgarian Mathematicians.

At the conference, Evgeni Dimitrov of the University of Southern California was announced this year's recipient of the Mathematics Prize of the BAS Institute of Mathematics and Informatics. Dimitrov was recognized for his groundbreaking work in probability theory, particularly for research that advances the understanding of complex stochastic systems. He is considered one of the world leaders in the rapidly developing theory of Gibbsian line ensembles. Dimitrov earned his bachelor's degree from Princeton University before completing his PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the supervision of Prof. Alexei Borodin. As a pupil in Bulgaria, he won a bronze medal at the 49th International Mathematical Olympiad and a silver medal at the 25th Balkan Mathematical Olympiad, both in 2008. Dimitrov was unable to attend the ceremony due to prior commitments. He will receive the prize at a later date and deliver an academic lecture.

Addressing the conference, President Iotova said that a country that aspires to be technologically advanced must first become a nation of mathematics, with good teachers, strong universities and research institutions regarded not as an expense but as an investment with the highest return. She added that the conference offers an alternative to concerns about brain drain by building bridges between Bulgarian scientists at home and abroad. Iotova said that the State's role is to ensure those bridges are not one-way by supporting joint research, visiting professorships and the return of researchers to Bulgaria whenever possible. She also highlighted the recent victory of Nikola Veselinov from the Sofia High School of Mathematics at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in the United States, describing the achievement as the result of decades of work by dedicated teachers, mentors and educational institutions.

In a message read by BAS Vice President Evdokia Pasheva, BAS President Evelina Slavcheva said that mathematics is the foundation of scientific and technological progress and has never been more important than it is today. In an era when artificial intelligence, quantum computing, data science and digital technologies are transforming the world, the importance of mathematics continues to grow, Slavcheva said in her message. "Every major technological breakthrough is built on profound mathematical ideas developed through fundamental research driven by curiosity," she said.

The Chair of the conference's programme committee, BAS full member Julian Revalski, said that the conference has provided an opportunity to deepen joint research between Bulgarian mathematicians based in Bulgaria and abroad, and has helped strengthen the ties between them. He noted that the conference had also contributed to the establishment of the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences at the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the BAS in 2019, where around 20 researchers from all over the world are currently working. He also announced that this year the institute's award for outstanding achievements in the mathematical sciences will be presented for the fifth time.

The Director of the BAS Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Prof. Peter Boyvalenkov, said that more than 200 researchers from 27 countries are participating in the conference. Boyvalenkov said the conference programme features plenary lectures, 12 thematic sessions, mini-workshops, and mini-symposia, and will continue through Thursday. Boyvalenkov also noted that it has become a tradition for the Bulgarian President to serve as patron of the conference, and expressed his gratitude to Iotova for extending the presidential patronage to this year's edition.