The Institute of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, formerly the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics (IME-USP), is a teaching and research center at the University of São Paulo. It is located at Cidade Universitária, São Paulo. The institute offers courses in mathematics, statistics and computer science.
History
Background
Prior to the founding of the IME in 1970, Mathematics studies took place mainly in the Polytechnic School, whose activities began in 1893, even before the foundation of USP. The University of São Paulo was created in 1934, from the junction of existing faculties and the creation of other units, such as the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters (FFCL). The FFCL was responsible for teaching courses in all areas of knowledge, predominantly cultural or scientific, including the Mathematical Sciences course.
Formerly located at Alameda Glete, in 1949 the FFCL started to operate on the Maria Antonia Street campus. In the late 60's and early 70's, she was transferred to the Butantã campus and dismembered in several institutes, such as Psychology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics and Statistics.
Foundation The creation of the IME took place on January 15, 1970, by the university reform, which brought together in a single institute the mathematics, statistics and computer science professors of the various establishments of USP, in particular those of the former Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters from the former Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Hygiene and Public Health and the former Institute of Mathematical Research.
In honor of the Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer, Archimedes (Greek: Ἀρχιμήδης; Siracusa, 287 BC – 212 BC), his image as a coat of arms of the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics of the University of São Paulo – USP).
New name In late 2025, in recognition to the strong presence of the Computer Science area in the institute, IME-USP changed its name to Institue of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science.
Rankings It is considered, together with other units of USP that teach these courses, one of the two best institutes of mathematics, statistics and computation of Latin America according to the QS World University Rankings 2017; the best institute of mathematics of Brazil and the best institute of computation of Latin America according to the Ranking of Shanghai. As USP does not participate in the National Student Performance Examination (ENADE), the University of São Paulo's (RUF) 2017 University Ranking considers that the university is zero in this respect, which places the IME second in the ranking of courses in mathematics and computing. However, by disregarding this examination, USP would lead the ranking of these courses with a greater margin than the current leader.
Departments and research areas The smallest fraction of the structure of the university is the department. Its responsibility is to plan, execute and coordinate research and teaching in your area of expertise. It is responsible for the didactic orientation of the subjects.
Departments Department of Mathematics Department of Computer Science Department of Statistical Methods Department of Applied Mathematics
Deans Below, it's the list of the Deans and Vice Deans through the years. +DeanVice DeanDepartmentYearsCândido Lima da Silva DiasWaldyr Muniz OlivaDepartment of Mathematics1970 - 1974Waldyr Muniz OlivaChaim Samuel HönigDepartment of Applied Mathematics1974 - 1978Chaim Samuel HönigCândido Lima da Silva DiasDepartment of Mathematics1978 - 1982Carlos Alberto Barbosa DantasChaim Samuel HönigDepartment of Statistical Methods1982 - 1986Chaim Samuel HönigImre SimonDepartment of Mathematics1982 - 1986Pedro Alberto MorettinOfelia Teresa AlasDepartment of Statistical Methods1990 - 1994Carlos Alberto de Bragança PereiraPablo Augusto FerrariDepartment of Statistical Methods1995 - 1998Siang Wun SongPablo Augusto FerrariDepartment of Computer Science1998 - 2002Francisco César Polcino MiliesPaulo Domingos CordaroDepartment of Mathematics2002 - 2006Paulo Domingos CordaroFlávio Ulhoa CoelhoDepartment of Applied Mathematics2006 - 2010Flávio Ulhoa CoelhoCarlos Eduardo FerreiraDepartment of Mathematics2010 - 2014Clodoaldo Grotta RagazzoSeverino Toscano do Rego MeloDepartment of Applied Mathematics2014 - 2018Junior BarreraLuiz Renato Gonçalves FontesDepartment of Computer Science2018 - 2022Sergio Muniz Oliva FilhoRonaldo Fumio HashimotoDepartment of Applied Mathematics2022 - 2025
Notable people César Lattes experimental physicist, one of the discoverers of the Pion. Chaim Samuel Hönig was the main instigator of the Brazilian Mathematical Colloquium in 1957, one of the founders of the Brazilian Mathematical Society (SBM). Elza Furtado Gomide was founder of the Society of Mathematics of São Paulo and was elected head of the department of mathematics of the University of São Paulo in 1968. Alexander Grothendieck was awarded the Fields Medal 1966. Fernando Q. Gouvêa won the Lester R. Ford Award of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in 1995. Yoshiharu Kohayakawa was awarded the Fulkerson Prize in 2018. Paolo Piccione is president of the Brazilian Mathematical Society since 2017. Pablo Ferrari is co-principal investigator at the Brazilian research center NeuroMat. Antonio Galves was also the head of NeuroMat.
Publications The journal São Paulo Journal of Mathematical Sciences is an official publication of the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics (IME) of the University of São Paulo (USP). It presents original and revision articles in the areas of Pure and Applied Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science. Preceded by the journal Reviews of the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics of the University of São Paulo (1993-2005), the magazine assumed the current denomination in 2007 and, from 2015 onwards, it was published by Springer.
References
External links
The Mathematical Institute website São Paulo Journal of Mathematical Sciences