International Day of Mathematics (IDM) is annually observed across the globe on 14th March to create awareness about the importance of mathematics in addressing the challenges in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), climate change, energy and sustainable development.
- 14th March 2024 marks the observance of the 5th IDM.
Theme:
The theme of IDM 2024 is ‘Playing with math’. Every year, the International Mathematical Union (IMU) decides the theme of IDM.
- The theme celebrates mathematical games, puzzles, and other entertaining activities, but also “playing” with mathematics itself, exploring, experimenting, and discovering.
Background:
i.Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 205th session proclaimed 14th March of every year as the IDM.
ii.IDM was adopted by the 40th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2019.
iii.The first-ever IDM was observed on 14th March 2020.
Why 14th March?
i.In the month/date format, March 14th represents the value of Pi, 3.14, which defines the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is often represented by the lower-case Greek letter ‘π’.
ii.Several countries observe March 14 as Pi Day.
Significance:
i.IDM is a project led by the IMU with the support of numerous international and regional organizations across the globe.
ii.The day highlights the role played by mathematics and mathematics education in the area of science and technology (S&T) to improve the quality of life, empower women and girls, and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda (SDG1-17) of the United Nations(UN).
iii.The IDM is communicated and supported by the IDM website, which is hosted by IMAGINARY, a non-profit organization that communicates modern mathematics.
iv.The day also aims to highlight the significance of mathematics in improving the quality of life in both the developed and developing worlds.
Major Goals of IDM:
i.To increase the awareness of mathematics in education among the general public, decision-makers and in schools.
ii.To achieve gender equality and empower women and girls in mathematics (SDG5).
iii.To raise awareness of the role of mathematics in fighting disasters, epidemics, emerging diseases, and invasive species (SDG11).
iv.To increase international networking and collaborations in public awareness of mathematics.
Events:
i.IDM 2024 is celebrated in more than 90 countries with over 1100 individual events.
ii.UNESCO along with IDM, IMU and the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development 2024–2033 (IDSSD) organised a virtual webinar with the theme: “Playing with Mathematics for Society”.
iii.The flagship event of IDM 2024 is the school pairing program for schools of the Global South sponsored by the Simons Foundation.
iv.MATH REMIX 2024 Creative Challenge was participated by more than 2300 individuals, schools, and organizations across the globe.
Additional Info:
Anita Rampal of Delhi University is a National IDM Ambassador to India.
About International Mathematical Union (IMU):
i.IMU is an international non-governmental and non-profit scientific organization, to promote international cooperation in mathematics.
ii.IMU was founded during the International Congress of Mathematicians in Strasbourg on September 20, 1920.
President – Hiraku Nakajima (Japan)
Headquarters – Berlin, Germany
