ARPAM, background & genesis

By Claude Bruter, Department of Mathematics, Paris 12 University.

During a conference on the popularization of mathematics in Leeds, UK. in September1989, Australian mathematician D. Blane was sharing an experiment he initiated in making his students count the tiles of a circular pavement laid in front of a large store. This is when the general concept of the park project first occured to me . I quickly drafted an outline of some of the first "follies". Immediately after Blane's lecture, I spoke to Jean-Pierre Kahane, one of the conference's organizer. He supported the idea and encouraged me to create an association dedicated to that goal.

Ian Stewart, who also attended the conference, became the first member of this association which had yet no name, no legal existence.

Other mathematicians soon joined the effort. The association ARPAM was then formally created with the help of colleagues and friends, administrative physicists, biologists, and of course mathematicians, most of them involved in various aspects of the Singularity theory. The former President of the Mathematical Society of France, Jean Cerf, and a well-known topologist, Valentin Poenaru, agreed to be vice-chairs of the association. Laurent Schwartz accepted an honorary membership. The association was officialy listed in the Journal Officiel de la République Française, on the 22nd of May 1991. Its name reflects on the members' original purpose and scope of the association: “Association to develop and manage a pedestrian and mathematical activities outdoor park in the Chevreuse Valley”.

A feasibility study was completed in 1992 and submited to the Administration at the request of Mr. Hubert Curien, State Secretary for Scientific Research and respected physicist.

ARPAM is a not-for-profit association as defined under the terms of the law of July 1901. It has been registered at the Palaiseau sub-prefecture on April 25, 1991.

© 1991 - 2008 ARPAM. Concept, content registered SACD.