Mathesis – Italian Society of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Mathesis – Società italiana di scienze matematiche e fisiche is a national Italian association founded in 1895 by secondary-school teachers, among them Rodolfo Bettazzi (its first president), Aurelio Lugli and Antonio De Zolt. Its stated purpose, set out in article 1 of its statute, is the enhancement and progress of the teaching of mathematics and, more broadly, of scientific teaching. It is one of the oldest scientific societies in Italy and, in particular, the oldest dedicated to mathematics. The society is organised around a central body, Mathesis Nazionale, and a network of territorial sections; around thirty sections are currently active across Italy. Its governing body is the National Council, elected by members for a three-year mandate, with the president chosen by the Council from among its members. The legal seat of the society follows the section of the sitting president. The National Council is flanked by a National Consulta made up of Council members and the presidents of the sections. Mathesis publishes the journal Periodico di matematiche, whose historical archive it began releasing in 2016 after acquiring the title in 2012 through a donation from Zanichelli. It also runs teacher-training activities, including an annual summer school on statistics organised with Istat, and holds periodic national congresses. Its 2025 congress, held in Vicenza on 4–6 December 2025, was titled "Mathesis: un viaggio di 130 anni tra numeri, parole, forme e suoni", marking 130 years since its foundation. Over its history the society has been led by a series of distinguished Italian mathematicians, including Francesco Severi, Guido Castelnuovo, Federigo Enriques, Giovanni Sansone and Bruno de Finetti. Its presidents have included Domenica di Sorbo and, from February 2021, Francesco de Giovanni of the University of Naples. Mathesis remains an active membership association focused on mathematics education, teacher development and the public culture of scientific and statistical literacy.

Towards the end of the 19th century the Italian school system was in serious difficulty. In the years following Italian unification, the need to organise a widely accessible public school, especially given the shortage of teaching staff, had led to a reduction of curricula. The onset of industrialisation then made it clear that the content of secondary education had to be strengthened and that greater attention had to be paid to teacher preparation. The teaching of mathematics and the scientific disciplines was particularly weak. In 1895 a group of secondary-school teachers, in particular Rodolfo Bettazzi, Aurelio Lugli and Antonio De Zolt, formed a promoting committee to establish a society, Mathesis, capable of supporting the teaching of mathematics and the other scientific disciplines. The committee first drafted the society's statute. An appeal launched from the Periodico di matematica, then directed by Lugli, drew more than the 70 adherents considered necessary to start the initiative within a few days. In its first year of activity Mathesis reached 113 members, of whom 110 were secondary-school teachers. In 1896 Rodolfo Bettazzi became the society's first president and guided it with enthusiasm in its early years. In 1898 the first Mathesis congress was held in Turin, attended by influential university mathematicians: Enrico D'Ovidio presided, flanked by Giuseppe Peano and Corrado Segre, and Giuseppe Veronese, Giovanni Vailati, Luigi Berzolari and Vito Volterra were also present. In 1921 the Periodico di Matematica, the society's press organ, resumed publication after the interruption of 1918, transformed into the Periodico di Matematiche. Its directors were Giulio Lazzeri and Federigo Enriques, the latter also president of Mathesis from 1919 until 1932. By statute the society has its seat in the city where the president works and/or resides. The successive presidents were, in order: Luigi Puccianti (1933–1936), Giovanni Sansone (1937–1941), Ugo Amaldi (1942–1947), Oscar Chisini (1948–1953), Luigi Brusotti (1954–1956), Eugenio Togliatti (1957–1959), Tullio Viola (1960–1970), Bruno de Finetti (1970–1981), Angelo Fadini (1981–1987), Bruno Rizzi (1987–1993), Silvio Maracchia (1994–1999), Franco Eugeni (2000–2002), Andrea Laforgia (2003–2008), Emilio Ambrisi (2009–2019) and Elisabetta Lorenzetti (2019–2021). From February 2021 the president has been Francesco de Giovanni of the University of Naples. The society's statute was approved by a Royal Decree in 1939, and in 1940 a Ministerial Decree also approved its regulations. The current statute partially modifies that of 1939 and has been in force since 1997. In 2002 Mathesis signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education aimed at supporting teacher training, also through the Matmedia portal. In 2012 the Mathesis presidency acquired ownership of the Periodico di Matematiche masthead through a donation from Zanichelli, and in 2016 it began publishing its historical archive. Mathesis has been led over its history by a series of illustrious mathematicians, including Francesco Severi, Guido Castelnuovo, Federigo Enriques, Giovanni Sansone and Bruno de Finetti. Its governing body is the National Council, elected by members for a three-year mandate; the president is elected by the Council from among its members. The National Council is flanked by the National Consulta, made up of Council members and the presidents of the sections. Around thirty sections are currently active across the national territory, and the legal seat of the society is located at the section of the sitting president — currently at the Department of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Campania. In 2025 the society marked 130 years since its foundation with a congress in Vicenza titled "Mathesis: un viaggio di 130 anni tra numeri, parole, forme e suoni".

• 2026

  6th summer school for teachers on statistics with Istat, Pescara, 8–10 July 2026.

• 2025

  130th-anniversary congress held in Vicenza, 4–6 December 2025.

• 2021

  Francesco de Giovanni becomes president from February.

• 2016

  Publication of the historical archive of Periodico di Matematiche begins.

• 2012

  Mathesis presidency acquires ownership of the Periodico di Matematiche masthead through a donation from Zanichelli.

• 2002

  Mathesis signs a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education, also supporting the Matmedia portal.

• 1997

  Current statute, partially modifying the 1939 one, enters into force.

• 1940

  Ministerial Decree approves the society's regulations.

• 1939

  Society statute approved by Royal Decree.

• 1921

  Periodico di Matematica resumes publication as Periodico di Matematiche.

• 1919

  Federigo Enriques becomes president (until 1932).

• 1898

  First Mathesis congress held in Turin.

• 1896

  Rodolfo Bettazzi becomes the first president of the society.

• 1895

  Mathesis founded by secondary-school teachers including Rodolfo Bettazzi, Aurelio Lugli and Antonio De Zolt.

Italy's oldest mathematical society, dedicated to mathematics education, teacher training and scientific culture.

• Periodico di matematiche

  The society's journal, whose historical archive began publication in 2016.

• Matmedia portal

  Teacher-training portal supported under the 2002 memorandum with the Ministry of Education.

• Statistics summer school with Istat

  Annual teacher-training school on statistics; the 6th edition is scheduled for 8–10 July 2026 in Pescara.

1. 1MATHESIS – Società italiana di scienze matematiche e fisiche (official website)mathesisnazionale.it
2. 2Chi siamo – MATHESISmathesisnazionale.it
3. 3Mathesis – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Mathesis – Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org