After an initial period of planning, consultation and preparations lasting over two years, the first proper research activities were initiated. During those two years, several decisions of major importance were adopted. These were:

• Extension of the physical facilities (buildings, library etc).

• Link up to the EARN (European Association of Research Networks) system providing international electronic mail service. IPM was later linked up to the international network and is now the Internet provider to almost all the universities and higher education institutions across the country and serves as the main academic node.

• Forming six different research groups, composed of three in mathematical sciences and three in theoretical physics. The research activities of these groups focused on Mathematical Logic and Theoretical Computer Science, Dynamical Systems, Combinatorics and Computing, Field Theory, Foundational Physics and Particle Physics.

  These research groups were headed by prominent members of the academic community.

   

In the initial phase, research workshops, conferences and scientific meetings were launched,

visiting collaborative programs were started, and research grants and scholarships were offered. These activities have continued to date. Among the visitors in the early years, IPM was host to several outstanding international scientists from Europe, USA and in particular from the former Soviet Union.

In 1995, it was felt necessary by the Scientific Council that the existing structure of IPM should be extended into a research establishment, covering all areas of fundamental research. Consequently, a new line of research, i.e. Cognitive Sciences (later changed to the School of Cognitive Sciences in 2003) was initiated and at the same time the activities of the existing departments were broadened and intensified. The areas of research have since been more diversified to include Computer Science and Nano-Science (2002).

Currently IPM consists of eight schools: Mathematics, Physics, Cognitive Sciences, Computer Science, Nano-Science, Analytic Philosophy, Astronomy, and Particles and Asselerators.

In addition to research activities, IPM has also launched several educational PhD programs in Mathematical Logic, Plasma Physics, Cognitive Sciences, Nano-Science, and Analytic Philosophy. These programs were of a promotional nature, i.e. they were implemented in Iran for the first time. The promotions of such programs were envisaged in the Constitution of IPM.

The organizational chart of IPM is based on its Constitution and includes a Director who is proposed by the Scientific Council of IPM and approved by the Minister of Science, Research and Technology, and a Scientific Council (Research Council). Members of the research council are appointed by the Board of Trustees of IPM.

The academic framework of IPM consists of IPM-based and non-IPM-based research activities.

The IPM-based research consists of both part-time and full-time modes.
 

The part-time mode includes:

• Research Groups (RG), each headed by a university academic whose rank is at least that of an associate professor. Each group is composed of a university academic with a PhD (such as a post-doctoral fellow) and at least two PhD students.

• Senior Associate Researcher (SAR), a university academic with a PhD with at most two PhD students.

• Junior Associate Researcher (JAR), a university academic with a PhD.

   

The activities of all the above part-time categories cover an initial period of three years, extendable to six.
 

The full-time mode includes:

• Post-Doctoral Research Fellows (PDRF), equivalent to the rank of assistant professors.

• Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellows (SPDRF), equivalent to the rank of associate professors.

• Full Professors

   

The non-IPM-based research consists of grants provided to academics normally resident in universities or affiliated centers and who carry out their research at their own institutions. The main IPM library is well-stocked with well over 21371 volumes, and it subscribes to more than 587 scientific journals and periodicals.

Due to the importance of interface between computing science and traditional sciences, IPM has embarked on the formation of two computational laboratories in the Schools of Physics and Mathematics. State-of-the art hardware and software facilities have been installed in these laboratories. The aim of these laboratories is to conduct research in the fields of numerical modeling and computer-based simulation, in physical and mathematical sciences, as the third methodology of research. IPM has been the standard bearer in this field in Iran and hopes that in the near future a national computational laboratory can be established through the merger of the existing laboratories.

In 1992, a Publication Unit was set up at IPM to produce a quarterly news letter (AKHBAR ), technical reports, preprints, lecture notes and proceedings of conferences and workshops. In the year 2000, the Unit was extended into the Information Centre of IPM to continue to provide all the publication services of IPM, and also act as the Webmaster for its Internet homepage (http://www.ipm.ac.ir).