March 28, 2026
Proof by boycott
Why mathematicians are boycotting their biggest conference
Philly flap: math stars threaten no-show as commenters split between boycott and 'just move it'
TLDR: Over 1,500 mathematicians say they’ll skip July’s ICM unless it moves out of Philadelphia, citing U.S. policies and visa worries. Comments explode into a three-way brawl: move it or Zoom it, call out hypocrisy over U.S. funding, and raise safety fears.
The world’s biggest math meetup, the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), is slated for Philadelphia this July—but over 1,500 mathematicians say they’ll boycott unless it moves out of the U.S., citing recent American actions abroad, visa crackdowns, and immigration enforcement. Cue the comments section going full soap opera. One practical chorus is like, just move it already: user jleyank shrugs that “nobody will care if it isn’t held in Philly,” arguing travel costs matter and remote attendance works fine. Another camp comes in hot with the H‑word: hypocrisy. User nullc accuses signers of blasting the U.S. while still taking U.S. taxpayer funding. Ouch.
Meanwhile, safety fears become the emotional center. “Maybe they are not fans of American citizens being shot in the face?” fires blipvert, with Vasbarlog adding pointedly, “Iraqis and Libyans too.” Others point to a precedent: the ICM dumped Russia in 2022 over the invasion of Ukraine, so critics say keeping Philly is a double standard; defenders counter that “international openness” matters more than politics. There’s even World Cup déjà vu as one commenter links to boycott chatter. Result: a thread that divides faster than a fraction—move it, Zoom it, or call the whole thing out—turning math’s holiest gathering into this summer’s spiciest debate.
Key Points
- •Over 1,500 mathematicians signed a petition to move the 2024 ICM from Philadelphia, threatening a boycott if it remains in the U.S.
- •Petition cites U.S. visa suspensions, immigration enforcement, and recent military actions in Venezuela and Iran as incompatible with ICM’s international mission.
- •The IMU previously moved the 2022 ICM from Saint Petersburg due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, holding most events online and an awards ceremony in Helsinki.
- •French Mathematical Society (SMF) announced it would skip the congress, citing safety and travel concerns; other societies plan to attend.
- •IMU and the Simons Foundation, a major funder, declined to comment; prominent mathematicians including Michael Harris and petition co-author Ila Varma are involved.