Category: From the desk of the SAMS President

Dear SAMS members,

In recent days, some members have raised questions about the ongoing international discussion on artificial intelligence in mathematics, including the open letter “A Severe Misalignment of AI in Mathematics” and the wider debate prompted by recent claims surrounding a Millennium Prize problem.

At this stage, SAMS is not taking an official position on the open letter, on the claims that gave rise to the discussion, or on the broader question of how AI should be used in mathematics. The matter is complex, evolving and international in scope. The SAMS Council believes, however, that members should be aware that the discussion is taking place.

The open letter is therefore shared here for information only:  https://www.mathandai.org/

The letter has been signed by individuals in their personal capacities. Any views expressed in it, and any endorsements of it, do not represent an official position of the South African Mathematical Society. Members who wish to engage with the letter, sign it, or comment on it are encouraged to do so as individuals, according to their own judgement.

SAMS is monitoring developments, including discussions within the international mathematical community and the International Mathematical Union (IMU). Should the Council decide that an official SAMS statement is appropriate at a later stage, members will be informed through the usual channels.

We encourage members to read the letter and follow the discussion. As always, the Society welcomes constructive input from its members.

Best wishes
Christian

Dear SAMS member

This week the 15^th AIMS Conference (American Institute of Mathematical Sciences) took place in Athens. Following a call from last year, we had two special sessions organized by SAMS members. This followed after discussions regarding possible engagements between myself and the current AIMS president during the last AIMS Conference in Abu Dhabi. I am very happy that we had a special session on “Topology and Dynamics in Data” organized by Dr. Cerene Rathilal and Dr. Maria Vivien Visaya, as well as another one on “Evolution Equations and Operator Semigroups: Theory and Applications” organized by myself (see the photograph of myself, Vivien, and Cerene below). We are grateful to all participants of our special sessions that contributed to the success. In addition to the many different special sessions, there was also space in the programme to engage with other colleagues such as the president of the Brazilian Mathematical Society (BMS), Prof. Jaqueline Mesquita, and Prof. Mathias Hieber (Oberwolfach). Apart from this the conference came with strong plenary talks for example by the Brazilian Fields Medalist Winner Prof. Artur Avila (ETH Zürich).

Beside the conference that happened this week, I am also delighted to announce that SAMS signed both a reciprocity agreement as well as memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European Mathematical Society (EMS). These agreements have been discussed and confirmed both from the SAMS Council and most recent by the EMS Council during their bi-annual meeting that took place in Lisbon. I am looking forward to future collaborations and discussions. More details on the reciprocity agreement will be published and communicated in due course.

I wish all of you a successful start of the second semester.

Best wishes
Christian

Dear SAMS members,

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoys the quiet hours on campus during the exam period. I have no doubt that everyone did their utmost best to finish the semester in good shape. With this in mind, I want to share what has happened with SAMS in the last couple of months.

As president of SAMS, I did some community outreach and visited several local schools here in Bloemfontein to speak with learners about fear, anxieties, and expectations when it comes to mathematics. In fact, the local radio station OFM interviewed me, and you can find the corresponding article including the full interview here:
https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/341923/ufs-professor-urges-south-africans-to-rethink-fear-of-mathematics-

Moreover, I will soon represent mathematics in South Africa at the general assembly of the International Mathematical Union (IMU). This will enable us to have a voice in the global mathematical community and also to hear about the most recent developments. The reason I mention this is that on the 2nd of June 2026, the so-called “Leiden Declaration of Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics” was published (https://leidendeclaration.ai/#declaration). This declaration actually calls for action to address the challenges posed by the use of artificial intelligence within mathematics research. It has also been endorsed by the IMU (https://www.mathunion.org/imu-news/archive/2026/imu-news-137-may-2026#on-page-0). It goes without saying that this is of high importance for every researcher as well as for the South African Mathematical Society.

As the SAMS council, we are of course also looking forward to the upcoming Annual SAMS Congress that will be hosted by WITS at the beginning of December 2026. More information will follow in due course, and we are looking forward to a large number of participants.

I wish all of you a lovely and successful end to the first semester and the exams, and I also wish you strength and good luck for the second semester already.

Best wishes,
Christian

Dear SAMS members

Happy New Year to each of you! As we start with 2026, I wish you and your families a year filled with productivity, intellectual growth, meaningful collaboration, and personal well-being. May this be a year of exciting research, strengthened connections, and progress — both individually and collectively as a society.

The start of a new year is always a good time for reflection. As mathematicians, we appreciate clarity and rigour, and it is important to apply that mindset not just to our work, but also to the broader context in which we live and contribute. Recent national conversations — for example around the interpretation of South Africa’s matriculation results — remind us how essential it is to look beyond surface figures and simplistic narratives to understand deeper trends and challenges. Experts have observed that while the reported matric pass rate is high, that statistic alone does not capture the full picture of learner readiness, subject mastery, or the broader educational pipeline. 

Such discussions reflect a broader environment of political and social uncertainty, where data and policy can be wielded in ways that oversimplify complex realities. The mathematical sciences, with our emphasis on rigorous reasoning and critical analysis, have a vital role to play in grounding public discourse. I encourage all of us — as educators, researchers, and community members — to contribute constructively to these debates where we can, and to promote evidence-based thinking in our spheres of influence.

On a practical note, if you have questions, ideas, or suggestions as the year unfolds, please feel free to reach out by email — we are always happy to receive feedback. You can contact our general secretary Dr. Madelein Thiersen (secretary@sams.ac.za) or the president Prof. Christian Budde directly (president@sams.ac.za).

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to mathematics in South Africa. I look forward to what we will accomplish together in 2026.

With warm regards and best wishes,
Christian

Dear SAMS members

My name is Christian Budde from the University of the Free State and during the last AGM I was elected as the new President of the South African Mathematical Society. Find attached also the transcript of my speech.

With this I would like to express my deep gratitude as I am feeling very honoured to serve as the next SAMS President. From my point of view we have a strong and dynamic new Council and I hope that we can together with you shape the mathematical landscape in South Africa. If you have any questions or concerns, you are more than welcome to contact me directly.

As the semester slowly comes to an end and the festive season will start soon, I would like to wish you all the best for the rest of the year and that you may enjoy the time off together with your families and beloved ones. 

I am looking forward to the new tasks as there will be new challenges and opportunities in 2026.

Best wishes
Christian