Hong Kong has lost its bid to host the 2030 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) to Glasgow, Scotland. The decision was made by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) on Tuesday. The congress is a major global event where mathematicians gather every four years to share research and advances.
Shing-Tung Yau, a renowned mathematician and professor at Tsinghua University, was part of Hong Kong's bidding committee. He expressed disappointment over the outcome and called for Asia to establish its own mathematical union. Yau stated that Asian countries need a stronger collective voice in the international mathematical community. He argued that the current system may not fully represent the region's growing contributions to the field.
The IMU's decision has sparked discussions about Asia's role in global mathematics. Some experts believe that a regional union could help coordinate efforts and promote Asian research. However, no official steps have been announced yet. The ICM is expected to take place in Glasgow in 2030, bringing together thousands of mathematicians from around the world.