The 1966 International Congress of Mathematicians: A micro-memoir

TL;DR

This paper reflects on the 1966 International Congress of Mathematicians, highlighting its significance as a rare event bridging East and West during the Cold War era.

Contribution

It provides a historical account of the 1966 congress, emphasizing its role in fostering international mathematical collaboration amid political tensions.

Findings

The congress served as a rare diplomatic bridge during the Cold War.

It facilitated international exchange of mathematical ideas.

The event had lasting impacts on global mathematical collaboration.

Abstract

To an extent, the 1966 congress was a hole in the iron curtain. At least that how a young Soviet mathematician saw it.