A STUDY AND AN EVENT

This book provides a description of the fifth in the series of ICMI studies. Earlier studies have considered the themes: the influence of computers and informatics on mathematics and its teaching, school mathematics in the 1990s, mathematics as a service subject, and mathematics and cognition. The studies have varied in structure, but most have followed the same general pattern. As a first step, a programme committee appointed by ICMI has met, surveyed the problem area, and produced a discussion document. These documents have sought to identify major questions or challenges to which mathematics educators need to make responses and have invited readers to submit papers describing their reactions and experiences. These papers, along with plenary presentations from specially invited speakers, have then formed the basis for the work of an international symposium.

In the case of this study on the popularization of mathematics, the discussion document, written by A G Howson, J-P Kahane and H Pollak, was first published in L'Enseignement Mathématique. It later appeared in The Bulletin of the IMA, The Notices of the AMS, and in translation.

The response to this paper was most encouraging. Many reactions were submitted to us: so much so that, to our regret, not all those who contributed papers could be invited to participate in the seminar held at Leeds, England, from 17-22 September, 1989. Elsewhere the discussion document provided a basis for local meetings.