From Chengdu to Grothendieck
" Mathand engineeringengineering at theUniversityof Montpellier: fromfundamental theories to modern applications ” is the theme of the 2026 Winter School organized by the Faculty of Sciences at theUM , which is hosting a delegation of Chinese students from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Chengdu from February 2 to 7.
Inaugurated by François Pierrot, vice president for international relations at theUM, this event is organized under the auspices of two leading scientific figures from Montpellier: Alexander Grothendieck, who revolutionized algebraic geometry and embodied the power of pure mathematical abstraction, and Jean-Jacques Moreau, the founder of convex analysis and non-smooth mechanics, whose ideas paved the way for modern modeling of granular and divided media.
The program for this Winter School, organized by Professors Adam Ali and Émilien Azéma, includes lectures, presentations, and tours highlighting the unique nature of Montpellier’s scientific landscape, which bridges mathematical thought, engineering, and innovation. It is an opportunity to showcase the vitality of the cooperative partnerships that unite our two institutions.