Bringing together over 550 participants, the 44th National Congress on Applied and Computational Mathematics (CNMAC) took place in the School of Applied Mathematics of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EMAp), in Rio de Janeiro, from September 15 to 19, organized by the Brazilian Society of Applied and Computational Mathematics (SBMAC) and hosted by FGV EMAp. With 346 papers presented across 14 technical sessions, the event reinforced its position as the largest in the field in Latin America.
This year’s program addressed topics such as artificial intelligence, data science, and climate challenges. “Making progress in data science is a major challenge, and we’re learning together with the rest of the world. Many of our younger researchers bring that know-how, which is essential for incorporating new perspectives into SBMAC and Applied Mathematics in Brazil,” said SBMAC President Carlos Hoppen (UFRGS).
The event also strengthened ties with the private sector. “This is not a battle we can win alone. We need to work with the government and academia, combine knowledge, and co-create solutions,” said Andressa Meireles, from Zurich Resilience Solutions.
CNMAC’s international dimension was reflected in the participation of foreign researchers such as Argentina’s Maria Laura Schuverdt (UNLP/CONICET), who presented work on optimization, and Professor Nathan Kutz (University of Washington, USA), who demonstrated how machine learning accelerates scientific discoveries.
Inclusion remained a core value. The SBMAC Committee on Women in Applied and Computational Mathematics organized activities promoting female participation and initiatives like CNMACquinho, a children’s program that allows parents to attend presentations while their kids engage in educational activities.
For Hoppen, returning to Rio after 40 years and hosting the event at FGV EMAp was key to its success. “The growth of FGV EMAp’s graduate programs, the institution’s commitment to organizing large-scale events, combined with the necessary infrastructure and the city’s tourist appeal, resulted in a truly remarkable CNMAC,” he said. Incoming SBMAC president Maria Soledad Aronna highlighted the ongoing partnership between SBMAC and FGV EMAp in advancing industrial mathematics.
Looking ahead, CNMAC reaffirmed SBMAC’s mission to connect scientific excellence, education, and practical solutions for society’s major challenges.