The Region’s Lost Voice: Hong Kong’s Bid for Math Congress Foiled Again

The news of Glasgow winning the bid to host the 2030 International Mathematical Union (IMU) congress is a blow to Hong Kong. It raises important questions about Asia’s ability to project itself on the global stage.

Mathematicians in Europe and North America have long had regional bodies that coordinate their efforts and amplify their voices at the global level. This has allowed them to secure top-notch conferences and research grants, boosting their standing in the international scientific community. In contrast, Asia has yet to catch up.

Shing-Tung Yau’s call for an Asian Mathematical Union is not just a bureaucratic reorganization; it’s a recognition of the region’s need for greater cohesion and collective action. As one of the world’s most distinguished mathematicians noted, “Asia urgently needs a similar organization” to better represent its interests and promote collaboration among its researchers.

The IMU has been criticized for its Eurocentric bent and has shown itself vulnerable to manipulation by powerful regional blocs. The European Mathematical Society wields an overwhelming majority of votes, which is hardly conducive to fair representation or collaboration with other regions.

This is a microcosm of the broader issue facing Asia: its struggle for global influence in a world where power and decision-making are increasingly concentrated in the hands of regional blocs. As Yau pointed out, “Asia together holds less than a quarter of the total” voting power within the IMU – a stark reminder of the region’s limited clout on the global stage.

Unless Asia takes concrete steps to strengthen its collective voice and coordinate its efforts, it will continue to be marginalized in international forums. This is not just about securing conferences or research grants; it’s about creating a platform for Asian mathematicians to contribute meaningfully to global scientific discourse.

Building an Asian Mathematical Union will require sustained effort and commitment from governments, institutions, and individual researchers across the region. As Yau noted, “Asia urgently needs” a stronger voice in international mathematics. The road ahead won’t be easy, but Hong Kong’s bid for the IMU congress highlights an opportunity for Asia to come together and assert its place in the global scientific community.

The question now is whether the region will seize this moment or allow its fragmented interests to continue holding it back from realizing its full potential.