Theoretical Mathematics in Berlin: ‘Two Centuries of Moduli’ conference at the HU
Mathematicians from all over the world are gathering in Berlin to honour the *Crelle Journal*
More than 200 mathematicians from around the world will be gathering at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) from 7 to 11 September to explore issues in theoretical mathematics, particularly in the field of geometry and the concept of the algebraic curve. The speakers include some of the most outstanding mathematicians in the field, amongst them the multi-award-winning French mathematician Prof. Dr Claire Voisin, the Hungarian-American mathematician Prof. Dr János Kollár and the British mathematician Prof. Dr Nigel Hitchin.
In 1826, the mathematician and self-taught scholar August Leopold Crelle (1780–1855) founded the *Journal für Reine und Angewandte Mathematik* in Berlin. In the 19th century, it was by far the most important specialist journal for mathematics, and even today it ranks among the best in the world. The 200th anniversary of this journal, known as the ‘Crelle Journal’ after its founder, is the occasion for the ‘Two Centuries of Moduli’ conference at HU. With moduli as its main theme, the conference also commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bernhard Riemann – one of the most significant mathematicians of all time – who coined the mathematical concept of the module space. He published his seminal treatise on the subject, *The Theory of Abelian Functions*, in the *Crelle-Journal* in 1857.
Lectures on Crelle’s life and work at the BBAW
As part of the conference, a second event will take place on 10 September 2026 at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW). This event will focus on the life and work of August Leopold Crelle in Berlin during the first half of the 19th century.
Members of the media wishing to attend the conference at the HU or the programme at the BBAW are kindly requested to register via the following email address: farkas@math.hu-berlin.de.
The development of the *Crelle-Journal* is closely interwoven with the history of HU
Berlin and the University of Berlin – known as Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität from 1828, and today as Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – developed into the world’s leading centre for mathematics, particularly in the second half of the 19th century. August Leopold Crelle made a significant contribution to this. On the one hand, through the founding of the journal; on the other, by attracting young, talented mathematicians to Berlin, thereby making the city a magnet for mathematical research.
“At the beginning of the 19th century, Crelle’s Journal brought together the finest scientific achievements in mathematics,” says Prof. Gavril Farkas, organiser of the conference and Einstein Professor of Algebraic Geometry at HU. The Crelle Journal differed fundamentally from all other mathematical journals. Whilst others at the time merely published the lectures delivered at the academies, the Crelle Journal was the first mathematical journal in which papers were peer-reviewed by other mathematicians before publication. “Without a doubt, the Crelle Journal can be described as the world’s first modern mathematical journal,” says Farkas.
At the time, August Crelle recognised the talent of numerous as yet unknown young mathematicians and not only published their groundbreaking work but also endeavoured to recruit them as professors at the University of Berlin. Among them was Niels Hendrik Abel (1802–1829). Following Crelle’s death, the journal was edited throughout the 19th century by professors at the University of Berlin, including Karl Weierstrass (1815–1897), to whose lectures mathematicians from all over Europe flocked. The lecture theatre at the HU where the mathematicians will meet from 7 to 11 September 2026 is also named after Weierstrass.
Further information:
Programme for the ‘Two Centuries of Moduli’ conference at Humboldt-Universität
Special programme ‘From Crelle’s Berlin to Modern Moduli’ at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW)
Article by Gavril Farkas in the BBAW’s annual magazine: ‘The Crelle Journal of Mathematics and Two Centuries of Modular Spaces’ (pp. 65–69)
Contact
Prof. Dr. Gavril Farkas
Institut für Mathematik der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
+49 30 2093-45442
farkas(at)math.hu-berlin.de
Press release of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 24. August 2026.