Carmin.tv: an audiovisual platform for mathematics

This open-access infrastructure is mainly supplied by 4 French centers: the Centre international de mathématiques pures et appliquées (CIMPA), the Centre international de rencontres mathématiques (CIRM), the Institut des hautes études scientifiques (IHES) and the Institut Henri Poincaré (IHP).

Pascal Hubert, Director of CIRM, and Christophe Ritzenthaler, Director of CIMPA, review the strengths and achievements of this project initiated by LabEx Carmin.

How did the idea for this LabEx come about?

Pascal Hubert: “ The Carmin LabEx project was championed by Cédric Villani and implemented by the directors at the time. This infrastructure - which shares the scientific projects of the 4 French centers hosting mathematical events - is essential for maintaining the excellence of the French school at the top of the world rankings.

Our 4 French centers - IHP, IHES, CIMPA and CIRM - host and mix a rich international community. They are developing ambitious and attractive scientific projects: today, it is unthinkable not to work together on these projects and others to come, not to pool our strengths and talents in the service of mathematicians the world over, in the service of progress in research. It's an infrastructure like Carmin that gives us more strength and more clout “.

What are (or have been) the main guidelines of Carmin TV?

Pascal Hubert: “Carmin.tv was created on the model of the CIRM Audiovisual Library, launched in 2014 and conceived by Patrick Foulon, who wanted to give recordings of lectures at CIRM the dimension of a scientific publication, a scientific document, with documentary treatment similar to publications, books. Like a mathematical library, carmin.tv is a valuable and indispensable tool for preserving and transmitting mathematical ideas. The platform houses the beginnings of an incredible heritage, on which all aspects of mathematics and its interactions exist, through the testimonies of those who make and transmit ideas ”.

Christophe Ritzenthaler: “ The project is part of the open science approach: we want to make the scientific content of our institutes freely accessible and downloadable. This last option is a small bonus compared with commercial platforms, but the latter obviously offer more choice. What sets us apart, however, is our approach to serving the mathematical community. The platform is presented with search tools and adapted filters, and the videos have been scientifically and qualitatively validated before being put online. There's real added value!

Pascal Hubert: “ Last but not least, inclusiveness and sustainable development are at the heart of the policy I wish to develop at CIRM, and the videos are a living scientific medium that can be used to pass on knowledge, particularly to young people, but also to those who might not have had the chance to attend these events, due to a lack of time or financial means, or a desire to limit their carbon footprint. Access to downloadable content is particularly useful in certain developing countries where there is no stable Internet connection “.

How has Carmin TV been received by the mathematical community?

Pascal Hubert: “ The mathematical community has been very receptive to this project, because it meets a real need. One way of learning mathematics is to attend or watch lectures. It's often difficult to get ideas across through an article, as rigor and technique often hide the key points. It's much easier to emphasize the big ideas orally. Carmin.tv is particularly useful for young colleagues who want to learn a subject, especially those from developing countries who have little opportunity to travel and attend conferences. Being able to disseminate beautiful mathematics everywhere is something I feel very strongly about.

Christophe Ritzenthaler: “ But it's hard to create a buzz in mathematics! As with research articles, most videos are viewed by only a few people. Finally, there seems to be a generational issue: learning or documenting oneself by watching videos is something new in mathematics, and we're seeing it mainly among our students and new colleagues “.

What follow-up would you give to this platform?

Christophe Ritzenthaler: “ There are three areas that seem important to give our platform its rightful place among existing offerings:

1. Make the platform independent of YouTube, and get rid of advertising;
    
2. Reinforce the structuring of content, in particular to offer students learning paths or discovery of a subject;
    
3. Develop interactivity. While Carmin.tv already makes it possible to attend conferences that you couldn't physically attend, it lacks what the community presents as the essential reason for these meetings: coffee breaks during which you can ask the speaker any questions you like. Using Mathoverflow as a forum for each video is a first step, but it would be made more attractive and effective if the speaker were kept abreast of potential discussions following his or her presentation ”.

Pascal Hubert: “ To take things a step further, I'd love to develop podcasts alongside the videos - we've been thinking about this type of format at CIRM for some time. Interviews, for example, could make great podcasts. The future of Carmin.tv lies above all in its sustainability. The research infrastructure that Insmi wants to set up seems to me to be a good framework for sustaining carmin.tv in the long term.

Would you recommend a video before you leave?

Christophe Ritzenthaler: “ A presentation that could be of interest to a wide audience: ‘ How to discover a long and complex demonstration: Polya's lessons ’ by Timothy Gowers. In it, we discover the principles that guide mathematicians' research and revisit a number of classic problems thanks to some impressive proofs .

Pascal Hubert: “ If I had to choose just one video, and if I speak from the heart, I'd say the interview with my friend Artur Avila, of course! I must say that I really enjoy watching interviews with mathematicians, as they are always instructive and often moving.

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