Dr. Moncef Ben Salem to visit the Fields Institute

Dr. Ben Salem will be discussing future collaboration between the Fields Institute and Tunisian academics and researchers. He will also hold a reception at the Fields Institute to express his gratitude to the Canadian Committee of Scientists and Scholars and members of the American Mathematical Society for the support he received from them while held in prison for his political beliefs.

Dr. Salem is a Professor of Mathematics at Sfax University and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Tunisia. He received a Scientific Baccalaureate degree in 1970, a Master's degree in Mathematics in 1974, a principal Engineering diploma in Automatic Control in 1976, and a PhD in Mathematics in 1980. In addition to his educational activities and research at Sfax University, he has been a member of many scientific committees. In particular, he was an active member of the Union of Arab Mathematicians and Physicians from 1980 to 1987.

Due to his political opinions and his militancy for human rights, Dr. Salem was persecuted and tortured for over 20 years. He was deprived from his freedom from 1987 until the Tunisian revolution in 2011. The support and testimony of his family, his relatives and the mathematicians of the Canadian Committee of Scientists and Scholars (CCSS) and of the American Mathematical Society brought him courage and comfort in the dark years of the fallen dictatorship. After the Tunisian Revolution in January 2011 and the democratic election held on October 23, 2011, Dr. Salem was appointed Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

After the Tunisian Revolution on January 14, 2011 and the free and democratic election held on October 23, 2011 Mr. Ben Salem was appointed as the Minister of High Education and Scientific Research.

Press release courtesy of the Scientific Mission of Tunisia.

The Fields Institute, located in Toronto, is recognized as one of the world's leading independent mathematical research institutions. With a wide array of pure, applied, industrial, financial and educational programs, the Fields Institute attracts over 1,000 visitors annually from every corner of the globe, to collaborate on leading-edge research programs in the mathematical sciences. The Fields Institute is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, seven principal sponsoring universities, sixteen affiliate universities and several corporate sponsors.

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