Prof. El Haj Laamri is a Franco-Moroccan mathematician and university professor with a Doctorate and a Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR) in Mathematics. His academic career reflects a dual commitment to both advanced research and university-level teaching. His primary research lies in the field of mathematics, with an extensive publication record in leading international journals, particularly in the area of partial differential equations. In parallel with his mathematical research, Prof. Laamri has cultivated a strong interest in the history of mathematics, focusing on the evolution of algebra across civilizations, with special emphasis on the Arabic scientific tradition and its enduring influence on the development of modern algebra. Actively engaged in science outreach, he has been coordinating for nearly twenty years the public lecture series “Science and Society”, hosting numerous distinguished speakers, including Nobel Prize and Fields Medal laureates. In recognition of his engagement at the interface between research and society, he received the “Science and Société” Award from the Lorraine Region in 2014. Three years later, he was named Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques, one of France’s oldest and most prestigious distinctions in the field of education and research.
Selected publication
Global existence for reaction–diffusion systems with nonlinear diffusion and control of mass
(2017)
Residency period
From September 2025 to February 2026.
Residency at IAS-UM6P:
During his residency at the UM6P Institute for Advanced Studies, Prof. Laamri develops the project “D’Al-Khawarizmi à Galois: Transitions de l’algèbre arabe vers l’algèbre moderne.” The residency focuses on the writing of a comprehensive scholarly manuscript examining the development of algebra from its foundations in the Arabic-speaking world between the 9th and 15th centuries to its transformation in Europe from the Renaissance to the early 19th century. Positioned at the intersection of the history of science and mathematics, the project seeks to provide a rigorous yet accessible synthesis of the evolution of algebra across cultures and historical periods.
The project highlights the foundational role of Arabic-speaking mathematicians in establishing algebra as an autonomous mathematical discipline and traces how their conceptual and methodological contributions shaped the later development of algebra in Europe. By examining the circulation of ideas across the Mediterranean, the research emphasizes the continuity of mathematical reasoning and the shared intellectual heritage linking scientific traditions from the Islamic world to modern European mathematics.
Structured around key historical phases—from the works of Al-Khwarizmi and his successors to the breakthroughs of Renaissance mathematicians and ultimately the revolutionary contributions of Galois—the manuscript brings together historical analysis, mathematical exposition, and commentary. It aims to restore the visibility and legitimacy of Arabic mathematical scholarship within the global history of science while demonstrating the transnational and cumulative nature of mathematical knowledge.
By consolidating existing scholarship, offering new syntheses, and situating algebra within broader intellectual and cultural exchanges, the project contributes to IAS’s mission of fostering interdisciplinary research on knowledge circulation, scientific heritage, and intellectual transitions across regions and periods.