Portuguese Mathematical Society
Encyclopedia
The Portuguese Mathematical Society (SPM - Sociedade Portuguesa de Matemática) is the mathematical
society of Portugal
, and was founded in Lisbon
, in December 1940.
António de Oliveira Salazar
became prime minister of Portugal in July 1932. A new constitution was put in place in 1933 which set up the National Assembly
, all seats in which were filled by government supporters. Political parties were banned by the ruling regime of Estado Novo, and the government used censorship, propaganda, and political imprisonment in running the country. Many scientists, believing in the importance of scientific knowledge and education, felt that these ends could only be achieved through democratic means. Among these critics of the regime were many elements of the Portuguese Communist Party
(PCP). This meant an inevitable conflict between the government of Estado Novo and many personalities of the new Portuguese Mathematical Society.
One of the first moves the new Society made was to try to expand its membership. To do this the Society had to be active throughout the whole country, and also it had to offer something to teachers of mathematics, students of mathematics, as well as those undertaking mathematical research. At this time Portugal suffered grave deficiencies both in research and education. However, in 1949 Egas Moniz
was awarded the only Nobel Prize in Medicine in Portuguese history, and from the 1960s to the Carnation Revolution
in April 1974, several universities were founded by the Estado Novo regime in Portugal (e.g. Aveiro University
, University of Évora
, Minho University, New University of Lisbon
and ISCTE, all in 1972/1973) and its overseas territories (University of Luanda and University of Lourenço Marques, all in 1962), as well as a large number of commercial/industrial schools and secondary schools.
The Society tried to improve the situation by setting up committees such as a Pedagogical Committee, a Pure Mathematics Committee, an Applied Mathematics Committee, and a History and Philosophy of Mathematics Committee. Contacts were made with foreign mathematicians and mathematical societies and Fréchet
visited Portugal at the invitation of the Society who made him an honorary member.
As part of its aims to promote mathematics, Mathematics Clubs were set up in schools, the first in 1942. All this had been achieved under the first President P. J. da Cunha who served until 1943. After this Bento de Jesus Caraça
took over, followed by Ferreira de Macedo in 1945 and Zaluar Nunes in 1947. These were faced with increasing difficulties as the government moved against the dissidents who studied or worked in the universities.
Distrust by the government increased and soon serious attacks were made upon science and the universities where several politized student protest
s were often organized by the anti-regime groups, including the PCP. The mathematics clubs were declared illegal and banned. In the year 1946-47 an offensive against the universities was launched with disastrous results. A large number of professors, not only of mathematics, lost their jobs. Many had to make their living in different walks of life. The Portuguese Mathematical Society was prevented from holding its normal meetings because gatherings of many people displeased the political authorities. Moreover it was forbidden to elect another committee.
Despite these almost impossible circumstances the Portuguese Mathematical Society did manage to avoid total extinction, although it could not function in any meaningful way. The political situation changed in 1974. On 25 April 1974 the dictatorship was overthrown by a military coup and democracy was restored with a general election held in April 1975. The Portuguese Mathematical Society became a legal entity in 1977 and once again could begin to function in the way it wished to promote the mathematical sciences at all levels throughout Portugal.
Portugaliae Mathematica had been published since 1939 and continued to be published through the dark years when the Society could not function. However, with the Society flourishing again, it took over control of the journal. The Society took on its role of organising meetings and conferences. The Society also began the work of establishing Olympiad competitions in 1980, the first nations such competitions being three years later. The first Portuguese team participated in the International Mathematics Olympiad competition for the first time in 1989.
Other voting members:
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
society of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and was founded in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, in December 1940.
History
The Society had to face many difficulties due to the political events occurred during the 20th century in Portugal.António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
became prime minister of Portugal in July 1932. A new constitution was put in place in 1933 which set up the National Assembly
National Assembly
National Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
, all seats in which were filled by government supporters. Political parties were banned by the ruling regime of Estado Novo, and the government used censorship, propaganda, and political imprisonment in running the country. Many scientists, believing in the importance of scientific knowledge and education, felt that these ends could only be achieved through democratic means. Among these critics of the regime were many elements of the Portuguese Communist Party
Portuguese Communist Party
The Portuguese Communist Party is a major left-wing political party in Portugal. It is a Marxist-Leninist party, and its organization is based upon democratic centralism. The party also considers itself to be patriotic and internationalist....
(PCP). This meant an inevitable conflict between the government of Estado Novo and many personalities of the new Portuguese Mathematical Society.
One of the first moves the new Society made was to try to expand its membership. To do this the Society had to be active throughout the whole country, and also it had to offer something to teachers of mathematics, students of mathematics, as well as those undertaking mathematical research. At this time Portugal suffered grave deficiencies both in research and education. However, in 1949 Egas Moniz
Egas Moniz
António Caetano de Abreu Freire Egas Moniz , known as Egas Moniz , was a Portuguese neurologist and the developer of cerebral angiography...
was awarded the only Nobel Prize in Medicine in Portuguese history, and from the 1960s to the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
in April 1974, several universities were founded by the Estado Novo regime in Portugal (e.g. Aveiro University
Aveiro University
University of Aveiro is a Portuguese new generation public university, with its headquarters in Aveiro since its 1973 creation. It also provides polytechnic education in three distinct additional poles....
, University of Évora
University of Évora
The University of Évora is a public university in Évora, Portugal.-History:The University of Évora, the second oldest in Portugal, was founded in the 16th century by Cardinal Infante Dom Henrique , and by the Pope Paul IV, and it was delivered to the Society of Jesus.The Jesuit college...
, Minho University, New University of Lisbon
New University of Lisbon
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, , also known as NOVA ) was established in 1973 and is the youngest of the three public universities of Lisbon, in Portugal....
and ISCTE, all in 1972/1973) and its overseas territories (University of Luanda and University of Lourenço Marques, all in 1962), as well as a large number of commercial/industrial schools and secondary schools.
The Society tried to improve the situation by setting up committees such as a Pedagogical Committee, a Pure Mathematics Committee, an Applied Mathematics Committee, and a History and Philosophy of Mathematics Committee. Contacts were made with foreign mathematicians and mathematical societies and Fréchet
Maurice René Fréchet
Maurice Fréchet was a French mathematician. He made major contributions to the topology of point sets and introduced the entire concept of metric spaces. He also made several important contributions to the field of statistics and probability, as well as calculus...
visited Portugal at the invitation of the Society who made him an honorary member.
As part of its aims to promote mathematics, Mathematics Clubs were set up in schools, the first in 1942. All this had been achieved under the first President P. J. da Cunha who served until 1943. After this Bento de Jesus Caraça
Bento de Jesus Caraça
Bento de Jesus Caraça, GCSE, GOL was an influential Portuguese mathematician, economist and statistician. Caraça was also a member of the Portuguese Communist Party and so, he became one of the most famous personalities in the resistance against the Fascist regime led by António Oliveira...
took over, followed by Ferreira de Macedo in 1945 and Zaluar Nunes in 1947. These were faced with increasing difficulties as the government moved against the dissidents who studied or worked in the universities.
Distrust by the government increased and soon serious attacks were made upon science and the universities where several politized student protest
Student protest
Student protest encompasses a wide range of activities that indicate student dissatisfaction with a given political or academic issue and mobilization to communicate this dissatisfaction to the authorities and society in general and hopefully remedy the problem...
s were often organized by the anti-regime groups, including the PCP. The mathematics clubs were declared illegal and banned. In the year 1946-47 an offensive against the universities was launched with disastrous results. A large number of professors, not only of mathematics, lost their jobs. Many had to make their living in different walks of life. The Portuguese Mathematical Society was prevented from holding its normal meetings because gatherings of many people displeased the political authorities. Moreover it was forbidden to elect another committee.
Despite these almost impossible circumstances the Portuguese Mathematical Society did manage to avoid total extinction, although it could not function in any meaningful way. The political situation changed in 1974. On 25 April 1974 the dictatorship was overthrown by a military coup and democracy was restored with a general election held in April 1975. The Portuguese Mathematical Society became a legal entity in 1977 and once again could begin to function in the way it wished to promote the mathematical sciences at all levels throughout Portugal.
Portugaliae Mathematica had been published since 1939 and continued to be published through the dark years when the Society could not function. However, with the Society flourishing again, it took over control of the journal. The Society took on its role of organising meetings and conferences. The Society also began the work of establishing Olympiad competitions in 1980, the first nations such competitions being three years later. The first Portuguese team participated in the International Mathematics Olympiad competition for the first time in 1989.
Governing body
2010-2012- President: Miguel Abreu, IST, Technical University of LisbonTechnical University of LisbonThe Technical University of Lisbon is a Portuguese public university. It was created in 1930 in Lisbon, as a confederation of older schools, and comprises, nowadays, the faculties and institutes of veterinary medicine; agricultural sciences; economics and business administration; engineering,...
- Vice-President: Filipe Oliveira, New University of LisbonNew University of LisbonUniversidade NOVA de Lisboa, , also known as NOVA ) was established in 1973 and is the youngest of the three public universities of Lisbon, in Portugal....
- Vice-President: Joana Teles, University of Coimbra
- Financial Manager: Sílvia Anjos, IST, Technical University of LisbonTechnical University of LisbonThe Technical University of Lisbon is a Portuguese public university. It was created in 1930 in Lisbon, as a confederation of older schools, and comprises, nowadays, the faculties and institutes of veterinary medicine; agricultural sciences; economics and business administration; engineering,...
Other voting members:
- Ilda Perez Silva, University of Lisbon
- Isabel Hormigo, Escola Secundária Dona Filipa de Lencastre
- Lucía Fernández Suárez, University of MinhoUniversity of MinhoThe University of Minho is a public university in Portugal, divided in the following spaces:* Largo do Paço , in Braga* Campus of Gualtar, in Braga* Superior School of Nursing, in Braga...
- Luís Malheiro, Escola Secundária da Ramada
- Sílvio Gama, University of PortoUniversity of PortoThe University of Porto is a Portuguese public university located in Porto, and founded 22 March 1911. It is the largest Portuguese university by number of enrolled students and has one of the most noted research outputs in Portugal...