We all know mathematics is life, this question is for Mankind. It's mathoverflow here when some parts of the world we have mathunderflow! I think we can do something through ideas. A similar question "Good ways to engage in mathematics outreach" has been featured but this is a different question all together.


In this question, am interested in understanding what the so called super countries in mathematics done right utilizing the little resources they have in the promotion(development) of mathematics. How can very young country (mathematics development is wanting, the research output is low, some fundamental courses are not even taught at the first place due to lack of resource persons) move on? What are some of the ideas which have helped countries with a small economy grow? Are there mathematicians who have been involved in development of mathematics in developing/ less developed countries which are experiencing an upward trend? How did you do it?



Means of Promoting Mathematics in Young Countries!
Dear Ongaro Nyang' 


Although Israel is no longer so young, it was young, (even 
younger than most other countries,) not so long ago, and
it is a small and rather isolated place, with some difficulties.
So some lessons from Israeli mathematics, especially in its early days 
may be relevant. 



> 
> A) Immigration
> 
> 
> 


**1**. Immigration


Israeli mathematics was initially based on and had benefited all the 
times from immigration of mathematicians to Israel. The ability to 
absorb immigration, in general, and to attract and absorb immigrating scientists, in particular, 
is crucial.(Keeping the relations with mathematicians who immigrated from 
Israel is also an important issue.)



> 
> B) Financial matters.
> 
> 
> 


Investing resources is, of course, crucial. There was a large public investment 
in universities in Israel's first years even when the country itself 
was in rather bad economic shape. Overall, theoretical academic 
subjects like mathematics are "cheaper." Keeping the right balances 
regarding policies for spending the money is very important. 


Let me mention two items.


**2**. Sabbatical/Travel money


**1.1** Good Sabbatical opportunities: Israeli mathematicians (and scientists
in general) had relatively good sabbatical terms which make it possible
for them to get (from the Israeli institution) a reasonable European/US
salary while in sabbatical abroad. This was especially effective when the
Israeli salaries were very low compared to salaries abroad. The academic 
system is built on 15% or so of the faculty being on sabbatical at 
any time. (Often people spend additional time abroad on leave.)


**2.2** In addition, Israeli scientist (with academic university positions) *and* graduate students (who works as T.A.'s) have funds for short-term
travels: (Fixed amounts depending on the academic rank per year) This
enable participation in conferences and joint research.


Both the sabbatical and travel money apply to *all* people with academic
positions (Sabbatical only to lecturer/asst professor position and above)
and are essentially automatic. (Minimal amount of bureaucracy, no
committees to judge qualification and to decide on amounts, no requirement
to be an invited speaker in a conference, etc. etc..)


**3.** Salaries 


Keeping the right balances when it comes to salaries is also important. 
Low salary gives incentives to leave but very high salaries (compared to 
average salaries in the country) are morally problematic and may 
give incentive for corrupting the hiring and promoting system. 
The salary system in Israel is based on essentially equal salary for equal
academic rank and (overall) there are no substantial salary awards for
academic excellence beside the academic rank. (There is some (modest)
awards for people getting external grants and larger but still rather small
for people serving in administrative positions.)


I think that not having overly differential salaries and not 
being "in the game" of offers and counteroffers is actually beneficial.



> 
> C) Activities
> 
> 
> 


**4.** Activities for national math society


There are, since early times, 
regular annual meeting of the Israeli Mathematics Union and some
other local activities. 


**5.** National mathematical journal


There was a substantial effort, again from early times,  

to create and maintain an Israeli journal of 
mathematics. (In the 40th there was even a professional research level 
journal in Hebrew for a few years.) 


**6.** Conferences and visitors.


There was, again from early times, some resources devoted to conferences 
and visitors. Carefully administered and with attention to
the added value for the local people this can be very fruitful. 


Arranging visits of top people in mathematics for lecture series and visits 
can also be useful. It seems that it is a good policy (when the country is not
rich) not to over-pay for such visitors (among other reasons, because this set standards which push the cost of visitors in general too high.) 


Of course, warm hospitality is priceless.



> 
> D) Content
> 
> 
> 


**7.** Maintaining a sense of tradition.


Basing activities on areas with long tradition of success which are
identified with the country's mathematical strength can be a successful
and well excepted by the whole mathematical community.


**8.** Self-breeding can work


The success of Israeli mathematical departments was largely based on 
successful self-breeding, namely absorbing as faculty member people who
graduated at the department. 


**9.** Self-confidence, Tolerance for "sporadic"(or non-main stream) areas 
(and tolerance in general)


This seems to me a strength of Israeli mathematics and looks (to me) a
good attitude especially for a peripheral and somewhat isolated place. 
Tolerance is important especially since mathematical quality is rather 
high dimensional (some dimensions being 
importance/depth/visibility/applicability/usefulness.) 


(There is also
complete tolerance and essentially indifference in the context of
mathematical life towards matters of politics, attitude towards religion,
etc, issues that Israel is very torn apart about.)


**10.** Patience, realistic goals, unrealistic dreams


Building a good mathematical activity takes time, and there are 
ups and downs as well.



> 
> E) Outreach
> 
> 
> 


**11.** Issues concerning high school mathematics


There is some efforts to promote interest in mathematics among gifted high
school students: special mathematical journal (in Hebrew), some "clubs"
and "summer camps" math Olympiads etc. I think this had some factor in
promoting math among young people. Usually, what it takes is some
mathematician in academics which is devoted to this issue and some (not
large) budget. Giving an incentive for such an activity and such a
mathematician may be a good idea. Popular Math books and text books in
Hebrew had substantial influence. A. Frankel (the set theorist) 
wrote wonderful five-volume Hebrew books introducing 
mathematics (It was called "An Introduction to Mathematics") in the 40s/50s. 
(More recently, the Hebrew edition of Singh's
book on Wiles proof of FLT increased popularity of mathematics.)



> 
> F) Relations with other areas
> 
> 
> 


**12.** Relation with CS, physics and other disciplines


In Israel CS department were largely built out of math departments (not
electrical engineering) and there are still strong academic ties between
these communities. Connection with CS seems valuable. Of course, relations with physics are very important (not so strong in Israel). Relations between math and economics seems strong in Israel. 
(In Jerusalem there is an interdisciplinary "center for
rationality" which involves people from math/economics and some from
statistics/psychology/philosophy/law/biology.)


In summary, when it comes to mathematical life in a small somewhat isolated and
at times a bit troubled place, it seems that it is valuable to make the
right balances in the local mathematical community between competition and
solidarity, to practice a lot of patience and tolerance, to be open to new people and new directions, and to be careful about incentives. 


Like in Brazil the efforts of few pivotals mathematicians was very crucial. 


As usual, luck is useful too. Good luck.


