Dipartimento The Department

The Department

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science "U. Dini" (DIMAI) at the University of Florence is a leading center for research and teaching in Mathematics and Computer Science. It collaborates with the DISIA for computer science research and focuses on areas like Algebra, Mathematical Analysis, Geometry, Informatics, and Probability. The department aims to strengthen international research and promote scientific thinking through its Mathematics and Computer Science courses. It is involved in industry collaborations and outreach initiatives for high school students.

 

DIMAI offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science and supports teaching in eight university schools. It hosts the Ph.D. program in Mathematics, Informatics, and Statistics and the CIME Foundation, which organizes summer courses in mathematical research. The department also collaborates with prestigious journals and institutions such as INdAM and organizes interdisciplinary research events. It manages a state-of-the-art computing center and contributes to the university's High Performance Computing (HPC) and Data Science initiatives.

 

The department's administrative office manages accounting, research, and teaching, working with IT specialists to develop management applications. The department also collaborates with the Science Library, which houses one of Europe's most significant collections of mathematics books and journals, especially classical texts and biographical works.

History

The University of Florence traces its origins back to the Studium Generale, founded in 1321. It became an imperial university in 1364 and has been a cultural hub ever since. The University began teaching mathematics in 1500, with notable figures like Luca Pacioli and Galileo's mentor, Ostilio Ricci. Over the centuries, it evolved into the University of Florence, with the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences established in 1924. Mathematics and physics research, along with the founding of the Department in 1927 by Giovanni Sansone, have always been central to the university's mission.