LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER No. 417 September 2012

Society LMS ELECTIONS should be run, referencing the So- Meetings ciety’s current Single Transferable 2012 Vote System. Both current Scruti- and Events e-Voting option introduced neers, Professor Peter Saunders 2012 LMS elections have previously been and Dr Donald Collins, are actively undertaken via paper ballot only. involved in ensuring the security, Monday 3 September In order to attract more voters, ap- probity and continuity of the sys- Midlands Regional peal to a wider range of members tem in this first year and beyond. Meeting, Aberystwyth and offer a more modern approach Wednesday to the election process the LMS How do I vote? 26 September Council considered a recommen- From this year LMS members will LMS Popular Lectures, dation from the General Secretary be able to cast ballots electroni- Birmingham [page 16] that the Society moved to a system cally through the ERS website and, 1 of electronic voting with a paper although paper votes will be avail- Monday 1 October SW & South Wales option for those who expressed able, it is hoped that members will Regional Meeting, a preference. The system recom- make use of the e-voting option. Bristol [page 13] mended by the LMS Scrutineers Ballot papers and candidate in- was that provided by the Electoral formation will no longer be sent to Friday 16 November Reform Services (ERS). members with a copy of the Octo- Annual General At its meeting on 29 June 2012 ber Newsletter, as in previous years. Meeting, London the LMS Council agreed that fu- Instead, members will be contacted [page 5] ture elections to the LMS Coun- directly by the ERS. Prior to this, an 2013 cil and Nominating Committee email will be sent by the Society to would be managed by ERS. The all members who are registered for Friday 1 March ERS has a long and successful his- electronic communication inform- Mary Cartwright tory in the organising of elections ing them that they can expect to Lecture, London for learned societies and other shortly receive some election corre- Monday 18 March membership and public bodies, spondence from the ERS. Those not Northern Regional and will provide objectivity and registered to receive email corre- Meeting, Newcastle impartiality to the Society’s elec- spondence will receive all commun- tion processes with returns being ications in paper format, both from Friday 5 July made directly to the ERS. LMS the Society and from the ERS. Mem- LMS Meeting Scrutineers will continue to be ap- bers should check their post/email London pointed annually by the LMS Mem- regularly in October for communi- bership at a General Meeting, on cations regarding the elections. the recommendation of Council, The electoral system used by the NEWSLETTER to oversee the elections process Society in calculating the results on an ongoing basis. The ERS will will not change, and information ONLINE: operate to guidelines produced about the candidates will be avail- Go to by the Society, through the LMS able to members as agreed by newsletter.lms.ac.uk Scrutineers, on how the elections Council. Results will continue to be LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

announced at the AGM in November. The Society HONORARY MEMBERSHIP will host an Elections Blog on the LMS website for use by candidates and members. The 2012 2012 slate can be viewed at www.lms.ac.uk/content/ The London Mathematical Society has elected london-mathematical-society-elections-2012. Dr James Simons of Renaissance Technol- ogies, USA and Professor Claire Voisin of the Ensure that your contact details are current Institute de Mathématiques de Jussieu at the

All members are strongly encouraged to ensure University of Paris VI: Pierre et Marie Curie, © CNRS Photo Library (C. Lebedinsky) that their email and postal contact details regis- France to Honorary Membership of the Society. tered with the Society are up-to-date to enable Dr James Simons is not only a distinguished the ERS process to run smoothly. The annual mathematician but is one of the greatest subscription form is enclosed with this Newslet- worldwide benefactors of mathematics. His

ter and members are asked to return this to De early work in differential geometry with © Archives, Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach Morgan House as soon as possible. It is expected his teacher Chern led to the famous ‘Chern- that further development of the LMS website Simons action’ of quantum field theory. will have been completed by September 2012 Subsequently, with his student Cheeger, he which will allow members to check and update invented cohomology. their own details directly via the LMS website. In the 1970s he left mathematics for the Claire Voisin James Simons Any changes would be required no later than 21 financial world where his success enabled September 2012. him to set up the Simons Foundation, which Professor Claire Voisin works in complex be available to the general public but the funds mathematical research worldwide and algebraic geometry, using a mixture of alge- printed version will be available to members 2 Use your vote has made large contributions to the Insti- braic and analytical methods. She is a leader only. 3 It is hoped as many members as possible will vote tute of Advanced Study in Princeton, MSRI in Hodge theory and the theory of algebraic The Society is seeking members’ permis- in the 2012 LMS Elections. Results will be an- at Berkeley, and the IHES in France, among cycles. She constructed the first examples of sion to include their personal details in the nounced at the AGM on 16 November 2012. other bodies. He has also endowed the new compact Kähler manifolds, which are not ho- Handbook and List of Members. Members Fiona Nixon Simons Center for Geometry and Physics at motopy equivalent to any projective variety. have the opportunity to choose which in- Executive Secretary Stony Brook University. She proved many of the strongest known re- formation they would like to be published sults of the Hodge conjecture, and on Green’s (if any) when renewing their subscription to conjecture on algebraic curves. She is well the Society by selecting the options given LMS Newsletter http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk known as the author of several books, includ- on the subscription form for 2012-13, which Editorial office: [email protected]; London Mathematical Society, ing Mirror Symmetry and Hodge Theory and is enclosed with this Newsletter. Members De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655) Complex Algebraic Geometry. may also choose whether their details may Articles: please send articles to [email protected] Full citations for Dr Simons and Professor be published in the printed version and/or Events calendar: please send updates and corrections to [email protected] Voisin will appear in the LMS Bulletin. online via the LMS website. Advertising: for rates and guidelines, see www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/ratecard.html The Society would like to include as many members as possible in the Hand- General Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) Reports Editor: Professor R.A. Wilson ([email protected]) LMS HANDBOOK AND book and List of Members and asks that Reviews Editor: Dr C.M. Roney-Dougal ([email protected]) LIST OF MEMBERS 2013 all members return the subscription form Administrative Editor: S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) with their current details and permission to Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. A new edition of the Society’s Handbook publish by 8 December 2012. (Any returns Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the and List of Members will be published in after this date may not be included in the first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. Notices and 2013. The Society’s Handbook and List of printed edition). advertisements are not accepted for events that occur in the first week of the publication month. Members contains information about the The Handbook and List of Members will News items and notices in the Newsletter may be freely used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, Society’s activities including publications, be available in early 2013. although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter grants and events as well as a list of its Any queries regarding the Handbook are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author or photographer for the rights to members and their details. The Handbook and List of Members should be directed to reproduce. The LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. and List of Members will be available to all [email protected]. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. members, both in print and online via the Elizabeth Fisher Charity registration number: 252660. LMS website. The online version will also Membership & Activities Officer LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

RAMANUJAN PRIZE ABEL PRIZE 2013 Call for nominations Fernando Codá Marques (Instituto Nacional LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY de Matemática Pura e Aplicada, Rio de Janeiro, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters Brazil) has been named the winner of the has called for nominations for the Abel Prize 2012 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathemati- 2013. The Abel prize recognises outstanding sci- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING cians from Developing Countries. entific work in the field of mathematics, includ- The prize is in recognition of his several ing mathematical aspects of computer science, 16 November 2012 outstanding contributions to Differential mathematical physics, probability, numerical Geometry. Together with his co-authors, analysis and scientific computing, and also ap- Fernando has solved long-standing open plications of mathematics in the sciences. The Jeffrey Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL problems, and obtained important results, Prize may be awarded to a single person or (Nearest tube: Russell Square) including results on the Yamabe problem, shared for closely related fundamental contri- the complete solution of Schoen’s conjec- butions. The Abel Prize amounts to NOK 6 mil- ture, counterexamples to the rigidity con- lion (approximately €800,000 or US$1 million). jecture of Min-Oo, connectivity of the space Letters of nomination should be sent no Programme: of positive curvature metrics on an orient- later than 15 September 2012 by email to able 3-manifold, and most recently, a proof [email protected] or by mail to The Norwe- 3.00–3.30 Annual General Meeting of the Willmore conjecture. gian Academy of Science and Letters, Dram- The Ramanujan Prize is awarded jointly mensveien 78, NO-0271 Oslo, Norway. It is also 3.30–4.30 Charles Stuart (EPFL, Lausanne) by the Abdus Salam International Centre for possible to nominate candidates by using the Bifurcation, asymptotic bifurcation and elliptic equations on RN 4 Theoretical Physics, Niels Henrik Abel Memo- online submission form. For further informa- 5 rial Fund and the International Mathematical tion and submission form, visit Abel Prize web- 4.30–4.55 Tea Union. site at www.abelprize.no/. 4.55–5.00 Announcement of Election Results

5.00–6.00 Bryce McLeod (Oxford) Naylor Lecture The wedge entry problem

The meeting will include the presentation of certificates to the 2012 LMS prize winners.

The meeting will be followed by a reception at De Morgan House.

The Society’s Annual Dinner will be held in The Russell Hotel’s Fitzroy Doll’s Restaurant at 7.30 pm after the reception. Members and their guests are invited to attend the Annual Dinner. The cost to attend the dinner will be £45 per person. Those wishing to attend the dinner should contact Leanne Marshall ([email protected]) before 8 November.

There are limited funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of members of the Society or research students to attend the meeting. Requests for support, including an estimate of expenses, and any other queries about the AGM, should be sent to Elizabeth Fisher ([email protected]). LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

ANNUAL LMS The Society encourages payment by di- The maximum awards for the following grant ALL renewal applications MUST be accom- rect debit. If you do not already pay by this schemes remain the same: panied by a Financial and Academic Report for SUBSCRIPTION 2012-13 method and would like to set up a direct deb- • Computer Science Small Grants (Scheme 7): the previous year’s activities. Please note that Members are reminded that their annual sub- it (this requires a UK bank account), please maximum award £500 full reports should always be submitted (‘light scription, including payment for publications, visit the LMS website to download the direct • Postgraduate conferences held in the UK touch’ refers to the application procedure only). for the period November 2012-October 2013 debit mandate form: www.lms.ac.uk/sites/ (Scheme 8): maximum award £4,000 Grant holders wishing to renew their applica- is due on 8 November 2012. default/files/Membership/Direct%20Debit%20 • Childcare Grants: maximum award £200 tion may use the Light Touch Application Form if Form.pdf. the original or last full renewal application Rates The Society also accepts payment by Next Closing Date for Research Grant was made in the last TWO years, and NONE The annual subscription to the London Mathe- cheque or credit/debit card. Applications: 15 September 2012 of the following have changed: matical Society for 2012-13 is: Elizabeth Fisher • the grant holder, • Ordinary membership £56 Membership & Activities Officer Applications are invited for the following grants: • the supporters, and • Concessions on Ordinary membership: • Conferences and postgraduate research • the amount requested† — Reciprocity £28 conferences held in the UK (Schemes 1 and 8) Grant holders MUST use the Full Renewal — Career break or part-time working £14 LMS GRANT SCHEMES • Celebrating new appointments (Scheme 1) Application Form if • Associate membership 14 • Visitors to the UK (Scheme 2) the original or last full renewal application £ Grants news – more funding available Members also have the option to pay their • Joint Research Groups (Scheme 3) (see below) was made THREE years ago, and/or ANY of European Mathematical Society subscription Following a review of the LMS Grants • Research in Pairs (Scheme 4) the following have changed: via the LMS and subscribe to the Journal of Schemes, the Society is pleased to announce • International short visits with the main • the grant holder, the EMS: an increase in the maximum grant awards for focus on Africa (Scheme 5) • the supporters or • EMS subscription (via the LMS) £20 the following grant schemes: For full details of these grant schemes, and to • the amount requested 6 • JEMS subscription (via the LMS) £94 • Conferences held in the UK (Scheme 1): download application forms, visit the LMS web- If a renewal application is unsuccessful, nor- 7 maximum award to support research students site (www.lms.ac.uk/content/research-grants). mally the grant will be terminated at the end of The member prices of the Society’s journals increased to £2,000, increasing the overall • Applications received by 15 September 2012 the calendar year. A supplementary grant will for 2013 are: maximum award to £7,000. will be considered at a meeting in October. be available to cover actual expenditure for • Visits to the UK (Scheme 2): maximum • Applications should be submitted well in a meeting held during the autumn term. This Print Online* Print+Online* award increased to 1,500. The daily limit advance of the date of the event for which will normally be the equivalent of the grant Bulletin £61 £48 £74 £ for accommodation and subsistence has funding is requested. awarded for one meeting, e.g. 500, and will Journal £110 £89 £132 £ been increased to 70. • Normally grants are not made for events not usually exceed one third of the previous Proceedings £118 £95 £141 £ JCM (electronic) — free — • Joint Research Groups (Scheme 3): which have already happened or where year’s grant. maximum award increased to £500 per insufficient time has been allowed for Nonlinearity except N. America N. America meeting, with an overall maximum award processing of the application. £78 £101 Other LMS Grants and Funding of £2,000. Queries regarding applications can be (*inclusive of VAT) • Research in Pairs (Scheme 4): maximum addressed to the Grants Administrators or Computer Science Small Grants (Scheme 7) Please note that for online journal subscrip- award increased to £1,200 for international the Programme Secretary (see below) who Funding for grants up to £500 is available to tions it is essential that we have an up-to-date visits and £600 for visits within the UK. will be pleased to discuss proposals infor- support a visit for collaborative research at email address. A daily limit of £70 for accommodation mally with potential applicants and give the interface of Mathematics and Computer and subsistence has been introduced. advice on the submission of an application. Science either by the grant holder to another Renewal and Payment • International short visits with the main focus • Grants Administrators: Sylvia Daly, Elizabeth institution within the UK or abroad, or by A subscription form is included with this on Africa (Scheme 5): maximum award Fisher and Barbara Graczyk (tel: 020 7291 a named mathematician from within the edition of the Newsletter for members to increased to £3,000 for visits to the UK and 9971/3, 020 7927 0808, email: grants@lms. UK or abroad to the home base of the grant complete and return with payment in the £2,000 for visits abroad. The daily limit for ac.uk). holder. The next deadline for applications enclosed envelope. Members will also be accommodation and subsistence for visits • Programme Secretary: Rob Wilson is 15 September 2012 – please see the emailed a copy of the subscription. to the UK has been increased to £70. (email: [email protected]). Please note all members are asked to • Small Grants for Education: maximum † Please note that with the increased maximum awards, complete and return the subscription form award increased to £800. Joint Research Groups – Renewal grants grant holders may still apply using the Light Touch as it also requests permission to include For full details on each scheme, please visit (Scheme 3) scheme and request the increased award per meeting members’ details in the Members’ Hand- the LMS website: www.lms.ac.uk/content/ We would like to draw your attention to the (£500), provided that no other details have changed book 2013. grants. following: and that the number of meetings has not changed. LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

website for further details: www.lms.ac.uk/ £1,000-£10,000 will be considered. For further In exceptional circumstances, applications NEW BLOGS PAGE content/computer-science-small-grants-scheme-7. information and application forms, visit: www. may be considered from strong research stu- lms.ac.uk/content/research-workshops-grants. dents who are close to finishing their doctor- ON LMS WEBSITE Childcare Supplementary Grants ates. Applications should include a strong case The purpose of the new blogs page (www.lms. Grants of up to £200 are available to parents Spitalfields Days and the student should obtain a letter of rec- ac.uk/content/lms-blogs-page) is to provide working in mathematics to help with the cost Grants of up to £500 are available to support ommendation from his/her supervisor. an area for members and others to engage in of childcare when attending a conference or an LMS Spitalfields Day, which have been run dialogue and express their views. On the blogs research meeting. The Society believes that since 1987 and are in honour of the Society’s Visits to Britain page can be found a number of different all parents working in mathematics should be predecessor, the Spitalfields Mathematical So- Under this Scheme, applications may also be blogs, including a Members’ Blog, which has able to attend conferences and research meet- ciety (1717-1845). A Spitalfields Day is a one- made by any mathematician in Britain wishing been set up for members ‘for discussion of all ings without being hindered by childcare costs. day meeting, which is usually associated with a to host a visit by a young Russian postdoctoral matters to do with the LMS, its role, activities, Institutions are expected to make provision for long-term symposium on a specialist topic at a mathematician who wishes to spend a few constitution, future development, and so on’. childcare costs and parents are encouraged UK university. Selected participants, often dis- weeks in Britain giving a series of survey lec- The page can also be accessed from the LMS to make enquiries. However, where this is not tinguished experts from overseas, give survey tures on the work of their Russian seminar. home page (www.lms.ac.uk) by clicking on the available, the Society administers a Childcare lectures (or other types of lecture accessible to The LMS is offering grants to the host insti- LMS Blogs title which appears as a header at Supplementary Grants Scheme. Further details a general mathematical audience) on topics in tution to meet the visitor’s actual travel and the top right hand of the page. can be found on the LMS website: www.lms. the field of the symposium. Further details can accommodation costs of up to £1,500.Applica- ac.uk/content/childcare-supplementary-grants. be found on the LMS website: www.lms.ac.uk/ tions should include the following: content/spitalfields-days#applications. 1. Name and brief CV of the visitor. VISIT OF T. TALIPOVA Small Grants for Education 2. A brief description of the course of lectures. Funding for grants up to £800 is available to Young British and Russian 3. A letter or email of agreement from the Professor Tatiana Talipova (Institute of Ap- 8 stimulate interest and enable involvement in Mathematicians Scheme head of the host department, including the plied Physics) will be visiting the UK from 1 9 mathematics from Key Stage 1 (age 5+) to Post- Visits to Russia proposed dates of the visit. to 14 October 2012. Her research concerns graduate level and beyond. Anyone working/ Applications are invited from young British Financial and academic reports will be re- propagation of nonlinear dispersive waves based in the UK is eligible to apply for a grant. postdoctoral mathematicians who wish to quired after the visit. Further details of the in various media, such as ocean waves, waves If the applicant is not a member then the appli- spend a few weeks in Russia giving a series of Scheme can be found on the LMS website: www. in the atmosphere and in plasmas. Professor cation must be countersigned by an LMS mem- survey lectures on the work of their school. lms.ac.uk/content/international-grants#YBR. Talipova will give lectures at: ber or another suitable person such as a Head The LMS is offering grants of up to £500 to Applications made by 15 September 2012 will • University of Sheffield, Hicks Building teacher or senior colleague. The next deadline meet the travel costs, while the host should apply be considered at a meeting in October. Enquir- Wave propagation in nonreflected media for applications is 30 November 2012. Please to the Russian Academy of Sciences for funding ies should be made to the Grants Administra- • University of Loughborough see the website for further details: www.lms. towards local expenses for accommodation and tors: Sylvia Daly, Elizabeth Fisher and Barbara Transformation of interface solitary wave ac.uk/content/small-grants-education. subsistence. Please contact Sylvia Daly (grants@ Graczyk (tel: 020 7291 9971/3, email: grants@ on the bottom step lms.ac.uk) for information before contacting the lms.ac.uk). • University of Keele LMS-EPSRC Short Courses Russian Academy of Sciences for funding. Appli- Sylvia Daly and Elizabeth Fisher Variable-coefficient Gardner equation and The Society and EPSRC offer funding of up cations to the LMS should include the following: Grants Administrators its role in the nonlinear dynamics of the to £12,200 (including honoraria for organis- 1. A brief academic case for the visit, including oceanic internal waves ers) towards the cost of running a one-week a description of your current research inter- Whilst in Sheffield she will be working with Short Course which provides high quality ests, and an outline of your planned work ROYAL SOCIETY Professor Michael Ruderman on nonreflec- training for postgraduate students in core ar- during the visit (no more than one side of tive wave propagation in magnetic field eas of mathematics. For further information A4). SYLVESTER MEDAL guides in the solar atmosphere. Whilst in on Short Courses and how to submit a pro- 2. A brief CV (no more than one side of A4). The Royal Society has awarded the 2012 Loughborough she will collaborate with posal, please visit www.lms.ac.uk/content/ 3. A brief budget. Sylvester Medal to Professor John Toland, Professor Roger Grimshaw on propagation short-course-organisers. 4. An invitation from the host in Russia, which FRS, for his original theorems and remark- of nonlinear internal waves. Whilst in Keele must state explicitly that your accommoda- able discoveries in nonlinear partial differ- she will be studying properties of the Gard- Research Workshop Grants tion and subsistence expenses will be met by ential equations, including applications to ner equation with Professor Victor Shrira. For The Society offers grants to support for Research them. This should include provisional dates water waves. The medal is named after James further information about the visit of Pro- Workshops held in the UK. Requests for sup- for the visit. Joseph Sylvester who was Savilian Professor fessor Talipova contact Professor Ruderman port (for travel and subsistence of participants, Financial and academic reports will be required of Geometry, Oxford, in the 1880s and LMS ([email protected]). The visit is and reasonable associated costs) in the range after the visit. President 1866–68. supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

THOMAS WAGENKNECHT DORIS LAI CHUE CHEN

Dr Thomas Wagenknecht, who was elected a Dr Doris Lai Chue Chen, who was elected a member of the London Mathematical Society member of the London Mathematical Society on 20 November 2009, died suddenly on 1 on 19 April 1951, died on 3 June 2012, aged 82. May 2012, aged of 37. Professor Kee Yuen Lam and Professor Man George Brassay, Roger Gair and Alastair Keung Siu write: Dr Chen did her undergraduate Rucklidge write: Thomas was born in 1974 work at the Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, in Kharkiv (Ukraine) and read Mathemat- China. She obtained her BSc in 1949, having ics at the Technical University of Ilmenau, been one of the very few woman graduates in in Germany. He remained at Ilmenau for his mathematics in China. Later that year she pro- doctoral studies on Homoclinic Bifurcations ceeded to King’s College, University of London, in Reversible Systems, gaining his doctorate to do postgraduate work under the supervision magna cum laude at the end of 2003. of Professor J.G. Semple in the area of algebraic Thomas came to the UK at the beginning of geometry, subsequently obtaining a PhD in 2004 to take up a research position in dynam- 1955. In 1953 she was appointed Assistant Lec- ics and numerical analysis in the Bristol Labo- turer in the Department of Mathematics at the ratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering University of Hong Kong. The department was at the University of Bristol. In January 2006, then headed by the late Professor Yung Chow Thomas moved to the University of Man- Wong. She was promoted to a Lectureship in chester for a second post-doctoral research 1960, and served the Department with all her 10 position. heart until her retirement in 1985. 11 Thomas came to Leeds as a Lecturer in the Many generations of undergraduates at the School of Mathematics in October 2007. From University learned modern algebra from Doris the outset, he settled harmoniously into his Chen. To them Doris, as she was fondly called, new environment. Centred on the application was a symbol of culture and elegance, and a of dynamical systems and bifurcation theory person full of warmth and kindness. To many to problems in physics and engineering, his female students she was also a role model, research continued to flourish within the being the only woman mathematician on the stimulating atmosphere of the School’s Ap- regular faculty throughout her years of tenure plied Nonlinear Dynamics research group. In at the University. recent years, his interests turned to the new Her book Elementary Set Theory, written area of dynamics on complex networks, bring- jointly with her colleague Dr Kam Tim Leung, ing others along with him with his infectious was published in 1967 by the Hong Kong Uni- enthusiasm. He was a lucid and penetrating versity Press. Lucid and carefully written, it was speaker at seminars and scientific meetings. for many years a must on the reading list of Enviably bilingual, open-minded and a mathematics undergraduates in Hong Kong as generous collaborator, Thomas was ideally well as pupils in matriculation classes who as- suited to the needs of interdisciplinary re- pired to enter the Hong Kong University. search. His excellence as a communicator, his In her retirement years Doris lived in England availability to spend time carefully explain- but travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and ing mathematical concepts, and his ready wit Australia. She devoted a lot of time to theatre all made him popular with his students. He and music, especially to Wagnerian Opera. She was a highly valued and respected colleague, used to say that Wagner was an acquired taste always willing to help. His many friends en- that she enjoyed tremendously. At her funeral joyed, among his many other qualities, his on 18 June 2012, family members requested sense of humour and his affection for British that the Fischer-Dieskau version of Evening Star culture and idiom. in Tannhäuser be played. Friends, relatives and Thomas is survived by his parents. former students will always remember her to LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

be as serene and dignified as this fine piece of joint papers, while their mutual interest in music portrays. the mountains, especially the beautiful Sierra Dr Doris Chen is survived by her husband Nevada, brought together their two sizable LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY Shou Lum, her two sons William and John, families. Later they bravely took their families daughter-in-law Lily, and two grandchildren to Europe, taking sabbaticals in Denmark and, Abigail and Samuel. William, like his mother, is later, in the UK. SOUTH WEST & SOUTH WALES a mathematician. Bill was a pillar of the Department at Berke- ley, and a member of the extremely strong REGIONAL MEETING functional analysis group there; he had 26 suc- BILL BADE cessful PhD students, and acted as Vice-Chair Monday 1 October 2012 for Graduate Studies for many years. Professor William G. Bade, Emeritus Professor In 1974, Bill and Phil initiated at UCLA a SM1, School of Mathematics, University Walk, University of Bristol of Mathematics at the University of California, sequence of conferences on Banach algebras Berkeley, who was elected a member of the that continues to this day. London Mathematical Society on 20 Novem- The 1970s were a golden era when a well- Programme: ber, 1987, died on 10 August 2012, aged 88. funded UC system could host many visitors; Garth Dales writes: Bill Bade was born in I myself spent two years at UC in that decade, 2.00 Opening of the Meeting Oakland, California, on 29 May 1924. His and am extremely grateful for the generous John Cremona (Warwick) father was William Frederic Bade, a Professor hospitality of Bill and Phil, and the welcome of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, and given to my whole family. These were very Unusual modular curves and elusive isogenies the biographer of John Muir. After his father’s happy and fruitful years. 12 death, his mother moved back to San Diego, William Bade was a man of great kindness, 3.00 Tea/Coffee 13 and Bill attended San Diego High School. He overwhelming integrity and sound judge- 3.45 Tony Scholl (Cambridge) entered Pomona College in 1942, but enlisted ment, and of very substantial mathematical in the US Navy in 1943, and was sent to Cal and professional achievements. He is sur- Special values of L-functions Tech to study physics. As the war approached vived by Eleanor, by six children, and by five 5.00 Karl Rubin (Irvine) its end, Bill served in the Pacific Fleet, mainly grandchildren. on the Island of Truk. After his honourable Ranks of elliptic curves discharge, Bill returned to California, and took 7.00 Dinner a PhD in functional analysis at UCLA under VISIT OF M. HOEFER Angus Taylor in 1951. Bill taught at UC Berkeley in 1951-52, and in Dr Mark Hoefer (North Carolina State Univer- These lectures are aimed at a general mathematical audience. All interested, 1952 married Eleanor Barry. Soon afterwards, sity, USA) will be visiting the UK during Octo- whether LMS members or not, are most welcome to attend this event. Bill drove with Elly across America to take up a ber 2012. His research area is fluid dynamics position at Yale, funded by the US Navy, to be of dispersive media. Dr Hoefer will give the For further details or to register or reserve a place for dinner, please email one of the two assistants to Nelson Dunford following talks: the organisers ([email protected]). The cost of the dinner will be and Jacob Schwartz and to participate in the • 4 October, University of Edinburgh: approximately 25, including drinks. writing of the enormously influential work Dispersive shock waves and instabilities, £ Linear operators, in three volumes. contact Noel Smyth ([email protected]) The LMS Regional Meeting is part of a three-day workshop on L-Functions At Yale, Bill and his family became close • 10 October, Loughborough University: friends of Philip C. Curtis, Jr., and his family. Excitation, propagation and control of of Curves from 1 to 3 October. For further details visit the website at After three very happy years in the east, Bill nanoscale magnetic solitons, www.maths.bris.ac.uk/~matyd/LMS2012. took up a position at Berkeley in 1955 (starting contact Gennady El ([email protected]) at the same time as Henry Helson), and Phil • 12 October, University of Cambridge: There are funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of members went to UCLA. Bill’s and Phil’s mathematical Supersonic superfluids, contact Natalia of the Society or research students to attend the meeting and workshop. collaboration in the 1960s led to two seminal Berloff ([email protected]) Requests for support, including an estimate of expenses, may be addressed papers on homomorphisms from Banach alge- Further details can be obtained from to the organisers. bras that laid the foundations of ‘automatic Gennady El ([email protected]). The visit is continuity theory’; they wrote many further supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

VISIT OF Y. HU • Oxford, 9 October EMS PRIZES CLAY MATHEMATICS • Cambridge, 11 October Professor Yaozhong Hu (Kansas Univer- • University College London, 15 October The 2012 prizes of the European Mathemati- INSTITUTE sity, USA) will be visiting the Department For further information contact Professor cal Society (EMS) were announced at the CMI Workshops of Mathematical Sciences at Loughborough Imre Bárány, UCL ([email protected]). This 6ECM in Kraków. Call for Proposals University from 7 to 20 October 2012. His visit is supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. main research area is stochastic analysis with EMS Prizes The Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI) is research interests covering a wide range of The prize is awarded to mathematicians un- currently seeking proposals for funded research topics including stochastic partial VISIT OF L. TUROWSKA der 35 years of age of European nationality workshops to be held in the Mathematical In- differential equations, fractional Brownian or working in Europe. The monetary value of stitute in Oxford, UK. CMI intends to conduct motions, Lévy processes, rough path analy- Professor Lyudmila Turowska (Chalmers Uni- each prize is €5,000 endowed by the Founda- a programme of workshops, generally ten to sis, Malliavin calculus, statistics of stochastic versity of Technology, Sweden) will be visit- tion Compositio Mathematica. The ten win- twenty persons, the aim of which is to bring differential equations, backward stochastic ing the UK from 2 to 12 October 2012. Her ners were: a set of researchers together quickly, outside differential equations, self-intersection local research area is functional analysis, especially • Simon Brendle (Stanford University) the usual grant and application cycle, when times, numerical analysis of SDEs and appli- spectral synthesis and operator synthesis for • Emmanuel Breuillard (Université Paris-Sud) this is likely to result in significant progress. cations in mathematical finance. During his compact groups. Recently she investigated • Alessio Figalli (University of Texas at An application submitted three months be- visit Professor Hu will give the following the spectral theory of Beurling-Fourier al- Austin) fore the workshop is sufficient. Funding for seminars: gebras on compact groups, and C*-algebras • Adrian Ioana (University of California, San at least ten people is available for each work- • 9 October, Loughborough University, of the Heisenberg group and threadlike Lie Diego) shop. Proposals should be sent to Nick Wood- Feynman-Kac formula for stochastic partial groups. Professor Turowska will give talks at • Mathieu Lewin (University of house ([email protected]), copied to differential equations driven by fractional • Lancaster, Wednesday 3 October at 4 pm: Cergy-Pontoise) Naomi Kraker ([email protected]). 14 Brownian fields; contact Huaizhong Zhao Sets of multiplicity and closable multipliers • Ciprian Manolescu (UCLA) 15 ([email protected]) on group algebras • Grégory Miermont (Université Paris-Sud) CMI Research Fellows • 10 October, University of Warwick, • Newcastle, Thursday 4 October at 4 pm: • Sophie Morel (Harvard University) Call for Nominations Convergence in density of some nonlinear Sets of multiplicity and closable multipliers • Tom Sanders (University of Oxford) The Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI) invites Gaussian functional; contact David Elworthy on group algebras • Corinna Ulcigrai (University of Bristol) nominations for 2013 Clay Research Fellow- ([email protected]) • London Analysis Seminar in UCL, Thursday ships. Fellows are selected for their research • 16 October, Loughborough University, 11 October at 3 pm: Schur multipliers and Felix Klein Prize achievements and their potential to become Rough path analysis and multiple integrals; closability properties The prize was awarded to Emmanuel Trélat leaders in research mathematics. All are re- contact Huaizhong Zhao Further details can be obtained from Dr (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6). cent PhD’s, and most are selected as they ([email protected]) Zinaida Lykova ([email protected]). The The prize is awarded to a young scientist or complete their thesis work. Most recent ap- • 17 October, University of Manchester, visit is supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. a small group of young scientists (normally pointees were finishing graduate students Central limit theorem for an additive func- under the age of 38) for using sophisticated at the time of their selection, though other tional of the fractional Brownian motions; methods to give an outstanding solution, mathematicians under age thirty occasionally contact Tusheng Zhang (Tusheng.Zhang@ VISIT OF V. H. VU which meets with the complete satisfaction have been appointed. Terms range from one manchester.ac.uk) of industry, to a concrete and difficult indus- to five years, with most given in the upper For further details contact Huaizhong Zhao Professor Van H. Vu (Yale University, New trial problem. range of this interval. The primary selection ([email protected]). The visit is supported Haven, CT) will be visiting the UK from 21 criteria for the Fellowship are the exceptional by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. to 28 October. His research interests include Otto Neugebauer Prize quality of the candidate’s research and the combinatorics, probabilistic methods, ran- The prize was awarded to Jan P. Hogendijk candidate’s promise to become a mathemati- dom structures, additive number theory, and (Utrecht University). The prize is awarded for cal leader. Selection decisions are made by the VISIT OF S. ROBINS random matrices. During his visit he will give highly original and influential work in the Scientific Advisory Board. Nominations should lectures at: field of history of mathematics that enhances be submitted by 30 October 2012 and should Professor Sinai Robins (NTU, Singapore) will • University College London, 22 October the understanding of either the development include letter of nomination, names and con- be visiting the UK from 6 to 16 October 2012. • Oxford, 23 October of mathematics or a particular mathematical tact information for two other references, His main field of interest is harmonic analy- • Cambridge, 25 October subject in any period and in any geographical curriculum vitae and list of publications. Nomi- sis, discrete geometry, number theory and For further information contact Professor region. nations should be sent to Nick Woodhouse modular forms. During his visit he will give Imre Bárány, UCL, ([email protected]). This ([email protected]), copied to Naomi seminars at: visit is supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. Full citations are at www.6ecm.pl. Kraker ([email protected]). LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

ART AND TOPOLOGY AT ICMS As part of Applied and Computational To- pology: ATMCS 5, the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS) played host to a ‘pop-up’ art exhibition for the first week of July. Prompted by the offer of ex-

hibits from local organiser Mikael Vejdemo- (Madeleine Shepherd) © ICMS Heriot-Watt Johansson (University of St Andrews) and delegate Radmila Sazdanovic (University of Pennsylvania), we invited contributions of artwork from the UK, USA and Republic of Ireland on the broad themes of topology and computation and were rewarded with a diverse selection of submissions. Radmila’s prints were, in fact, large vinyl banners and turned out to be ideally suit- ed to the internal architecture of the ICMS building. The images are derived from the Poincaré disk model of the hyperbolic plane, 16 manipulated in different ways to evoke 17 quite different moods. Mikael Vejdemo-Jo- Radmila Sazdanovic and her Hyperbolic Twittering hansson also featured the Poincaré disk in Machine (2003). The piece is an homage to Paul his laser-etched glass coasters – very striking Klee’s Twittering Machine painting and predates on their black table cloth. The coasters were the Twitter website. complemented by a set of small 3D-printed sculptures of the double torus Klein bottle Paul Terry’s Shoal Thing was shown on our More hyperbolic planes were in evidence plasma screen and projected in a dimly-lit in the work of Julia Collins and Madeleine corner as the artist intended. It is an anima- Shepherd, whose Mathematician’s Shirts tion of the shoal model, mapping relation- project was commissioned in summer 2011 ships between each member’s small group of by ASCUS Art Science Collaborative. Three of neighbours. Each member of the shoal also the resulting shirt sculptures use patchwork makes a sound whose pitch changes in re- to demonstrate spherical, Euclidean and hy- sponse to the closeness of their neighbours. perbolic geometries. The work was on display for the dura- Mathematician and knitter sarah-marie tion of the conference but only open to the belcastro contributed knitted surfaces: public during the delegates’ free afternoon. Spring Forest (5 , 3), a torus knot co-inciden- Feedback from those who attended was en- tally worked in the colours of the ICMS logo, thusiastic and there were several requests and a set of Nonorientable Surfaces of Low to extend the show. To this end we have re- Genera. tained the bulk of the exhibits and will create Local printmaker Sam Stead submitted a similar display when our building takes part three etchings, all expressions of the Voro- in Doors Open Day on 22 September 2012. noi diagram, which were much admired by More photographs from the original show ICMS staff as well as the public. Further work are available via http://icmsnews.wordpress. on paper came from graduate student, Ra- com/2012/07/03/mathematical-art-at-icms. dhika Gupta who sent a beautiful oil pastel Madeleine Shepherd drawing of the Shrinking Wedge of Circles. ICMS Communications Officer LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP • whether or not AS should continue, with a to the Secretary of State that a more open range of options put forward. and transparent approach should be taken August 2012 on the Future of Higher Education in Eng- Following the consultation, any changes in the next steps of the review. The letter is land. ‘This call for evidence is aimed at higher will take place from September 2013 to 2018. available at http://tinyurl.com/c2c6ddn. HIGHER EDUCATION education managers, academics, organisa- The consultation document is available at Science Community Representing Educa- tions and individuals who wish to contribute http://tinyurl.com/bpxvfxv. The consultation tion (SCORE) has also written to the Secretary Higher education in STEM subjects their research, analysis and policy ideas to runs until 11 September. of State for Education to express concern The House of Lords Science and Technology the commission and be part of the process about the pace and transparency of the Committee has published its report entitled to shape the future of higher education in A-level reform: The view from the inside Review of the National Curriculum. The let- Higher Education in Science, Technology, Engi- England’. The consultation closes on Friday The AQA Centre for Education Research and ter is available at http://tinyurl.com/c45ebbo. neering and Maths (STEM) subjects. The report 28 September 2012. The full consultation Policy has compiled a series of evidence sum- calls for immediate action to ensure that enough document is available at http://tinyurl.com/ maries on issues relevant to the current dis- CBI survey on education and skills young people study STEM subjects at both un- cobw46o. cussions on A-level reform. The full paper is The latest CBI/Pearson Education & Skills dergraduate and postgraduate level. With re- available at http://tinyurl.com/cfyu34g. survey – Learning to grow: what employers spect to mathematics the report recommends SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES need from education and skills – has been that, ‘mathematics should be compulsory for Primary National Curriculum Review published. In one section of the report em- all students post-16 and calls on universities to ACME Annual Conference Draft Primary National Curriculum Pro- ployers were asked which areas of education toughen up their mathematics requirements for The Schools Minister Nick Gibb spoke at the grammes of Study for English, mathematics they think primary schools should focus on. entry onto STEM courses, and to get involved in recent ACME annual conference. A transcript and science have been published. The draft 61% said numeracy, 58% writing, 45% read- setting up the [school] mathematics curriculum’. is available at http://tinyurl.com/cy5bzld. Programme of Study for mathematics is avail- ing and 42% said communication skills. For The full report is available at http://tinyurl. able at http://tinyurl.com/dya23so. The draft secondary schools, employers say the main 18 com/cn6vfph. The Council for the Mathemati- Examinations for 15-19 year olds in England for mathematics includes the following. focus should be on developing broader skills 19 cal Sciences – of which the LMS is a constituent The Education Select Committee has pub- • Students will be expected to be able to for working life: body – submitted written evidence to inform lished its First Report on The administration add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions in • Employability skills – 71% this report. This written evidence is available on of examinations for 15–19 year olds in Eng- primary school so they can progress to more • Literacy – 50% the CMS website at http://tinyurl.com/cqvnvac. land. ‘After a long inquiry the Committee advanced topics like algebra when they go • Numeracy – 45% concludes that competition between exam to secondary school. These four operations However, the survey finds that no one cur- Reforms to higher education sector announced boards creates significant pressure to drive are not in the current primary curriculum. rent qualification addresses the combina- David Willetts, the universities and science min- down standards in exams and that the time is The proposed change is consistent with ex- tion of literacy, numeracy and employability ister, has announced the government response right for fundamental reform. However, the pectations in the high-performing education requirements effectively. While employers to the Higher Education White Paper – Students Committee rejects moves to a single nation- jurisdictions of Singapore and Hong Kong. think that for numeracy, GCSE mathematics at the Heart of the System. More than 200 re- al exam board or to single boards for each • By age nine, students should know their is the best qualification, they say that voca- sponses were received for the consultation. subject.’ The full report is available at http:// times tables up to 12x12. This is in line with tional qualifications best equip young peo- The full report is available at http://tinyurl.com/ tinyurl.com/clk6qj9. expectations in the high-performing jurisdic- ple with broader employability skills. The c6opfuu. tion of Massachusetts. Currently students full report is available at http://tinyurl.com/ David Willetts gave evidence to the Business, Ofqual launches A-level consultation only need to know up to 10x10 by the end of c7dl6h5. Innovation and Skills committee on 12 June Following its recent international and nation- primary school. 2012. A transcript of the evidence is available at al research into A-levels, Ofqual has launched • By age seven, students should know ‘num- OPEN ACCESS PUBLISHING http://tinyurl.com/crttvyg. a consultation on the structure and assess- ber bonds’ up to 20. These are simple ad- The government has written to Hefce and the ment arrangements of the qualification. The dition and subtraction facts that students Finch Report on Open Access Publishing Student Loans Company. The letter sets out the consultation also outlines plans for universi- should be able to recognise and use instantly Professor Dame Janet Finch was asked by the next steps in the government’s higher educa- ties to determine the content of A-levels. (eg 9+9=18 or 16–7=9). government to consult academics and pub- tion reform programme. The letter is available Ofqual would like views on the full range lishers on how the UK could make the scien- at http://tinyurl.com/d3ljk8t. of proposed changes to the qualification, ACME writes to Secretary of State for tific research funded by taxpayers available including: Education free of charge while maintaining high stand- Call for evidence on Future of Higher Education • ensuring involvement of higher education ACME has written to Michael Gove, the Secre- ards of peer review, and without undermin- in England in the design and sign-off of A-levels; tary of State for Education, to raise concerns ing the UK’s successful publishing industry. The Institute for Public Policy Research has • abolition of January exams and limiting about the development process of the National The report was published in June and is avail- put out a call for evidence for its Commission resits; and Curriculum Review. ACME recommended able at http://tinyurl.com/ccw79gp. LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

Government response to Finch Report Bringing more diversity to the scientific HE CURRICULUM Developing graduate skills: A booklet was ‘The government will widely accept the rec- workforce published collecting case studies of successful ommendations in a report on open access by The Royal Society has announced a new INNOVATION PROJECT methods to improve graduate skills develop- Dame Janet Finch, a move which is likely to BIS-funded programme focused on increas- Final Update ment within a mathematical context. Three see a major increase in the number of tax- ing diversity in the scientific workforce. The mini-projects were commissioned based on payer funded research papers freely available programme will run over four years with For two years I have been working in ‘HE cur- these case studies and these demonstrated that to the public’. The full response is available at total funding of £700,000 and in joining a riculum innovation’ for the Maths, Stats and OR at least some of this practice was suitable for http://tinyurl.com/bwjtp2r. parallel programme being run by the Royal Network as part of the Mathematical Sciences transfer elsewhere. In addition, mathematics- Academy of Engineering, now provides an Strand of the National HE STEM Programme specific resources and teaching practice was RCUK announces new Open Access policy integrated diversity programme for the sci- (funded by HEFCE and HEFCW). This inher- developed and shared on speaking and writing Research Councils UK (RCUK) has published ence technology, engineering and mathe- ited the HE STEM curriculum aim to generate: skills. A second booklet containing the three its new Open Access policy, informed by the matics (STEM) workforce. More information “Higher Education curriculum developments additional case studies and mathematics-specif- work of the National Working Group on Ex- is available at http://royalsociety.org/news/ focusing upon course delivery and design, to ic skills resources is available. panding Access to Published Research Find- more-diverse-scientific-workforce. enhance student knowledge, progression and Employer engagement: Projects worked with ings, chaired by Professor Dame Janet Finch. skills”. employers, employees or professional bodies, The new policy is available at http://tinyurl. House of Lords reforms and expertise As part of this work, we distributed over either in delivery of a curriculum approach or com/d4xosk8. With reform of the House of Lords recently £250k of funding to 33 projects involving work providing input to develop good practice ad- on the political agenda the Campaign for from over 120 people at 41 UK higher education vice or curriculum resources you can use. Major HEFCE statement on Open Access Science and Engineering (CaSE) produced a institutions. These projects have lots to share – projects saw the development of undergradu- HEFCE has announced plans to make public- report that ‘considers what the potential im- good practice advice, evaluated innovative ap- ate problems based on real world industrial ly-funded research more freely available. The plications of reform are on the current level proaches, problem banks and other curriculum problems, resources giving an idea of what it 20 Council intends to consult the higher educa- of science and engineering expertise in the resources you can pick up and use right away, is like to work as a mathematician and a survey 21 tion sector on how to implement a require- House of Lords and how this expertise can be and much more. In addition, we ran or took part of graduates’ views of the mathematics HE cur- ment that research outputs submitted to any easily accessed and deployed’. The report is in nearly fifty workshops and other events. riculum. Booklets on ‘Employer Engagement’, future Research Excellence Framework (REF) available at http://tinyurl.com/d73ya87. It is not possible to describe all of our activity ‘Graduates’ Views’ and ‘Being a Professional should be as widely accessible as possible at Dr John Johnston in any detail in this short piece so please inves- Mathematician’ are available. the time. This does not affect the current REF Mathematics Promotion Unit tigate the resources, including a full project in- Assessment: A major project conducted re- due to complete in 2014. The full statement is dex, under www.mathstore.ac.uk/hestem. search to answer questions about what alterna- available here http://tinyurl.com/cvbzpr5. In order to establish community priorities tive methods of assessment can offer, evidence MATHEMATICAL TECHNIQUES for curriculum development, we ran the HE of validity and guidance on the process of OTHER Mathematics Curriculum Summit in January changing your teaching to adopt a new assess- FOR QUANTUM PHYSICS 2011, bringing together heads of department, ment type. This project published a good prac- New chief scientific adviser A postgraduate student conference on Math- professional bodies and others for debates and tice book containing a literature survey and set Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome ematical Techniques for Quantum Physics discussions on this theme (LMS Newsletter, 401, of case studies. Trust, has been appointed as the UK’s next will take place in Nottingham from 7 to 9 p. 9). Around 70% of the funding we allocated Problem solving: Two projects worked to chief scientific adviser. Sir Mark will take over November 2012. The conference will empha- was directed to the priorities identified by the share good practice and develop curriculum from Sir John Beddington in April 2013. sise quantum information, quantum gravity Summit so I am confident that this work ad- resources on the teaching and assessment of and quantum disordered systems. Respectively, dresses genuine need. problem solving. We say mathematics develops New Vice-Chancellor for the University of the invited speakers from each area are: In order to allow for interesting innovation problem solving but do we actually know how London • Nilanjana Datta (Cambridge) which could not be predicted, calls for funding to develop problem solving as a skill in our stu- Professor Sir Adrian Smith FRS, currently Di- • Samuel Braunstein (York) always included an open call for projects fit- dents? These projects produced banks of prob- rector General, Knowledge and Innovation, • Karoline Wiesner (Bristol) ting the National HE STEM Programme aims. lems and published a good practice book. at the Department of Business, Innovation Students are encouraged to participate and Around 30% of the funding we allocated was Maths Arcade: An innovative practice in- and Skills (and a past-President of the Royal contribute talks. For more information visit for new innovations discovered this way. volving developing mathematical thinking, Statistical Society), is to be the new Vice- quantumsquare.weebly.com or email pmxsr3@ As this work draws to a close, my thoughts providing student support (particularly at the Chancellor of the University of London. He nottingham.ac.uk or pmxdg1@nottingham. are very much focused on sharing what our pro- transition) and building a staff and student will take up his post on 1 September 2012. ac.uk. The meeting is supported by an LMS jects have produced in a way that is useful. To mathematical community. A case study book- More information is available at http://tinyurl. Postgraduate Research Conference Scheme 8 help you discover these outputs we have pub- let gives details of its implementation at eight com/d72jy7w. grant. lished a series of booklets on different themes. universities. LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

Student-centred approaches: Projects work- to consider spending three months or so visit- MATHEMATICAL CULTURES draw on some of these developments (par- ing to accommodate student needs or taking ing a different institution/researcher, and so to ticularly historical research). a student-centred view on improving the un- broaden their horizons. The UK Arts and Humanities Research Coun- In the philosophy of mathematics, there is dergraduate experience, including methods Members may be interested in looking up cil has agreed to fund a research network on now a sub-field devoted to the philosophy for supporting students in different contexts, past recipients: mathematical cultures. Here, I describe this of mathematical practice. So far, this has helping engineers better understand their 2001 Kevin Costello project and what we hope to learn from it. mostly emerged in continental Europe, and mathematics and providing adjustments for www.math.northwestern.edu/~costello/ to a lesser extent in North America. The students with disabilities. Booklets on ‘Student- 2002 Toby Gee Why study mathematical cultures? Why now? Brussels-based Perspectives on Mathemati- centred Approaches’ and ‘Inclusive Curricula’ www2.imperial.ac.uk/~tsg/ Mathematics has universal standards of va- cal Practice initiative met in 2002 and 2007 are available. 2003 Caucher Birkar lidity. Nevertheless, there are local styles and published proceedings. The PhiM- Media Enhanced Teaching and Learning: Pro- www.dpmms.cam.ac.uk/~cb496/ in mathematics. These may be the legacy SAMP network (2005-2010) was a collabo- jects considered use of audio and video record- 2004 Anna Mills of a dominant individual (e.g. the Newtoni- ration of researchers in several countries. ings in teaching, learning and assessment. A www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~amills/ anism of 18th century British mathematics). The annual Novembertagung on the his- good practice guide is available. 2005 Alexander Paulin www.maths.nottingham. Or, there may be social or economic reasons tory and philosophy of mathematics serves History of Mathematics in the Higher Educa- ac.uk/personal/pmzap (such as the practical bent of early modern beginning researchers in philosophy and tion Curriculum: A booklet is available giving 2006 Malcolm Bovey http://uk.linkedin.com/ Dutch mathematics). history of mathematics. In France, there is case studies of use of history of mathematics in pub/malcolm-bovey/27/a4/5aa These local mathematical cultures are a thriving Parisian history and philosophy various contexts. 2007 Michael Wemyss scientifically important because they can of mathematics scene, and a mathematics This was a substantial set of projects in cur- http://www.maths.ed.ac.uk/~mwemyss/ affect the direction of mathematical re- thread in the studies of scientific practice at riculum development which have produced 2008 Matthew Morrow search. They also matter because of the the Laboratoire d’Histoire des Sciences et outputs with the potential to be very useful. http://math.uchicago.edu/~mmorrow/ cultural importance of mathematics. Math- de Philosophie (Nancy). So far, philosophy 22 Please use them! 2009 Gwyn Bellamy http://personalpages. ematics enjoys enormous intellectual pres- of mathematical practice has not focussed 23 Peter Rowlett manchester.ac.uk/staff/gwyn.bellamy/ tige, and has seen a growth of popular on mathematics as culture. This has pre- Maths, Stats and OR Network index.htm publishing, films about mathematicians, vented it from elaborating one possible an- 2010 Erik Pickett at least one novel and plays. However, this swer to the student’s question, ‘why should http://alg-geo.epfl.ch/~pickett same intellectual prestige encourages a I study mathematics?’, namely, ‘Because it CECIL KING TRAVEL 2011 Jessica Banks disengagement from mathematics. Igno- is beautiful, glorious and deep’. Ground- http://users.ox.ac.uk/~lady2191/ rance of even rudimentary mathematics re- ing this answer requires an exploration of SCHOLARSHIP Tony Gardiner mains socially acceptable. Policy initiatives the value of mathematics and the values of Cecil Harmsworth King was of northern Irish LMS Education Secretary to encourage the study of mathematics mathematicians, and communicating this stock. His middle name betrays the family usually emphasise the economic utility of answer requires an understanding of math- press connection. King landed up buying the Comment from a past recipient mathematics (for example the 2006 STEM ematics as part of our larger contemporary Daily Mirror and expanding circulation to Programme Report). Appeals of this sort culture. more than 5 millions copies each day. He mar- “The Cecil King Travel Scholarship is a fan- rarely succeed with students unless there is ried Ruth Railton, who started the National tastic opportunity to gain independence, es- a specific promise of employment or higher What exactly will this project do? Youth Orchestra: hence much of his Founda- tablish contacts, and to start collaborations. remuneration This project will host three conferences. tion is concerned with young musicians. But Interacting with a whole new group of math- What these political anxieties call for is a The first (10-12 September 2012, at De King also had a bee in his bonnet about young ematicians extended my knowledge of other re-presentation of mathematics as a human Morgan House, London) will explore and mathematicians. Exactly why is unclear. He areas of mathematics, and crucially it helped activity, which means, among other things, begin to map the variety of and connec- may have seen this as encouraging prodigious put my research ideas into a much broader that it is part of culture. The tools and tions among contemporary mathematical calculators. But in putting flesh on the bones framework. The collaborations that began knowledge necessary for this have been cultures. These can be research cultures, of his idea, Ruth Railton naturally consulted during my Cecil King Scholarship have devel- developing in recent years. Historians of but also include mathematical cultures the early NYO Leader, Colin Gough (professor oped into a series of works, and it is hard to mathematics have begun to consider math- among instructors and students. The pro- of physics in Birmingham). Colin translated the imagine how this could have started without ematics in its social, political and cultural gramme for the first conference is on the idea of ‘calculating prodigies’ into ‘olympiads’ the Cecil King. I have benefitted enormously contexts. There is now an established soci- project website. and so involved me. I managed to further di- from this scholarship, and would very much ology of science and technology, published The second (17-19 September 2013) con- vert this revised focus onto what I saw as a gap encourage others to apply.” in journals such as Science as Culture and ference will articulate and classify math- at postgraduate level – to encourage someone Michael Wemyss the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics. ematical values. When mathematicians making significant progress as a postgraduate Cecil King Travel Scholarship, 2007 Mathematics educationalists have begun to award or withhold prizes, scholarships, LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

PhDs and grants, correctness is almost never cheap to attend. So if you are near London the decisive criterion. Rather, the question in September, do come along. RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS is whether the work is worthwhile, inter- Brendan Larvor esting, elegant, promising, insightful, etc.. [email protected] AT LMS MEETINGS If these judgments are not arbitrary, they Reference should refer to some standards or values. A. Adonis, B. Rammell and D. Sainsbury, The ORDINARY MEETING Are these standards or values common Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathemat- held on 6 June 2012 at University of Northumbria, Newcastle as part of the Northern across all mathematical cultures? How are ics Programme Report, 2006, available from the they taught? How do they evolve? What do Department for Education and Skills Mathemati- Regional Meeting. Over 50 members and visitors were present for all or part of the mathematicians mean when they use terms cal Cultures website: https://sites.google.com/site/ meeting. such as ‘deep’, ‘elegant’, ‘explanatory’, etc.? mathematicalcultures/home. The meeting began at 1.45 pm with the Programme Secretary, Professor Rob Wilson, What is the rational structure of the delib- in the Chair. erations mathematicians use to reach value Fifteen people were elected to Ordinary Membership: Andrew Archer, Catarina judgments (in PhD examinations, book re- SELMER GROUPS, Carvalho, Jerome Gauntlett, Simon Guest, Paul Mansfield, Daniel Mayenberger, Nikolay views, journal referee reports, etc.)? This DESCENT AND THE Nikolov, Maura Paterson, Natalia Petrovskaya, Domingos Romualso, Gregory Sorkin, conference will build on the first conference Alexander Stasinski, Amanda Winn, Djoko Wirosoetisno and Richard Woolfson; Four by referring these questions to the various DISTRIBUTION OF RANKS were elected to Associate Membership: Nudrat Aamir, Konrad Dabrowski, Martin mathematical cultures identified at that first Dickson and Nikesh Solanke; and two were elected to Reciprocity Membership: event. A workshop on the subject of Selmer Georgios Kourousias and Martin Lorenz. The third conference (Easter 2014) will Groups, Descent and the Distribution of discuss mathematics in public culture and Ranks will take place at the University of One member signed the book and was admitted to the Society. 24 mathematics as part of cultural wealth. Warwick from 24 to 28 September 2012. This Professor Maia Angelova introduced a lecture given by Professor Michael Mackey on 25 Amongst other topics, it will explore the is the opening workshop of the 2012–2013 A mathematical modeling study of neutrophil dynamics in response to chemotherapy question “why should I study mathemat- EPSRC Warwick Number Theory Symposium, and G-CSF. ics?” This third meeting will build on the and is organised by John Cremona (War- Professor Angelova then introduced a second lecture given by Professor Anthony first conference by identifying the contri- wick), Tim Dokchitser (Bristol), Tom Fisher Shannon on Empirical approaches to the application of mathematical techniques in butions from and audiences in the various (Cambridge) and Samir Siksek (Warwick). health technologies. mathematical cultures. It will build on the Invited speakers include: After tea, Professor Angelova introduced a lecture given by Professor Eytan Domany second conference by drawing on the artic- • Manjul Bhargava (Princeton) on Complex dynamics of cellular transcriptional response: how do cells get on the fast ulations and explorations of mathematical • Bryan Birch (Oxford) lane? values. • Nils Bruin (Simon Fraser) • Brian Conrey (American Institute of The Programme Secretary, Professor Wilson, expressed the thanks of the Society to What will this achieve? Mathematics) the local organisers for putting on such an interesting meeting. The main aim is to connect researchers on • Vladimir Dokchitser (Cambridge) Afterwards, a dinner was held at The Assembly Rooms. mathematical cultures who may not have • Victor Flynn (Oxford) encountered each other before. The vari- • Wojciech Gajda (Poznan) ous disciplines (history, sociology, philoso- • Wei Ho (Columbia) phy, cognitive science) have their distinct • Karl Rubin (UC Irvine) PANDA shorter contributions across a range of topics circuits and there are national and linguistic • Alice Silverberg (UC Irvine) in applied dynamical systems. barriers too. • Peter Swinnerton-Dyer (Cambridge) The next meeting in the LMS-supported A limited amount of funding is available for We also want to encourage some thinking • Michael Stoll (Bayreuth) PANDA (Patterns, Nonlinear Dynamics and the reimbursement of childcare and travel ex- about the methodological challenges facing • Damiano Testa (Warwick) Applications) series will be held on Friday 21 penses. Further details can be found at http:// the study of mathematics as culture. Much • Mark Watkins (Sydney) September 2012 at the University of Bath. people.bath.ac.uk/jhpd20/panda/. Please con- of the philosophical interest in this area is • Christian Wuthrich (Nottingham) Pedagogical review talks of general interest tact Jonathan Dawes if you have questions. in the question of how mathematics can be For further information, including how to to students and researchers in applied math- The PANDA network is organised by Re- simultaneously culture and knowledge. register, visit the website http://tinyurl.com/ ematics will be given by Christian Kuehn (TU becca Hoyle (Surrey), Jonathan Dawes (Bath), So far, we have established a programme crlua85. This meeting is supported by EPSRC Vienna) and Paul Milewski (Bath), on slow- Paul Matthews (Nottingham) and Alastair for the first conference (10-12 September and the Warwick Mathematics Research fast dynamical systems and nonlinear waves, Rucklidge (Leeds), and is supported by an 2012). Thanks to the AHRC, it will be very Centre. respectively. There will also be a number of LMS Scheme 3 grant. LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

ARITHMETIC GEOMETRY Galois descent. On the last lecture of the first RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS day Ilan Barnea used model categories to AND HOMOTOPY THEORY construct a vast generalization of the Artin- AT LMS MEETINGS Report Mazur construction, which has been already applied successfully to arithmetic problems. GENERAL MEETING A two-day workshop on Arithmetic Geometry The day concluded with a dinner for the and Homotopy Theory was held at Impe- speakers. held on 29 June 2012 at UCL, London included the Hardy Lecture. Over 50 members rial College London from 31 May to 1 July The second day started with a lecture by and visitors were present for all or part of the meeting. 2012, the first meeting on this topic in UK. Jon Pridham, who spoke about finding Hodge It aimed to bring together those who study structures on the etale homotopy type of al- The meeting began at 3.30 pm with the President, Dr Graeme Segal, FRS, in the algebraic varieties over arithmetically inter- gebraic varieties. In the next lecture Kirsten Chair. esting fields using the methods of homotopy Wickelgren described her results on the sec- Three people were elected to Ordinary Membership: Rolf Gohm, Dirk Schuetz and theory. The workshop, supported by the LMS tion conjecture over the reals. The section (through a conference grant) and EPSRC conjecture is one of the main motivations to Jan Van lent; three were elected to Associate Membership: Katie Gittins, Barry Nichols (through a platform grant), had around 30 introduce homotopical methods to this sub- and Raffaele Rainone; and one was elected to Reciprocity Membership: Ian Walker. participants, including a dozen graduate ject. The morning section was concluded by Seven members signed the book and were admitted to the Society. students. Yonatan Harpaz, who talked about the arith- The meeting commenced with a lecture metic applications of the generalized ho- On a recommendation from Council it was agreed to elect Dr D. Collins and Professor by Tomer Schlank, providing an excellent motopy theories introduced the day before P.T. Saunders as Scrutineers in the forthcoming Council elections. introduction for the newcomer to the etale by Barnea. After lunch I gave a talk on the homotopy theory of Artin and Mazur. Tomer analogue of the section conjecture for finite The President, on Council’s behalf, proposed that Professor Claire Voisin of University 26 explained the basic idea behind the construc- group actions. The meeting concluded with a 27 of Paris VI: Pierre et Marie Curie and Dr James Simons of Renaissance Technologies be tion, and also gave an overview of how etale talk by Gereon Quick who talked about how elected to Honorary Membership of the Society. homotopy theory has been used in arithme- to consider the existence of rational points as The President then announced the awards of the prizes for 2012: tic geometry recently. The second lecture a homotopy limit problem. was given by Behrand Noohi, who explained Further information on the mini-conference Pólya Prize Professor Dan Segal (University of Oxford) the concept of model structures, the modern can be accessed from the home page: http:// Fröhlich Prize Professor Trevor Wooley, FRS (University of Bristol) framework for abstract homotopy theory, www2.imperial.ac.uk/~anskor/homotopy/ Senior Berwick Prize Professor Ian Agol (University of California at Berkeley) and illustrated it with many examples. In workshop.html. the next lecture Rick Jardine talked about Pál Ambrus Whitehead Prizes Dr Toby Gee (Imperial College London) the application of homotopy theory to study Imperial College London Dr Eugen Vãrvãrucã (University of Reading) Dr Sarah Waters (University of Oxford) Dr Andreas Winter (University of Bristol) Pál Ambrus Pál Ambrus The President read short versions of the citations, to be published in full in the LMS Pál Ambrus Bulletin. The President introduced a lecture given by Professor Vincent Borrelli on Flat tori in three-dimensional space. Following a break for tea, the President introduced a lecture by Professor Étienne Ghys, the 2012 Hardy Fellow, On cutting cloth, according to Chebyshev. At the end of the meeting, the President thanked both speakers for their brilliant lectures. After the meeting, a reception was held at De Morgan House, followed by a dinner at the English Garden Restaurant in the Grange Whitehall Hotel.

Behrand Noohi Kirsten Wickelgren Yonatan Harpaz LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

model natural phenomena. He closed with a needs a nudge to realize that mathematics is a RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS brief discussion of the purpose and goals of the far sexier discipline than software engineering. MPE2013 initiative, using the specific example of But for the self-proclaimed professional (such AT LMS MEETINGS the issues involved in modelling avalanches and as this reviewer) this book is well worth the read. the related ‘toy problem’ of the mathematics of There is much to learn about the historical back- sand piles. More information about the initia- ground of topics that are not found in the typi- ORDINARY MEETING tive can be found at http://mpe2013.org. cal discrete mathematics textbook (such as the held on 3 July 2012 at the Jagiellonian University, Kraków during the 6ECM. Over 120 The meeting and lecture were followed by commercial failure of Hamilton’s dodecahedron members and visitors were present for all or part of the meeting. a reception. Photographs can be found on the game or the practices of 19th century travellers), The meeting began at 6.00 pm with the President, Dr Graeme Segal, FRS, in the back cover of this Newsletter. about the history of solving TSP concretely on Chair. Jim Anderson the computer, and about the methods used in Southampton University solving. (While the book touches on P versus NP, The Programme Secretary, Professor Rob Wilson, presented a report on the Society’s it is more interested in solving problems than es- activities. tablishing that they are hard.) No members were elected to membership REVIEWS The book’s meaty core is in Chapters 5 to 7 Five members signed the book and were admitted to the Society. which describe the linear programming ap- The President introduced a lecture given by Professor José Francisco Rodrigues In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman: Mathe- proach towards solving TSP. Besides the reduc- on Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013: A Challenge and an Opportunity for matics at the Limits of Computation by William tion to a widely studied and in general well Mathematicians. J. Cook, Princeton University Press, 2012, 272 behaving problem, this also provides a lower At the end of the meeting, the President thanked the speaker for his interesting pp, £19.95, $27.95 ISBN 978-0-6911-5270-7. bound that can be used to establish optimality lecture. The Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) – find- of a solution without the need to enumerate 28 ing a lowest weight Hamilton circuit in an edge- all possibilities. The initial price to pay is that 29 After the meeting, a Society reception was held in the Auditorium Maximum. weighted complete graph, is the poster child of initially a solution of a linear program, being an NP-complete problem - eminently relevant in rational and not 0-1, does not necessarily yield practice, easy to explain to your neighbor, and a Hamilton circuit. Cook describes nicely how incredibly hard in practice. Its tenta- to introduce further inequali- LMS MEETING AT 6ECM being done in terms of policy discussions at both cles are all over mathematics - from ties to eliminate such forbidden national level (for instance, in response to the the theoretical question of P versus artifacts and how to use geo- Report recent White Paper on Higher Education) and NP over algorithms and heuristics to metric constraints of the prob- An Ordinary meeting was held on Tuesday 3 July international level (including the recent Interna- computer code and heroic feats of lem (such as clusters of towns 2012 at the Auditorium Maximum of the Jagiel- tional Review of Mathematics) and public affairs. large examples. away from the rest) for further lonian University, Kraków, during the 6th Euro- Five members signed the membership book. Much of this is discussed in this improvements. pean Congress of Mathematicians. At least 120 The meeting was followed by a lecture entitled book, written by William Cook The book is generously illus- members and guests were present. Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013: A Challenge (not to be mistaken with Stephen trated, not only with diagrams The meeting began at 6.00 pm, with Dr Grae- and an Opportunity for Mathematicians by Pro- Cook of NP fame), a researcher in describing the strategies, but me Segal, FRS, the LMS President, in the Chair. fessor José Francisco Rodriques from the Univer- combinatorial optimization and co- also with many photographs Professor Segal welcomed members and guests, sity of Lisbon. He introduced the meeting to author of one of the standard TSP (alas often quite small) of the including Professor Marta Sanz-Solé, President Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 (MPE2013), a software solvers. protagonists and of applications. of the European Mathematical Society. The broad international initiative aimed at dedicat- As the reader will likely sur- It will be a rich resource for any- meeting provided an opportunity for overseas ing 2013 as a special year of mathematics related mise from the title (and pricing), one teaching a course on optimi- members to meet other members of the Society. to modelling the various aspects of the natural this book is primarily aimed at the zation or algorithms. Professor Rob Wilson, Programme Secretary and man-made planet. popular science market. They will find plenty The book’s author maintains an attractive for the London Mathematical Society, gave an Professor Rodrigues began his lecture by us- of background material and diversions to ques- companion web page which among others of- overview of the work of the LMS, including its ing the work of Eratosthenes on the size of the tions of intelligence and art, while not having to fers an iPhone application that implements his support for both research and education and Earth, Nunes on loxodromes and their relation- face more advanced mathematics than a basic “Concorde” TSP solver with a nice graphical in- outreach, the prizes it awards each year, the ship to Mercator’s cartography, d’Alembert on linear inequalities that are used to explain linear terface that lets the reader investigate the meth- publications of the London Mathematical Soci- waves, Sobolev on seismology and Fourier on programming. In that, the book will be accessi- ods described in further examples. ety and the role of the publications in support- heat as illustrative examples of the mathematics ble to the interested layperson. It would make Alexander Hulpke ing the other work of the Society, and the work that has in the past arisen from attempts to for an excellent gift for the A-level student who Colorado State University LMS NEWSLETTER http://newsletter.lms.ac.uk [email protected] No. 417 September 2012

Circles Disturbed: The Interplay of Math- and dialectic in Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and CALENDAR OF EVENTS 15-16 Mathematicians and their Gods, ematics and Narrative edited by Apostolos the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance will wel- Oxford (415) Doxiadis & Barry Mazur, 2012, 552 pp, £34.95, come this analysis.) This calendar lists Society meetings and other 17-19 Mathematics of Medical Devices and ISBN: 978-0-69-114904-2. Among the best articles are those that tell mathematical events. Further information Surgical Procedures IMA Conference, ‘Essays on the interplay of mathematics the story behind the production of some may be obtained from the appropriate University College London (416) and narrative.‘ What could this mean? Is it piece of mathematics. The primary title of LMS Newsletter whose number is given in 19-22 Topological Solitons Conference, a blow against the timeless, Platonic view of the book refers to the fatal encounter be- brackets. A fuller list of meetings and events Cambridge (412) mathematics? or about finding mathemati- tween Archimedes and the Roman soldier to is given on the Society’s website (www.lms. 20-21 Heilbronn Annual Conference, Bristol ac.uk/content/calendar). cal structure in literary plots, as in Proust? or whom he said, ‘Do not disturb my circles!’ (415) Please send updates and corrections to stories containing mathematical objects, such Colin McLarty tackles Gordan’s (possibly 21 PANDA, Bath (417) [email protected]. as those of Borges? or just finding analogies mythical) remark on reading Hilbert’s proof 22 De Morgan House Open Day, London (416) between the two disciplines? (One of the of the finite basis theorem: ‘This is not math- SEPTEMBER 2012 24-28 Categorical Methods in Representation editors, Barry Mazur, said, in an interview in ematics, it is theology!’. This remark could Theory Conference/Workshop, Bristol (415) Nature, that the common thread in mathe- be interpreted in many different ways, not 1-3 International Pure Mathematical 24-28 Selmer Groups, Descent and the Distri- matics and literature is urgency.) all of them meaning a rejection of Hilbert’s Conference 2012, Islamabad, Pakistan (412) bution of Ranks Workshop, Warwick (417) 3 LMS Midlands Regional Meeting, Actually, it is all of the above. As a result, it proof by Gordan. (In fact, Gordan refereed 25 Ghosts of Departed Quantities: Calculus Aberystwyth (416) is a long book, with much food for thought, Hilbert’s paper, and, while recognising the and Its Limits, Gresham College London 3 Function Theory Meeting, De Morgan but in places heavy going. I found the essays importance of the result, was critical of im- 26 LMS Popular Lectures, Birmingham (417) House, London (416) about mathematics the most satisfying, but precision in the proof, saying memorably 3-7 Quantum Probabilistic Symmetries I am not at home in the discourse of liter- that ‘It is not enough that the author make Workshop, Aberystwyth (416) OCTOBER 2012 ary criticism, and people on the other side the matter clear to himself. One demands 3-7 Topological Aspects of DNA Function 1 LMS South-West and South Wales 30 (including at least one contributor) find the that he build a proof following secure rules.’ 31 and Protein Folding INI Workshop, Regional Meeting, Bristol (417) mathematics hard. Another remarkable story is told by Cambridge (412) 1-3 L-Functions of Curves Workshop, Bristol The driving force behind the project was Michael Harris, concerning Robert Thoma- 3-7 Geometry, Mechanics and Control Ibero- (417) Apostolos Doxiadis, and his son’s paper on which his dead american Meeting, Salamanca, Spain 3-6 International Conference on Applied long essay was (for me) the friend Tom Trobaugh is a co- 3-7 String Theory and Arithmetic Geometry and Computational Mathematics, Ankara, best. Where does mathemati- author. Trobaugh’s ghost ap- Heilbronn Workshop, Bristol (415) Turkey cal proof come from? Doxiadis peared to Thomason in a dream 4-9 British Science Festival, Aberdeen (416) 15-19 Tangled Magnetic Fields in Astro- and traces its roots in the narrative and gave him an instruction 5-7 Stochastic Methods and Nonlinear PDEs, Plasma Physics INI Satellite Meeting, ICMS poetry of the Homeric epics; which Thomason, on waking, Cardiff Edinburgh (415) the most important station on knew could not work; yet it led 6-8 British Topology Meeting, Cambridge 22-25 Weather and Climate Prediction on the streetcar line leading from to the key result of the paper. (415) Next Generation Supercomputers INI epic narration to mathematical Harris bases a discussion of arti- Future Directions for Quantum Groups 6-8 Satellite Meeting, Met Office, Exeter (413) proof is rhetoric, in particular ficial intelligence in mathemat- Conference, Lancaster (414) forensic rhetoric (the style of ical proofs on this incident. An 7-12 Stochastic and PDE Methods in argument used in law courts). android mathematician could Financial Mathematics Workshop, Armenia NOVEMBER 2012 The forensic rhetorician has not cooperate with us unless it 10-12 Numerical Linear Algebra and Optim- 6 The Mathematical Objection, BCS-FACS to show that a certain course could understand the message isation 3rd IMA Conference, Birmingham (416) Evening Seminar, London of events probably happened, from Trobaugh’s simulacrum in 10-12 Mathematical Cultures Conference, 6 Polynomials and their Roots, Gresham maybe because the alternatives Thomason’s dream. De Morgan House, London (417) College London are ruled out by the evidence; this recalls From the other side, Jan Christoph Meister 10-13 Nonlinear PDE Conference, Oxford (416) 7-9 Mathematical Techniques for Quantum the mathematician’s proof by contradiction. speculates on a story-telling algorithm which 10-14 Stochastic Partial Differential Equations Physics Postgraduate Student Conference, There are several specifics in which math- could pass the Turing test: ‘Tell me a story, INI Workshop, Cambridge (415) Nottingham (417) ematics resembles narration or rhetoric: and I will tell you whether you are human 12-14 Lattices and Relations Workshop, 16 LMS AGM, London (417) notably, technical features known as chias- or a machine.’ Sometimes I wonder whether Amsterdam (415) 24 Early Career Mathematicians’ Autumn mus and ring-composition are ubiquitous at some blockbusters are already produced by 12-14 Nonlinear Waves in Fluids Conference, Conference, University of Greenwich (416) all levels in epic verse, rhetoric and Euclid’s such an algorithm… Loughborough (415) 26-30 Algebraic Geometry, Modular Forms proofs. (Readers who enjoyed the partisan Peter Cameron 14-15 Free Surface and Interface Problems and Applications to Physics ICMS Workshop, account of the struggle between rhetoric Queen Mary, University of London Workshop, Oxford (414) Edinburgh (415) LMS AT 6ECM

London Mathematical Society at the 6th European Congress of Mathematics 2–7 July 2012 © LMS © LMS

EMS President Marta Sanz-Solé and Members and guests at the LMS reception LMS President Graeme Segal © LMS © LMS

Members and guests at the LMS reception LMS stand