The International Program Committee (IPC) for ICME11 extends its warmest greetings to all readers of this First Announcement. We are pleased to inform you that planning for ICME 11 is well under way, bringing a wide array of specialists in Mathematics Education from all over the world to Monterrey (Mexico) in the Summer of 2008. ICMEs have evolved from one edition to the next, and this one is no exception. We will be able to offer a wide variety of activities covering many topics of current interest that will respond to the demand of the international community of math educators. This is the first time that ICME comes to Latin America, so we are sure that many math educators from the region will take advantage of this opportunity first one for many of them to engage with top researchers and practitioners from all over the world. ICME attendees will not only be able to learn about the latest work in the various fields, but will also have the opportunity to share their unique experiences as educators facing the challenges of various cross-cultural settings and to establish working relationships with others sharing similar interests and concerns. The ICME-11 team -national and international organizers, members of the more than seventy teams, and numerous lecturers- is striving to create an international gathering that will provoke, question, enrich, and inspire all attending international mathematics education community members.

Well aware of the successes of past editions of the congress ICME 10 in Denmark, ICME 9 in Tokyo, and the previous ones we are eager to meet the challenge of making 2008 the best ICME ever. We are being careful to maintain all successful components of past editions of the congress, but we are also striving to enrich our dialogs by addressing a wider range of topics, especially regarding group activities, including those that arise due to the rapid changes that are occurring in our technologically driven world. The congress will offer activities addressing both theoretical and practical matters in mathematics education. We are hoping that the ambiance Mexico provides, a country with an unusually rich mixture of western and indigenous cultures, will enable congress attendees to consider and study educational issues stemming from the frequent cultural encounters in an intensely migrating world.

We briefly present you with the main components of the scientific program below. Soon you will be able to find more information on our web site, and keep up with the preliminary work done by the teams before the congress. We will be updating the page with any changes that occur before the congress. No names of speakers or organizers will be given at first; however, we will include these as soon as the corresponding invitations have been accepted and final decisions have been made. Please direct yourself to the Chair of the IPC () if you have any questions or suggestions pertaining to the program.

The members of the IPC hope you will be able to join us. We sincerely look forward to seeing you in Monterrey for ICME 11!

Marcela Santillán
Chair of the International
Program Committee