At the end of World War I, Europe was bitterly divided, and the world of mathematics could not stay aloof. By decision of the International Mathematical Union, mathematicians from vanquished nations —particularly Germany— were barred from the 1920 International Congress of Mathematicians in Strasbourg. This situation lasted until the 1932 Congress in Zurich, on the eve of a new world conflict.
The 1924 Congress would have been in New York, but by 1922 it was already clear that, due to the policy of exclusion, it would not be possible to obtain funding in the United States, a country whose scientific development was closely linked to Germany.
In a critical situation, but unable to change its posture, the International Mathematical Union breathed a sigh of relief when the Canadian John Charles Fields (1863-1932) offered to organize the Congress in Toronto. Fields worked hard, traveling nonstop between North America and Europe to put on an event that turned out to be a success. Diplomatic, he avoided confronting the policy of exclusion, while pointing out that it had to end.
The Toronto Congress lasted six days and had 444 participants from 28 countries. No Brazilian. At the end, delegates took part in the spectacular Continental Excursion, 18 days (!) by train to the west coast of Canada “to experience the country’s landscape and natural resources”.
All in all, the Toronto Congress came up with a balance of $2,700. On Fields’ proposal, it was decided that most of it should be used “for two medals to be awarded at subsequent International Congresses of Mathematicians”.
Fields was involved in formulating the award. It is because of his influence that the medal has an unusual purpose, very different from the Nobel Prizes, for example: it is given “in recognition of work done, but also as a stimulus to new achievements”. Another point on which he insisted —this time without success— is that the award should not bear anyone’s name.
The first award of the Fields Medals took place at the Oslo Congress in 1936. Sadly, the creator of the award had died four years earlier. In his will, he left $47,000 to finance the award. An additional, anonymous donation was made in 1966. But even today, funding for the medal remains small and in deficit.
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