The school reaffirms its academic leadership by hosting the 44th edition of the largest congress in the field in Latin America; the event brought together over 500 participants in a program covering topics ranging from artificial intelligence to climate change.
Amid the architectural curves of Praia de Botafogo and the mathematical horizon of the most complex equations of our time, the School of Applied Mathematics at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV EMAp) orchestrated the reunion between Rio de Janeiro and the forefront of Applied Mathematics. After more than four decades away, the National Congress on Applied and Computational Mathematics (CNMAC) was held in the city from September 15 to 19 for its 44th edition.
FGV EMAp hosted CNMAC for the first time, bringing the congress back to Rio de Janeiro after more than 40 years and gathering over 500 participants | Photo: FGV EMAp
It is the largest congress in the fields of Applied Mathematics and Computing in Brazil and Latin America. In 2025, FGV EMAp brought together around 550 participants, including professors, researchers, students, and industry professionals, in a diverse program featuring plenary and semi-plenary lectures, minicourses, mini-symposia, poster sessions, academic work exhibitions, and a roundtable discussion.
In addition to the traditional scientific sessions, CNMAC 2025 highlighted emerging topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence, uncertainty quantification, and industrial mathematics, reflecting the current transformations and demands of science, industry, and society. Throughout the week, FGV’s rooms were full, demonstrating the scientific community’s engagement with contemporary challenges and the pursuit of collaborative solutions.
An event that goes beyond science: encounters, connections, and generations
Luiz-Rafael Santos, national coordinator of CNMAC 2025, stated that the congress fulfills a role that goes beyond the presentation of academic work and detailed the school’s preparation to host an event of such magnitude in the field.
Luiz-Rafael Santos, national coordinator of CNMAC 2025, celebrated the networking and exchange of ideas between researchers and students at the event held at the school | Photo: FGV EMAp
“Coordinating CNMAC requires a lot of effort, it starts a year in advance. But when you see a full auditorium, high-quality lectures, and people reconnecting, you realize it’s worth it. This event helps Applied Mathematics grow through the exchange of ideas and the networking that happens here,” said the researcher from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).
Luiz-Rafael, who attended his first CNMAC as an undergraduate student in 2002, coincidentally in Nova Friburgo, the last time the state hosted the event, also highlighted the congress’s formative impact. “It’s wonderful to see students taking photos with professors, getting emotional because they managed to answer a question. CNMAC has this unique quality of being an affectionate space as well, an inspiration for new generations. This connects directly with the goal of promoting and strengthening science,” he commented.
The researcher also emphasized the importance of in-person scientific outreach in times dominated by virtual interactions: “A country as large as Brazil needs gatherings like CNMAC. You hear from a researcher from the North or the South, exchange ideas over coffee, and that can turn into a collaboration. This cross-disciplinary exchange is what makes the event special - someone from biology, for example, presents something that inspires someone in mathematics, and new ideas emerge from that.”
International dialogues and real-world challenges at SM&UQ 2025
As part of the CNMAC program, on September 18 and 19, the Workshop on Stochastic Modelling and Uncertainty Quantification (SM&UQ 2025) was held, an international meeting that brought together experts from Brazil, Latin America, and Europe to discuss topics ranging from stochastic differential equations, random network models, and inverse stochastic problems to uncertainty quantification methodologies applied to real-world challenges.
Packed auditoriums, rooms full of engaged participants, and minds focused on scientific advancement: this was the outcome of CNMAC 2025 at FGV EMAp | Photo: FGV EMAp
SM&UQ 2025 was coordinated by Hugo de la Cruz, also a researcher at FGV EMAp, and originated from an initial idea in 2024 during a conference in Valencia, Spain. Brazilian and international researchers envisioned joining forces to create a collaborative forum, and CNMAC provided the perfect setting to host the event.
“We leveraged the scientific density of CNMAC to create an environment conducive to collaboration. The idea is for this workshop to serve as the starting point for a Latin American and European research network in stochastic modelling and uncertainty quantification,” explained Hugo, who also served on the Local Committee of CNMAC 2025.
A bridge between academia, industry, and society
One of the highlights of CNMAC 2025 was the strong presence of the industry sector, featuring company booths and a roundtable dedicated to the impacts of climate change.
Andressa Meireles, da Zurich Resilience Solutions, destacou a proximidade entre indústria e academia em um evento de tal magnitude como o CNMAC | Foto: FGV EMAp
Representing the insurance sector, Andressa Meireles, Director of Risk Engineering for Latin America at Zurich Resilience Solutions, emphasized the relevance of the event. “Participating in these discussions is essential. We need academia, the public sector, and private industry working together to address sustainability challenges. It’s not just about paying claims, but about mitigating risks with technical and mathematical knowledge,” said the executive.
She also pointed out the congress as a showcase for new talent, and potentially an opportunity for students to move directly from undergraduate or graduate programs into positions at the Swiss insurer. “Zurich needs professionals trained in Mathematics, Statistics, and Actuarial Science. These are fields with high demand and limited supply. Being here was also an opportunity to connect with these young researchers,” Andressa highlighted.
For SBMAC President Carlos Hoppen, the return of the event to Rio de Janeiro was more than symbolic: it represented the outcome of a convergence of interests.
“FGV submitted a very solid proposal, with a growing Applied Mathematics program, a new doctoral program, and strong engagement with industry. For us at SBMAC, it made perfect sense to accept this proposal, especially since more than 40 years had passed since CNMAC last took place in Rio, and over 20 years since the last edition in the state. There was clearly a strong synergy,” reinforced the professor from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS).
SBMAC President Carlos Hoppen highlighted the wide range of topics discussed at FGV EMAp, from AI and data science to environmental issues | Photo: FGV EMAp
The mathematician also highlighted how CNMAC reflects the new directions of Applied Mathematics, with the most contemporary topics taking center stage in the event’s activities.
“The program [of the events] evolves over time. Today, we have mini-symposia on artificial intelligence, data science, and climate challenges - topics that require sophisticated mathematical tools. It is important for Mathematics to keep pace with these developments, and events like CNMAC are essential for connecting our researchers with these real-world challenges,” Hoppen stated.
Education, representation, and innovation in practice
More than a technical event, CNMAC 2025 also stood out for promoting academic training, female representation, and the popularization of science. Initiatives such as CNMACquinho, aimed at children and young people, and panels on undergraduate and graduate research were highlights of the program.
CNMACquinho, designed to engage children and young people, was one of the highlights of the event program at FGV | Photo: FGV EMAp
For Sofia Monteiro, an undergraduate student in Applied Mathematics at FGV EMAp, the experience reinforced the importance of connecting students with the scientific community.
“Even though we have contact with classes and coursework, I think it’s very important to also engage with the scientific side of things. CNMAC is a crucial space for this, not only because it is the largest Applied and Computational Mathematics conference in the country and is being held here at FGV, but also because it allows us to interact with other scientists who are references in textbooks and literature, in a more applied context of science,” the student said.
At CNMAC 2025, Sofia volunteered and highlighted the practical experience behind the scenes. “I was responsible for various tasks, mainly guiding participants and assisting speakers and congress attendees, which brings us even closer to this community. When you see someone speaking in front of you, the experience connects you not only with the person but also with the product - the scientific knowledge they produce,” she shared.
Maria Soledad Aronna, also a member of FGV EMAp’s research staff, celebrated the results: “The rooms were full, the plenary sessions packed. What I saw was a very well-organized event with strong participation. This demonstrates the community’s engagement and the success of the partnership between SBMAC and the school.”
Starting in 2026, Soledad will assume the presidency of SBMAC. She also emphasized FGV EMAp’s strategic importance as a center of excellence in Applied Mathematics, highlighting its potential to contribute to other scientific fields as well.
FGV EMAp researcher Maria Soledad Aronna celebrated the success of CNMAC 2025, which attracted many enthusiasts in Applied Mathematics and Computing | Photo: FGV EMAp
“The school has strong research groups and has already collaborated with SBMAC, such as at the Latin American Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LACIAM) in 2023. Now, with CNMAC, this partnership is strengthened even further. I see great potential for FGV EMAp to contribute to the development of industrial mathematics, which is a strategic and priority area for both sides,” concluded the researcher.
For Tatiana Danelon, winner of the Marco Antônio Raupp Award, granted by SBMAC for the best doctoral thesis in the field, CNMAC was an opportunity to present her work on foam flow with nanoparticles for oil recovery, conducted in partnership with Shell.
“Participating and receiving the award gave me visibility. Many times we underestimate our own work. Being here is a way to show what we do and how research can have a real-world impact,” confirmed the student from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF).
Tatiana Danelon, from UFJF in Minas Gerais, was one of the event’s highlights, winning the 2025 SBMAC Award in the doctoral category | Photo: FGV EMAp
Meanwhile, doctoral student Maria Laura Schuverdt, who came from Argentina, highlighted the congress’s role as a space for international exchange. “This is my first time at a CNMAC. Connecting students and researchers is essential for Applied Mathematics to become more present in solving industrial and social problems,” she stated.
FGV EMAp at the heart of brazilian mathematics
For Paulo Amorim, local coordinator of CNMAC 2025, hosting the event was a natural choice for FGV EMAp. The organizers’ goal has been and continues to be to establish the school as a center of excellence in Applied and Computational Mathematics.
Paulo Amorim, local coordinator of CNMAC 2025, viewed the event as a driver for FGV EMAp to become a center of excellence in Applied and Computational Mathematics | Photo: FGV EMAp
The hosting of the congress further reinforces the Rio-based institution’s commitment to cutting-edge research and the training of new scientists. “This mission is fully aligned with SBMAC’s objectives, and the success of the congress confirmed all of this,” added the FGV EMAp researcher, who has expertise in Partial Differential Equations.
The international dimension of CNMAC 2025 was also evident in presentations by foreign speakers. Professor Nathan Kutz, from the University of Washington, USA, demonstrated how machine learning methods can accelerate scientific discoveries in complex science and engineering problems.
A Formula 1 enthusiast and Ayrton Senna fan, Kutz used examples from the sport to illustrate how physical phenomena can be modeled more simply and efficiently. “Very few people can simulate the aerodynamic flow of a Formula 1 car, as it requires enormous computational capacity. Machine learning techniques allow us to create lighter models that still capture the essence of the physics and help design faster cars,” the American explained.
Nathan Kutz, researcher at the University of Washington, used Formula 1 as a case study to explore machine learning techniques applied to science and engineering problems | Photo: FGV EMAp
Kutz emphasized the importance of events like CNMAC, which foster interaction between people and institutions. “I know many people here who work at Brazilian institutions in Rio, São Paulo, at the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) and they have great ideas. Science is driven by human interactions, and events like CNMAC are essential for integrating Brazil into the international mathematics community,” the speaker added.
A Milestone for science and for the country
CNMAC 2025 was more than a congress: it was a milestone for Brazilian Applied Mathematics. By bringing together researchers, industry professionals, and students at a single institution for five consecutive days, the event fostered knowledge, collaboration, and inspiration.
Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro returned to the national science map with the strength of research, and FGV EMAp reaffirmed its position as one of the leading hubs connecting academia, society, and the productive sector in Brazil.