Héctor Ramírez: “The CMM is a testimony of the contribution of science to the development of Chile”

25 years after its foundation, the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM) of the University of Chile celebrates a quarter of a century as a national and international reference in the creation and application of mathematical knowledge. In this interview, its director, Professor Héctor Ramírez –Full Professor of the Department of Mathematical Engineering of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences– discusses the main achievements of the center, its role in challenges such as education and climate change, and the strengthening of its global projection through collaboration with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the leading public scientific research organization in France and one of the most important in the world.

— What does it mean for the CMM community to be 25 years old, and how has the center evolved since its beginnings?

Turning 25 is certainly an important milestone. A quarter of a century implies having had the necessary time to learn, to evolve as an institution and to maintain a trajectory of excellence that today places us as a reference both nationally and internationally. This cannot be achieved without constant and committed work.

It is also a source of joy. Reaching this point with such an active projection, seeing more movement than ever within the center, with new ideas and projects, speaks to us of a living community. CMM has evolved and grown over the past 25 years. I believe that this feeling of pride and belonging is shared by those of us who are part of the center. And, above all, there is confidence that we still have a lot to contribute.

— The CMM has consolidated its position as a key player within the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and also in the national system of centers of excellence. What has been the determining factor in achieving this position?

Undoubtedly, the most important thing has been the work of people: researchers, academics, professionals, support staff… They are the ones who make the center. Of course, the infrastructure has also been key, the funding we receive from the University, from ANID and other sources, but the heart of the CMM is in its people and in the way we work collectively.

In addition, I think it has been essential to have a clear orientation: we are a center that does first-level mathematics, and we are interested in ensuring that this mathematics has the greatest possible impact on society. This vision sets us apart and constantly renews us. It allows us to attract talent, generate impact and stay relevant.

– What innovative research are you currently developing and what impact could it have on everyday life?

We have more than 40 ongoing initiatives covering very diverse areas. Some, due to the current context, have a strong artificial intelligence component, but others are mainly based on the areas of mathematics that we cultivate, such as optimization, probabilities, and differential equations, among others.

For example, one of the areas where we have the greatest social impact is education. For years we have been collaborating with the Ministry of Education to improve the mathematical training of both students and teachers. This is a long-term effort that has reached thousands of teachers and hundreds of thousands of students throughout Chile.

We are also developing projects related to climate change, especially in collaboration with French institutions. We study, for example, the behavior of the ocean and plankton through mathematical models and artificial intelligence. These are complex studies, but they are fundamental for monitoring and caring for our natural environment.

In healthcare, we have worked with public hospitals to improve their operational management. Through data analysis and optimization models, we support decision-making on issues such as patient care or efficient use of resources. We do this in joint work with the Ministry of Health and other actors in the system.

We have active lines of work in digital mining, for example, in the use of satellite data to monitor tailings in partnership with the National Geology and Mining Service. But satellite images and initiatives that combine this with mathematical models and artificial intelligence have varied fields of application, highlighting projects in cooperation with ECLAC and other organizations in Latin America. The spectrum of CMM projects is very broad.

– During this anniversary, you will also renew the agreement with the CNRS to maintain the International Research Laboratory (IRL) status. How important is this link for the CMM in this new stage?

The relationship with the CNRS has been, and continues to be, fundamental. It is a direct gateway to the science being done in France and Europe. The CNRS is the largest research organization in Europe, with a presence in practically all scientific disciplines.

We work mainly with them in mathematics, but also in engineering, and to a lesser extent in biology, economics, etc. This link has given us access to knowledge and ways of working that, due to the scale of our teams in Chile, would be challenging to develop on our own.

The renewal of this partnership is a mark of trust, acknowledging the quality of what we’ve achieved and the confidence that we will continue to uphold these standards. And, concretely, it opens the door to new joint activities, mobility of researchers and students, shared projects and a scientific collaboration that empowers not only CMM, but also the local ecosystem.

– What message would you like to share with the scientific and academic community of the country on this anniversary of the CMM?

I think the main message is that we must keep betting on science, giving it space to grow and transfer knowledge to society. Today, there is a consensus that decisions made with scientific support have better results, and the same applies in sectors such as industry, health, education, or the environment.

The CMM is concrete proof of what can be achieved from science when the right conditions are in place. For this reason, it is also essential that we have viable scenarios for the future. That there are sustainable funding programs, that international collaboration continues, that the work that has already been done is valued.

We are celebrating 25 years, but our work has just begun. A center like CMM is built to last, to train new generations, and to continue to positively impact our society for many decades to come.