Interaction between Mathematics and Physics

There is at the moment a highly active interface between mathematics and theoretical physics, which extends into completely new areas of both disciplines. This article, based on a round table discussion which took place as part of the activities around the 2006 International Congress of Mathematicians in Madrid, explores some of the issues involved: the differing goals and backgrounds of the two communities, today’s interactions and their precedents, the possibilities for the future and the role of mathematics itself in understanding the world in which we live.Actualmente existe una importante interfaz entre matemáticas y física teórica, que ha producido áreas completamente nuevas. Este artículo está basado en un debate en una mesa redonda organizada en el entorno del International Congress of Mathematicians en 2006 de Madrid, explora algunos de estos temas: los diferentes objetivos y pasado de ambas disciplinas, las interacciones actuales y sus precedentes, las posibilidades para el futuro y el papel de las matemáticas para entender el mundo en que vivimos