Scientific Activities

London Mathematical Society Global Meeting, Hanoi 2025

On the morning of August 27, 2025, the London Mathematical Society Global Meeting, Hanoi officially opened at the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM). The event gathered over 80 participants from Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and several other countries worldwide. This significant international meeting marked the first-ever collaboration between VIASM and the London Mathematical Society (LMS), with support from the British Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Mathematical Society (VMS).

Delegates and participants of the Conference

The London Mathematical Society - LMS (in fact the Mathematical Society of the United Kingdom) was founded in 1865 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious mathematical societies in the world. In 2025, LMS launched its Global Meeting Program to extend scientific activities beyond the UK, with VIASM selected as the very first destination. 

Representatives of the Organizing Committee

At the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Minh Hà, Managing Director of VIASM, affirmed: “This event is not only a bridge connecting mathematics and technology but also presents an opportunity for deeper international collaboration between the Vietnamese and British mathematical communities.” 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Minh Hà, Executive Director of VIASM, speaking at the Opening Ceremony

Prof. Jens Marklof, President of the London Mathematical Society, also expressed his hope that the conference would become a foundation for many long-term academic collaborations between the two institutions. He highlighted its role in connecting mathematicians both in Vietnam and abroad, while also attracting students and young researchers to areas such as the applications of machine learning in mathematics, the mathematics of machine learning, and computation and proof. Moreover, representatives of both sides also emphasized the importance of fostering innovative and in-depth research in order to generate breakthrough results and at the same time enhance Vietnam’s position on the international mathematical map.

Prof. Jens Marklof, President of LMS, delivering remarks at the Opening Ceremonyc

The event focused on four key themes: Applications of machine learning to mathematics; Mathematics of machine learning; Computation and proof; Machine learning and challenges to humanity. On August 27–28, Mini-courses on Interaction between Computer Science and Mathematics featured two lecture series by Prof. Patrick Massot (Paris-Saclay University, France), Dr. Bùi Hải Hưng, and Mr. Phạm Tùng (Qualcomm Vietnam). The course aimed to provide both foundational and advanced knowledge for students and young researchers on “Formalising Mathematics” and “Advances in using Large Language Models for mathematical reasoning.”

Prof. Patrick Massot, Paris-Saclay University, France

Dr. Bùi Hải Hưng, Qualcomm Vietnam

Mr. Phạm Tùng, Qualcomm Vietnam

In particular, on the afternoon of August 28, 2025, a public lecture series on “Mathematics, Art and Creativity” attracted nearly 200 students, undergraduates, and mathematics researchers and educators. The lectures were delivered by Prof. Jens Marklof (University of Bristol) and Prof. Tadashi Tokieda (Stanford University, USA), opening up opportunities for participants to access advanced scientific knowledge. Prof. Tadashi Tokieda has been actively engaged in outreach activities at all levels, especially through the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences and the Numberphile YouTube channel; he has also been invited to speak at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2018, 2022, and 2026. 

Prof. Tadashi Tokieda, Stanford University, USA

With topics both captivating and closely connected to real life, the lectures received enthusiastic responses, particularly from students. Prof. Jens Marklof presented an engaging approach to probability and statistics through hands-on experiments with dice, while Prof. Tadashi Tokieda fascinated the audience with a seemingly magical demonstration using geometric shapes. 


Vibrant atmosphere at the public lecture series

Alongside this event, Prof. Patrick Massot and Prof. Tadashi Tokieda also visited several high schools in Hanoi. On the afternoon of August 25, 2025, Prof. Patrick Massot and Prof. Tadashi Tokieda, joined by Prof. Martin Hairer (Fields Medalist 2014), delivered two public lectures on “Mathematics, Art and Creativity” at the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences, VNU University of Science, Hanoi.

Profs. Patrick Massot, Tadashi Tokieda, and Martin Hairer with students of the High School for Gifted Students in Natural Sciences, VNU University of Science

On the afternoon of August 27, 2025, Prof. Tadashi Tokieda delivered another highly engaging public lecture at the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education. The lecture attracted a large audience of students, undergraduates, and teachers, creating an enthusiastic and lively atmosphere. This was one of the highlights of the event series organized by VIASM and its partners, aimed at bringing mathematics closer to the public and reaffirming its role in modern life. 

Prof. Tadashi Tokieda giving a lecture at the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education

The main event of the series was the LMS Global Meeting, held on August 29, featuring eight invited talks by distinguished professors from Vietnam, the UK, France, and the USA. The presentations addressed globally significant topics of growing interest in Southeast Asia, particularly the new challenges posed by AI-related problems. The conference opened with a keynote lecture by Prof. Ngô Bảo Châu, Scientific Director of VIASM, on “Concerned citizens’ view on AI”.

Subsequently, other presentations were given by Prof. Jens Marklof, Prof. Tadashi Tokieda, Assoc. Prof. Nguyễn Phi Lê (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), Prof. Laura Monk (University of Bristol, UK), Prof. Đào Hải Long (University of Kansas, USA), Prof. Elaine Crooks (Swansea University, UK), and Prof. Chris Budd (University of Bath, UK).

To mark this collaboration between Vietnamese and British mathematics, VIASM and its partners organized welcome receptions for the LMS delegates. The first was held on the evening of August 25 at President Club, hosted by MK Group, in a warm and friendly atmosphere that fostered exchanges between scientists and businesses from Vietnam and abroad. The following evening, August 26, the British Embassy in Hanoi formally welcomed the delegates, as a gesture of sincere appreciation to the visiting professors and international scholars.

Reception on August 25 at President Club with the participation of Prof. Tadashi Tokieda, Prof. Ngô Bảo Châu, Prof. Martin Hairer, and Prof. Patrick Massot

Group photo at the British Embassy with Prof. Martin Hairer, Prof. Vũ Hoàng Linh, Ambassador Iain Frew,

Prof. Jens Marklof, Prof. Ngô Bảo Châu, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Minh Hà 

The London Mathematical Society Global Meeting, Hanoi concluded successfully with the overarching theme “The Interface of Mathematics and Computer Science.” The event fostered research collaboration, expanded the applications of mathematics in modern technology - especially artificial intelligence and machine learning - and left a strong impression on the scientific community. At the same time, it inspired younger generations to explore the increasingly close relationship between mathematics, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity.

Pictures of the event: 27-29.8. LMS Global Meeting, Hanoi

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