IMD Co-Founder Ismar Volić Gives Talk at the JMM: “Math goes to Washington: The Mathematics of Democracy, from Theory to Practice”

Ismar Volić, IMD Co-Founder and Professor at Wellesley College, gave the AAAS-AMS Invited Address at the 2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings. The talk was titled Math goes to Washington: The Mathematics of Democracy, from Theory to Practice.

The talk covered how mathematics has been quietly shaping democracy for centuries, from the design of voting systems to the drawing of political maps. Today, with classical results being repurposed in surprising ways and vast computational power at our disposal, it offers powerful new tools for understanding and improving how we govern ourselves. Volić traced the historical role of mathematics in democracy and surveyed current research at their intersection, spanning voting theory, districting, apportionment, proportional representation, and digital democracy. Far from being merely abstract or theoretical, this vibrant interdisciplinary work demonstrates how mathematical expertise speaks directly to the functioning of democratic institutions – challenging the notion that our work has little bearing on civic life. The talk highlighted how mathematical formality can be meaningfully integrated with human realities of politics, a task that feels especially urgent as democracy faces profound strain.

To watch the recording, visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm_nBJ_xpAQ