THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER No. 374 October 2008

Society THE PROPOSAL FOR A NEW SOCIETY Meetings In all likelihood you will now have present form fulfil many of the and Events received a copy of the proposal hopes and expectations of their for a new society, combining the members, times are changing and 2008 present London Mathematical the need for mathematics as a uni- Friday 21 November Society and Institute of Mathe- fied activity to hold and defend AGM, London matics and its Applications. For its position in the public sphere [page 3] a new society to be formed, the grows constantly greater. IMA and the LMS must both vote As the Presidents’ letter which 12–13 December separately in favour of the accompanies the report makes Joint Meeting with proposal. clear, there is a pressing need to the Edinburgh There has been debate about engage effectively with govern- Mathematical Society  this for several years but mem- ment, with external bodies, with Edinburgh [page 7] bers could be forgiven for think- the media and with the public. ing that, despite progress reports A society that represents the 2009 appearing in Mathematics Today broad spectrum of the mathemat- Friday 27 February and the Newsletter, things had ical community and has a larger Mary Cartwright ‘gone quiet’. The process leading membership must inevitably carry Lecture, London up to the present proposal has greater weight. been protracted not because the Your view is important and you 31 March – 4 April two societies disagree with one will soon have an opportunity to LMS Invited Lectures another, which they do not, but take part in this important deci- Edinburgh because those developing the new sion. We strongly recommend you model wanted to get the struc- to do so. ture right. So it has taken quite a Charles Evans, long time. Honorary Secretary Designate IMA Some people have made it Charles Goldie, clear that their minds are already General Secretary LMS made up, but the Councils hope that most members will be open- CONSULTATION minded and will read the proposal carefully before deciding on their WEBSITE LAUNCHED position. Opportunities for engag- A dedicated website giving in- ing in discussion include special formation on the proposals for areas on both the IMA and LMS the new unified society, and websites and the possibility of dis- enabling discussion and feed- cussions with the two Presidents back, has been launched at www. as they visit various institutions newmathsoc.org.uk. There are around the country this autumn. also links to this site from the Although the societies in their LMS website.

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NEWSLETTER

MATHEMATICS TODAY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 21 November 2008 As announced in this issue of the LMS Newsletter, there will be a wide-ranging The Annual General Meeting of the Society consultation of members about the propos- will be held at 3.15 pm on Friday 21 No- als to create a new unified mathematical vember 2008 at University College London. society to replace the LMS and the Institute The business shall be: of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). (i) elections to Council and Nominating While, as LMS members, you are well in- Committee formed (not least through the Newsletter) of the work and developments of the LMS, (ii) the adoption of the Annual Report you may not be so well acquainted with for 2007–08 the activities of the IMA. (iii) the report of the Treasurer The two societies have agreed that, for the period of the consultation, members (iv) appointment of Auditors should be offered the chance of receiving (v) presentation of certificates to Prize the newsletter of the other society free of winners charge. Members can also request copies of  the latest annual report of the IMA. I hope that as many members as possible Any LMS member who wishes to take up will be able to attend. this offer – to receive Mathematics Today or the latest IMA annual report – should contact Peter Cooper Susan Oakes ([email protected]). Executive Secretary

LMS Newsletter

General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) LMS 2008 ELECTIONS Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, AND OFFICERS London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) The ballot papers for the November elections Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. to Council and Nominating Committee are being circulated with this copy of the News- Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. letter. Nine candidates for Members-at-Large of Council were proposed by the Nominating News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, Committee for six vacancies. although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter Please note that completed ballot papers are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The must be returned by Thursday 13 November LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed 2008. do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. A separate form for suggesting names to Charity registration number: 252660. the Nominating Committee for potential candidates for the 2009 elections is also

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 21 November 2008 LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held at 3.15 pm on Friday 21 No- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING vember 2008 at University College London. The business shall be: University College London (i) elections to Council and Nominating Committee Friday 21 November 2008 (ii) the adoption of the Annual Report 3.15–3.30 Annual General Meeting for 2007–08 3.30–4.30 Graeme Segal FRS (Oxford) (iii) the report of the Treasurer Noncommutative geometry and quantum field theory (iv) appointment of Auditors 4.30–5.00 Tea (v) presentation of certificates to Prize 5.00–6.00 Michael Green FRS (Cambridge) winners 2 007 Naylor lecture I hope that as many members as possible Some dualities of string theory and quantum gravity  will be able to attend. The meeting will be held at University College London. The AGM will include the Peter Cooper presentation of certificates to the 2008 LMS prize winners. Executive Secretary There are 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, may be addressed to the Programme Secretary LMS Newsletter at the Society (web: www.lms.ac.uk; email: [email protected]). General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) Enquiries may be addressed to Susan Oakes at the London Mathematical Society. Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) LMS 2008 ELECTIONS included; members will also be invited to make direct nominations in the May News- Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, AND OFFICERS letter next year. London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) The ballot papers for the November elections Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. to Council and Nominating Committee are ANNUAL DINNER being circulated with this copy of the News- Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. letter. Nine candidates for Members-at-Large The Annual Dinner will be held after the of Council were proposed by the Nominating Annual General Meeting at 7.30 pm on Friday News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, Committee for six vacancies. 21 November at the Hotel Russell, London although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter Please note that completed ballot papers WC1. The cost is £42.00 per person, and are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The must be returned by Thursday 13 November members may book places for guests. The LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed 2008. booking form, enclosed with this Newsletter, do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. A separate form for suggesting names to should be returned together with payment Charity registration number: 252660. the Nominating Committee for potential to the London Mathematical Society office candidates for the 2009 elections is also by Monday 17 November.

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NEWSLETTER

LONG-STANDING not unduly disadvantaged by this change. The new arrangements are being phased in MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY over a four-year period such that members who At the 2007 AGM, changes to the By-laws were were eligible for free membership under the approved. This included the By-law defining age-65 and 30-years-membership rule for the the criteria by which long-standing members 2007–08 subscription year lost no years’ free become eligible for free membership. Former- membership; those reaching eligibility for the ly there had been two criteria: 2008–09 membership year will lose one year’s (i) attaining the age of 65 and having been a free membership; those reaching eligibility member for not less than 30 years; or for 2009–10, two years’ free membership, etc. (ii) having been a member for not less than 35 There is no change, of course, to the timing of years. free membership for those entitled under crite- The By-law change deleted criterion (i), i.e. rion (ii), i.e. 35 years’ continuous membership. the concession relating to attaining the age of This does mean that those eligible in 2008–09 65 and paying the annual subscriptions for not have lost one year’s benefit, i.e. free member- less than 30 years was removed. ship is deferred by one year and will come into Council recognized that this would affect effect this time next year. Members affected some members and agreed measures to en- by the above changes will be contacted direct  sure that members expecting to qualify for to inform them of the timing of their new free membership under the new By-law were eligibility for free membership. MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP A-level entries New members of ACME After another year of increases, A-level entries The Advisory Committee on Mathematics in Mathematics are heading back towards pre- Education, the independent panel which ad- Curriculum 2000 figures. With a 7.5% increase vises government on mathematics education in numbers this year, 65,239 candidates sat the strategy and policy at all levels in schools, A-level, a similar figure to those sitting the has welcomed new members and its first full- examination in 2001 before the effects of the time Head of Secretariat. Roger Porkess, chief curriculum change were felt and entries plum- executive of Mathematics in Education and meted to 53,940 candidates. However, numbers Industry, joins the committee, as does Jack still have some way to go before they match the Abramsky, an independent mathematics con- peak in 1990, when 78,087 students sat A-level sultant. Dr Nick Bowes joins ACME to run the Mathematics. This year, an impressive 9,483 can- secretariat, bringing a wealth of policy and in- didates sat the Further Mathematics A-level, an fluencing experience from his work at EEF, the increase of almost 16% on last year. With almost manufacturers’ organisation, where he repre- 8% of all A-level entries in mathematics, the sented the interests of member companies in subject remains the second most popular after Whitehall and Brussels. He has worked for the English. Over 80% of A-level candidates achieved Labour Party as Head of Business Liaison and at least a C while almost 98% of Further Math- at the CBI. Nick has a first degree in geography ematics candidates did the same. GCSEs have and mathematics, and a PhD in geography. also seen another grade increase, with 56.3% of ACME is chaired by Professor Adrian Smith, candidates attaining at least a C. FRS, and is based at the Royal Society. Christopher Ogunleye Caroline Davis Data Analyst, Mathematics Promotion Unit Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer

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not unduly disadvantaged by this change. The new arrangements are being phased in over a four-year period such that members who were eligible for free membership under the age-65 and 30-years-membership rule for the 2007–08 subscription year lost no years’ free membership; those reaching eligibility for the 2008–09 membership year will lose one year’s free membership; those reaching eligibility for 2009–10, two years’ free membership, etc. There is no change, of course, to the timing of free membership for those entitled under crite- rion (ii), i.e. 35 years’ continuous membership. This does mean that those eligible in 2008–09 have lost one year’s benefit, i.e. free member- ship is deferred by one year and will come into effect this time next year. Members affected by the above changes will be contacted direct to inform them of the timing of their new  eligibility for free membership. MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP New members of ACME The Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education, the independent panel which ad- vises government on mathematics education strategy and policy at all levels in schools, has welcomed new members and its first full- time Head of Secretariat. Roger Porkess, chief executive of Mathematics in Education and Industry, joins the committee, as does Jack Abramsky, an independent mathematics con- sultant. Dr Nick Bowes joins ACME to run the secretariat, bringing a wealth of policy and in- fluencing experience from his work at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, where he repre- sented the interests of member companies in Whitehall and Brussels. He has worked for the Labour Party as Head of Business Liaison and at the CBI. Nick has a first degree in geography and mathematics, and a PhD in geography. ACME is chaired by Professor Adrian Smith, FRS, and is based at the Royal Society. Caroline Davis Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer

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2008 BA FESTIVAL creating black holes and an invisibility cloak. There was plenty of hands-on mathematics IN LIVERPOOL around, with stalls at the family-centred Mathematical Sciences Science Explosion weekend and sessions from the FunMaths Roadshow. Other sessions ex- How did an employee in a Guinness brewery plored fractals, and the role of statistics in revolutionise statistical thinking and influ- law and in sustainability in a post-climate- ence modern pharmacology and drug trials? change world. Stephen Senn, professor of statistics at the University of Glasgow and President of the IMA–LMS CHRISTOPHER 2008 British Association Mathematical Sci- ences Section told this curious story in his ZEEMAN MEDAL 2008 presidential address, entitled One hundred The Councils of the IMA and LMS have not out – the t-test reaches its centenary. awarded the inaugural Christopher Zeeman He explained how William Sealy Gosset had Medal to Professor Ian Stewart, FRS, of the published his work under the pseudonym of University of Warwick, in recognition of his ‘Student’ and looked at the way the t-test is wide-ranging and highly influential activities applied today. The session was followed by in promoting mathematics through books,  an impressive reception sponsored by phar- radio, television and public lectures, thereby maceutical company Amgen. bringing the excitement and fascination of In total, the BA Mathematical Sciences Sec- mathematics to a large number of people. tion ran eight sessions over the course of the The Christopher Zeeman Medal was Festival Week. These ranged from a fascinat- launched this year as a triennial award of the ing insight into how mathematics was fun- IMA and LMS to recognise and reward the damental to Liverpool’s maritime heritage, contributions of mathematicians involved in and to take up mathematics as a career. aiding navigation and accurate tide predic- promoting mathematics to the public, and He is a master of all media for communicat- tion, to Professor Ulf Leonhardt and collabo- to encourage others to work in this area by ing mathematics. He has written 14 popular rator Tomas Tyc delighting their audience by demonstrating that such activities are valued mathematics books (translated into many and are a part of a mathematician’s different languages), all of which are master- role and responsibilities. The Medal pieces in combining clarity of expression, the is to be presented by Sir Christopher means to communicate to a broad audience at a joint meeting of the two socie- and also enough deep mathematics to satisfy ties in 2009. and educate a professional mathematician. Ian Stewart has been an outstand- They include such notable works as Does God ing communicator of mathematics Play Dice?, Concepts in Modern Mathematics, for nearly 40 years, and has set the The Problems of Mathematics, Nature’s Num- standards for all mathematics com- bers, The Magical Maze, Letters to a Young municators to follow. Ian Stewart Mathematician and Why Beauty is Truth. In has made a huge contribution to all of these books he has never compromised the promotion of mathematics in the level of mathematics that he has pre- both through his individual work, in sented, and always manages to find a path to inspiring those who work with him, lead a general audience upwards so that they and in developing an extraordinary can appreciate the true power and beauty of canon of output. He has inspired modern mathematics. This was also evident in Arnaud Chéritat receiving a question about countless numbers of people both the many Mathematical Recreations columns Chaos and Fractals at the BA festival to have an interest in mathematics that he wrote for the Scientific Americanand

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creating black holes and an invisibility cloak. There was plenty of hands-on mathematics LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY around, with stalls at the family-centred Science Explosion weekend and sessions from EDINBURGH MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY the FunMaths Roadshow. Other sessions ex- plored fractals, and the role of statistics in law and in sustainability in a post-climate- JOINT MEETING change world. Edinburgh IMA–LMS CHRISTOPHER ZEEMAN MEDAL 2008 Friday and Saturday 12–13 December 2008 The Councils of the IMA and LMS have The meeting will take place on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning in Edinburgh. awarded the inaugural Christopher Zeeman The topic of the meeting is Group Theory and there are four speakers: Medal to Professor Ian Stewart, FRS, of the • Laurent Bartholdi (Göttingen) Automatically presented groups University of Warwick, in recognition of his wide-ranging and highly influential activities • Martin Bridson (Oxford) Dimension, rigidity and fixed point theorems in promoting mathematics through books, • Alain Valette (Neuchâtel) The Haagerup property and its stability properties radio, television and public lectures, thereby • Efim Zelmanov (San Diego) Asymptotic properties of finite groups and finite-  bringing the excitement and fascination of dimensional algebras mathematics to a large number of people. The Christopher Zeeman Medal was For more information, contact Tom Lenagan ([email protected]). launched this year as a triennial award of the IMA and LMS to recognise and reward the contributions of mathematicians involved in and to take up mathematics as a career. more recently in the Enigmas and Puzzles promoting mathematics to the public, and He is a master of all media for communicat- section of Prospect Magazine. He has also to encourage others to work in this area by ing mathematics. He has written 14 popular frequently appeared on both radio and tele- demonstrating that such activities are valued mathematics books (translated into many vision and has for many years been the ma- and are a part of a mathematician’s different languages), all of which are master- jor advocate of mathematics in the popular role and responsibilities. The Medal pieces in combining clarity of expression, the media. In 1997 he was the Royal Institution is to be presented by Sir Christopher means to communicate to a broad audience Christmas Lecturer (the second ever to present at a joint meeting of the two socie- and also enough deep mathematics to satisfy mathematics). ties in 2009. and educate a professional mathematician. In addition to popular works he has written Ian Stewart has been an outstand- They include such notable works as Does God remarkably clear mathematics textbooks such ing communicator of mathematics Play Dice?, Concepts in Modern Mathematics, as Galois Theory, Algebraic Number Theory and for nearly 40 years, and has set the The Problems of Mathematics, Nature’s Num- Catastrophe Theory and its Applications. He has standards for all mathematics com- bers, The Magical Maze, Letters to a Young also conducted leading-edge research into the municators to follow. Ian Stewart Mathematician and Why Beauty is Truth. In field of bifurcations with symmetry (supervis- has made a huge contribution to all of these books he has never compromised ing many research students), co-authoring the the promotion of mathematics in the level of mathematics that he has pre- major textbook in this field. This has led to 175 both through his individual work, in sented, and always manages to find a path to publications including seminal papers on ani- inspiring those who work with him, lead a general audience upwards so that they mal gait. As well as his mathematical works, he and in developing an extraordinary can appreciate the true power and beauty of has written successful science-fiction books and canon of output. He has inspired modern mathematics. This was also evident in books on extraterrestrial biology which further countless numbers of people both the many Mathematical Recreations columns show his ability to communicate scientific ideas to have an interest in mathematics that he wrote for the Scientific Americanand to a vast audience.

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NEWSLETTER

GEORGE GREAVES George Greaves’s first position was at the Univer- KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER sity of Reading in 1966. In 1969 he joined Hooley’s George Richard Herbert Greaves, Reader in Math- “useful team” in Number Theory at the Univer- NETWORKS ematics at Cardiff University, who was elected a sity College of South Wales and Monmouthshire The Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTN) for member of the London Mathematical Society on in Cardiff, where he remained for the rest of his Industrial Mathematics is delighted to an- 18 January 1980, died on 24 August 2008, aged 67. career, missing his retirement date by two weeks. nounce a major expansion of its Industrial Martin Huxley writes: George Greaves was George Greaves took his sharp wit and intol- Mathematics Internships programme, support- born in Edinburgh in 1941, where his father was erance of mistakes from Heilbronn; his analysis ed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Astronomer Royal. Outside Mathematics, George course was feared by the students. His research Research Council and the Technology Strategy was a keen cyclist and oarsman. Within the last interests in sieves and divisibility properties of Board. two years he completed a stage of the Tour de values of polynomials came from Hooley. Sieve Over the last year, the Industrial Mathematics France under exam conditions. George Greaves methods use ingenious combinatorics and real KTN has established a successful programme read Mathematics at Edinburgh and Cambridge analysis to show that a given polynomial over the of Industrial Mathematics Internships. The Universities, and applied to do research with integers takes some values with few prime fac- scheme was launched as a pilot in September Heilbronn at Bristol. Heilbronn arranged to inter- tors. Greaves’s weighted linear sieve of 1982 takes 2007 and has attracted keen participation view him at Henley Regatta; “luckily,” said George, one such method as far as possible. Besides math- from companies and universities. Six success- “we rowed well.” Soon, however, Heilbronn left ematical skills, this work required tenure and the ful new collaborations have been estab- for Canada, and Hooley took over his student. strength to resist pressures to publish. lished through the Internships. With the sup-  When Hooley moved to Durham, George Greaves George Greaves wrote 25 research papers and a port of EPSRC and the Technology Strategy accompanied him, and completed his PhD there. careful clear monograph Sieves in Number Theory Board, we are now able to offer an expanded In Durham George met Sheila Trelease, a PhD (2001). He supervised three PhD students. He is sur- programme, which will run from September student in Applied Mathematics, who became his vived by his wife Sheila and two children, Alastair 2008 until October 2009 and establish 20–30 wife. and Hilary. new Internship projects. The six pilot projects were Key Perform- ance Indicators, insurance cycles and optimal portfolio mix based at Brunel University in collaboration with Lloyd’s; Improvements in stochastic mortality modelling based at Heriot-Watt University in collaboration with Barrie and Hibbert; Comparison of complexity, fidelity and cost of internal ballistics models based at the University of Bristol in col- laboration with Frazer–Nash Consultancy; Simulation of the underwriting cycle in the liability-property insurance market based at Brunel University in collaboration with ACE; Modelling and analysis on supermarket transactions based at UCL in collaboration with Unilever; and Capital asset mainte- nance and support based at the University of Salford in collaboration with LSC Group. Case studies are currently being prepared and will be available soon. We are now in a position to establish the next round of projects. If you wish to ex- plore particular suggestions, whether or not

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George Greaves’s first position was at the Univer- KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER you have a partner organization in mind, sity of Reading in 1966. In 1969 he joined Hooley’s please get in contact with us or fill out an “useful team” in Number Theory at the Univer- NETWORKS expression-of-interest form. Application ma- sity College of South Wales and Monmouthshire The Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTN) for terial is available at www.industrialmath.net/ in Cardiff, where he remained for the rest of his Industrial Mathematics is delighted to an- content/internships.html. career, missing his retirement date by two weeks. nounce a major expansion of its Industrial The overarching objective of the pro- George Greaves took his sharp wit and intol- Mathematics Internships programme, support- gramme is to extend the innovation impact erance of mistakes from Heilbronn; his analysis ed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences of industrial mathematics, through short course was feared by the students. His research Research Council and the Technology Strategy projects carried out by current PhD students interests in sieves and divisibility properties of Board. over three to six months. Each project has values of polynomials came from Hooley. Sieve Over the last year, the Industrial Mathematics a clearly defined programme of work, with methods use ingenious combinatorics and real KTN has established a successful programme valuable impact for both the company and analysis to show that a given polynomial over the of Industrial Mathematics Internships. The the Intern’s research group. Internships place integers takes some values with few prime fac- scheme was launched as a pilot in September an emphasis on creating new collaborations, tors. Greaves’s weighted linear sieve of 1982 takes 2007 and has attracted keen participation which can grow in breadth and depth over one such method as far as possible. Besides math- from companies and universities. Six success- time through other mechanisms. The result- ematical skills, this work required tenure and the ful new collaborations have been estab- ing relationships will enhance both research strength to resist pressures to publish. lished through the Internships. With the sup- and knowledge transfer in the participating George Greaves wrote 25 research papers and a port of EPSRC and the Technology Strategy university research groups, as they develop  careful clear monograph Sieves in Number Theory Board, we are now able to offer an expanded a detailed familiarity with business require- (2001). He supervised three PhD students. He is sur- programme, which will run from September ments and priorities. vived by his wife Sheila and two children, Alastair 2008 until October 2009 and establish 20–30 Each Internship is a collaboration between a and Hilary. new Internship projects. host company, an Intern, and a research group The six pilot projects were Key Perform- within a university. Industrial Mathematics ance Indicators, insurance cycles and optimal Internships are a new opportunity with a portfolio mix based at Brunel University in threefold advantage. They enable industrialists collaboration with Lloyd’s; Improvements to explore new horizons or improve existing in stochastic mortality modelling based at operations by bringing mathematical expertise Heriot-Watt University in collaboration with and cutting-edge techniques into their inno- Barrie and Hibbert; Comparison of complexity, vation activities. They enable postgraduate fidelity and cost of internal ballistics models researchers to demonstrate their knowledge based at the University of Bristol in col- and insight in addressing industrial challenges. laboration with Frazer–Nash Consultancy; And they provide academics with a means of Simulation of the underwriting cycle in the growing new industrial collaborations and liability-property insurance market based at relationships. Brunel University in collaboration with ACE; Each Internship will be supported by the Modelling and analysis on supermarket staff of the Industrial Mathematics KTN: we transactions based at UCL in collaboration will assist in establishing the projects, build- with Unilever; and Capital asset mainte- ing the relationships, exploiting follow-on nance and support based at the University of opportunities and disseminating case studies. Salford in collaboration with LSC Group. Case To find out more about how to get in- studies are currently being prepared and will volved with the Internships scheme, please be available soon. email [email protected] at the We are now in a position to establish the Industrial Mathematics KTN. next round of projects. If you wish to ex- Gillian Hoyle plore particular suggestions, whether or not Administrator, Smith Institute

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NEWSLETTER

EPSRC NEWS wish to spend time working more pro- be suitable for inclusion in a Knowledge Calls for proposals actively with the mass media. Closing Transfer Account (KTA) business case. KTA date: 4 pm on Tuesday 11 November business cases must meet the criteria of the Digital Economy Research Hubs 2008. www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ call and should not be used simply as vehi- Proposals for large-scale multi-disciplinary SeniorMediaFellowships2009.htm cles to secure funding for masters courses. Research Hubs are invited to address the The current call for KTA proposals is avail- major challenges in the Digital Economy able on the website (www.epsrc.ac.uk/ by building critical mass, capacity and ex- EPSRC support for masters training PostgraduateTraining/CollabTrainingKT/ pertise. Only one bid may be led by a par- KTAs.htm). Please note that KTA appli- ticular institution. Closing date: 4.00 pm Our current Delivery Plan 2008–2011 cations are being coordinated on an in- Wednesday 26 November 2008. www.epsrc. has provided us with an opportunity to stitutional basis with a single integrated ac.uk/CallsForProposals/DEResearchHubs. consider our role as a funder of masters submission. htm training in light of developments in our This clarification on our support for strategy. EPSRC has funded masters training masters-level training part is to empha- HPC Software Development Call 2008/09 – both taught and by research – for many sise that in future, EPSRC will only support This call invites proposals for development years, although we are very much a minor masters training via these two routes. It of HPC Software. The objective for the call player on the national field. We remain is not a sign that EPSRC will no longer is “ensuring better HPC software for future committed to the principle that research- fund this type of activity. However, we do 10 science”. Closing date: 4 pm on 16 October ers in HEIs are best placed to plan and want to ensure that, where it is supported 2008. www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ manage masters training and to offer with EPSRC funding, masters-level training HPCSoftwareDevelopmentCall0809.htm places to students directly. acts in support of our broader research In the future, EPSRC support will be de- strategy. MRC, EPSRC and BBSRC Discipline Hopping livered by two routes. To determine the For further information contact Maggie Grant Scheme most appropriate source of EPSRC funding Wilson ([email protected]) or Lucy The scheme is designed to encourage re- for masters, you will need to consider Brady ([email protected]). searchers to develop imaginative ways of your aims in offering the training. using techniques or expertise from the If a masters course is intended to act, engineering and physical sciences to tackle or historically has acted, primarily as a EPSRC Mathematical Sciences biological or medical research questions. preparation for doctoral training and you Programme team Closing date: 4.00 pm on 12 November would like to use EPSRC funding for it, 2008. www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ a Doctoral Training Account (DTA) is the Katharine Bowes left the Mathematical JointDisciplineHoppingGrant.htm most appropriate source. Provision for Sciences Programme team in early Sep- such courses will need to be found from tember to take up a new post in the Chief Joint EPSRC and POST Postgraduate Initia- within existing resources. While the rela- Executive’s Office. We are expecting to re- tive 2009 tive priorities of masters and doctoral cruit a new person to start in November. A three-month secondment opportunity training within a DTA will be left to the In the mean time Mark and Janet will be to the Parliamentary Office of Science and grant-holding institution to decide, we attempting to provide ‘business as usual’. Technology (POST) open to EPSRC-funded would like to highlight the value and If you need advice please do not hesitate PhD students. Closing date: 3 October flexibility of this mechanism in enabling to contact us. While we will be retaining 2008. www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ the development of skills in new and/or our own areas of expertise (listed below) JointEPSRCPOSTPostgradInitiative09.htm interdisciplinary areas which may not be we will also deal with any other queries well-catered for at the undergraduate that you may have which you would have Senior Media Fellowships 2009 level. addressed to Katharine. Don’t worry if Applications are invited for Senior Me- Where masters-level training is intend- you’re not sure who it should be: we will dia Fellowships from leading academic ed to enable the better exploitation of pass on messages or answer questions on researchers with media experience who the research that EPSRC funds, it might behalf of others when we can.

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wish to spend time working more pro- be suitable for inclusion in a Knowledge Head of Programme actively with the mass media. Closing Transfer Account (KTA) business case. KTA • Mr David Harman. Responsibilities include: date: 4 pm on Tuesday 11 November business cases must meet the criteria of the Programme budget and strategy. Email: 2008. www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ call and should not be used simply as vehi- [email protected], tel: 01793 444 SeniorMediaFellowships2009.htm cles to secure funding for masters courses. 304. The current call for KTA proposals is avail- Portfolio Managers able on the website (www.epsrc.ac.uk/ • Dr Mark Bambury. Responsibilities include: EPSRC support for masters training PostgraduateTraining/CollabTrainingKT/ Applied Mathematics; Mathematics small KTAs.htm). Please note that KTA appli- grants scheme; Postgraduate training. Our current Delivery Plan 2008–2011 cations are being coordinated on an in- Email: [email protected], tel: has provided us with an opportunity to stitutional basis with a single integrated 01793 444 183. consider our role as a funder of masters submission. • Mrs Janet Edwards. Responsibilities include: training in light of developments in our This clarification on our support for Statistics, Operational Research and strategy. EPSRC has funded masters training masters-level training part is to empha- Mathematical Physics; Postdoctoral – both taught and by research – for many sise that in future, EPSRC will only support Fellowships. Email: Janet.Edwards@epsrc. years, although we are very much a minor masters training via these two routes. It ac.uk, tel: 01793 444 066. player on the national field. We remain is not a sign that EPSRC will no longer committed to the principle that research- fund this type of activity. However, we do Details of all the activities within the Math- ers in HEIs are best placed to plan and want to ensure that, where it is supported ematical Science Programme can be found on 11 manage masters training and to offer with EPSRC funding, masters-level training the programme pages starting here: www. places to students directly. acts in support of our broader research epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/Programmes/ In the future, EPSRC support will be de- strategy. MathematicalSciences/ livered by two routes. To determine the For further information contact Maggie most appropriate source of EPSRC funding Wilson ([email protected]) or Lucy for masters, you will need to consider Brady ([email protected]). EPSRC–DSTL Signal Processing your aims in offering the training. outline call If a masters course is intended to act, or historically has acted, primarily as a EPSRC Mathematical Sciences EPSRC and the Defence Science and Technolo- preparation for doctoral training and you Programme team gy Laboratory (DSTL) have formed a strategic would like to use EPSRC funding for it, partnership to fund novel research in signal a Doctoral Training Account (DTA) is the Katharine Bowes left the Mathematical processing, and are launching a call for out- most appropriate source. Provision for Sciences Programme team in early Sep- line proposals to address research challenges such courses will need to be found from tember to take up a new post in the Chief in the area of signal processing. within existing resources. While the rela- Executive’s Office. We are expecting to re- It is expected that many academic disci- tive priorities of masters and doctoral cruit a new person to start in November. plines will have research ideas to contribute training within a DTA will be left to the In the mean time Mark and Janet will be to this call. Up to £2 million is available for grant-holding institution to decide, we attempting to provide ‘business as usual’. the call. We envisage a mix of short-term pro- would like to highlight the value and If you need advice please do not hesitate posals and PhD project based programmes to flexibility of this mechanism in enabling to contact us. While we will be retaining be successful in this call. Successful proposals the development of skills in new and/or our own areas of expertise (listed below) will make up the ‘open’ aspect of the DSTL interdisciplinary areas which may not be we will also deal with any other queries University Defence Research Centre on Signal well-catered for at the undergraduate that you may have which you would have Processing. The closing date for outlines is 29 level. addressed to Katharine. Don’t worry if October 2008. Where masters-level training is intend- you’re not sure who it should be: we will Source: Various email communications from the ed to enable the better exploitation of pass on messages or answer questions on EPSRC and the Mathematical Sciences Programme, the research that EPSRC funds, it might behalf of others when we can. September 2008

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ROYAL SOCIETY to the Yang–Baxter equation. He developed The monograph must be original, written in new techniques for explicit calculation in such English, and of at least 150 pages. The mono- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES derived categories of modules and coher- graph must not be subject to any previous The Royal Society provides funding oppor- ent sheaves. His main results were obtained copyright agreement. In exceptional cases, tunities for UK-based scientists to apply to in terms of strings and bands, linking the manuscripts in other languages may be con- attend overseas meetings of international topic to the representation theory of finite- sidered. The prize, amounting to €12.000, bodies which are part of the International dimensional algebras and matrix problems. is provided by the Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer Council for Science (ICSU) family, provided The second one was awarded to Steffen Foundation. The winning monograph will that the main purpose of the visit is ICSU fam- Oppermann (NTNU Trondheim, Norway) for be published in Birkhäuser Verlag’s series ily business. This scheme is open to all UK- his highly original, inventive and influential ‘Progress in Mathematics’, subject to the usual based office-holders and those involved with work on representation dimension of finite- regulations concerning copyright and author’s ICSU family organisations. Closing dates are dimensional algebras. He has introduced rights. The submission of a monograph im- 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 Decem- completely new and far-reaching methods plies the acceptance of all of the above con- ber. Full details of the scheme are available at to determine lower bounds for representa- ditions. The name of the prize-winner will be http://royalsociety.org/icsubusinessgrants. The tion dimension. He also applied his methods announced in Barcelona in April 2009. Society also provides a wide range of other to obtain deep results in a broad variety of funding opportunities to support outstanding problems including representations of alge- Submission scientists at http://royalsociety.org/funding. bras, finite groups and coherent sheaves. Monographs should preferably be typeset in 12 The chairman of the Scientific Advisory TeX. Authors should send a PDF file of the ICRA AWARDS Committee and of the Selection Committee manuscript to [email protected] and a hard copy was Professor Hector Merklen. The next ICRA of the manuscript together with a letter to The series of International Conferences on conference and workshop are planned to be the Fundació Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer, Carrer Representations of Algebras (ICRA) was estab- held at Tokyo, Japan, in 2010. del Carme, 47, E-08001 Barcelona by 4 Decem- lished in 1974 to exchange the latest results ber 2008. For further information email ffsb@ in the rapidly developing field of Repre- The FERRAN SUNYER I crm.cat or visit the website at http://ffsb.iec. sentations of Finite-Dimensional Algebras. cat. From the outset a major focus has been to BALAGUER PRIZE bring together leading and well-established Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer (1912–1967) was a Scientific committee experts with young researchers who are just self-taught Catalan mathematician who, in The winner of the prize will be proposed by starting out, and profit greatly from the pos- spite of a serious physical disability, was very a Scientific Committee consisting of: Hyman sibilities of exchange, and from associated active in research in classical Mathematical Bass (University of Michigan), Núria Fagella workshops where recent advances are pre- Analysis, an area in which he acquired inter- (Universitat de Barcelona), Paul Malliavin sented in detail. national recognition. Each year in honour of (Université Paris VI), Joan Verdera (Universitat At ICRA XI in Patzcuaro, Mexico 2004, the the memory of Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer, the Aut�noma de Barcelona) and Alan Weinstein Scientific Advisory Committee decided to Fundació Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer awards an (University of California at Berkeley). establish an ICRA Award, to be awarded at international mathematical research prize each session of ICRA for outstanding work bearing his name, open to all mathemati- Recent winners by young mathematicians in the field of Rep- cians. This prize was awarded for the first • Luis Barreira Dimension and recurrence resentations of Finite-Dimensional Algebras. time in April 1993. in hyperbolic dynamics (2008) For further information visit the website at • Rosa M. Miró-Roig Lectures on www.math.uni-bielefeld.de/~sek/icra.html. Conditions of the prize determinantal ideals (2007) At ICRA XIII in S�o Paulo, Brazil 2008, two The prize will be awarded for a mathemati- • Xiaonan Ma Holomorphic Morse ICRA awards were made. One was awarded cal monograph of an expository nature pre- inequalities and Bergman kernels (2006) to Igor Burban (University of Bonn, Germany) senting the latest developments in an active • Antonio Ambrosetti and Andrea Malchiodi for his work on derived categories of coher- area of research in Mathematics, in which the Perturbation methods and semilinear ent sheaves and modules and their relation applicant has made important contributions. elliptic problems on Rn (2005)

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to the Yang–Baxter equation. He developed The monograph must be original, written in • José Seade On the topology of isolated new techniques for explicit calculation in such English, and of at least 150 pages. The mono- singularities in analytic spaces (2005) derived categories of modules and coher- graph must not be subject to any previous • Guy David Singular sets of minimizers for ent sheaves. His main results were obtained copyright agreement. In exceptional cases, the Mumford–Shah functional (2004) in terms of strings and bands, linking the manuscripts in other languages may be con- • Fuensanta Andreu-Vaillo and José M. Mazón topic to the representation theory of finite- sidered. The prize, amounting to €12.000, Parabolic quasilinear equations minimizing dimensional algebras and matrix problems. is provided by the Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer linear growth functionals (2003) The second one was awarded to Steffen Foundation. The winning monograph will • André Unterberger Automorphic pseudo- Oppermann (NTNU Trondheim, Norway) for be published in Birkhäuser Verlag’s series differential analysis and higher-level his highly original, inventive and influential ‘Progress in Mathematics’, subject to the usual Weyl calculi (2002) work on representation dimension of finite- regulations concerning copyright and author’s • Alexander Lubotzky and Dan Segal dimensional algebras. He has introduced rights. The submission of a monograph im- Subgroup growth (2002) completely new and far-reaching methods plies the acceptance of all of the above con- • Martin Golubitsky and Ian Stewart to determine lower bounds for representa- ditions. The name of the prize-winner will be The symmetry perspective (2001) tion dimension. He also applied his methods announced in Barcelona in April 2009. to obtain deep results in a broad variety of SHAW PRIZES problems including representations of alge- Submission bras, finite groups and coherent sheaves. Monographs should preferably be typeset in The Shaw Prize is an international award to The chairman of the Scientific Advisory TeX. Authors should send a PDF file of the honour individuals who are currently active in 13 Committee and of the Selection Committee manuscript to [email protected] and a hard copy their respective fields and who have achieved was Professor Hector Merklen. The next ICRA of the manuscript together with a letter to distinguished and significant advances, who conference and workshop are planned to be the Fundació Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer, Carrer have made outstanding contributions in cul- held at Tokyo, Japan, in 2010. del Carme, 47, E-08001 Barcelona by 4 Decem- ture and the arts, or who in other domains ber 2008. For further information email ffsb@ have achieved excellence. The award is dedi- The FERRAN SUNYER I crm.cat or visit the website at http://ffsb.iec. cated to furthering societal progress, enhanc- cat. ing quality of life, and enriching humanity’s BALAGUER PRIZE spiritual civilization. Preference is given to in- Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer (1912–1967) was a Scientific committee dividuals whose significant work was recently self-taught Catalan mathematician who, in The winner of the prize will be proposed by achieved. spite of a serious physical disability, was very a Scientific Committee consisting of: Hyman The Shaw Prize for 2008 consists of three active in research in classical Mathematical Bass (University of Michigan), Núria Fagella annual awards: Astronomy, Life Science and Analysis, an area in which he acquired inter- (Universitat de Barcelona), Paul Malliavin Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences. Each national recognition. Each year in honour of (Université Paris VI), Joan Verdera (Universitat prize carries a monetary award of US$1 the memory of Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer, the Aut�noma de Barcelona) and Alan Weinstein million. The Shaw Prize, established under the Fundació Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer awards an (University of California at Berkeley). auspices of Mr Run Run Shaw in November international mathematical research prize 2002, is managed and administered by The bearing his name, open to all mathemati- Recent winners Shaw Prize Foundation based in Hong Kong. cians. This prize was awarded for the first • Luis Barreira Dimension and recurrence The Shaw Laureates 2008 in Mathematical time in April 1993. in hyperbolic dynamics (2008) Sciences, for their widespread and influential • Rosa M. Miró-Roig Lectures on contributions to Mathematical Physics, are: Conditions of the prize determinantal ideals (2007) • Professor Ludwig Faddeev, Director of The prize will be awarded for a mathemati- • Xiaonan Ma Holomorphic Morse Euler International Mathematical Institute cal monograph of an expository nature pre- inequalities and Bergman kernels (2006) • Professor Vladimir Arnold, Chief Scientist senting the latest developments in an active • Antonio Ambrosetti and Andrea Malchiodi of Steklov Mathematical Institute area of research in Mathematics, in which the Perturbation methods and semilinear For further information visit the website applicant has made important contributions. elliptic problems on Rn (2005) www.shawprize.org.

October08-NL.indd 13 23/09/2008 11:49:57 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

BRITISH–NORDIC CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICIANS 2009 First announcement The 25th Nordic and 1st British–Nordic Congress of Mathematicians will be held from 8 to 11 June 2009 in Oslo. There will be 11 plenary talks in the morning and 15 different sessions on a variety of subjects in the afternoons. The plenary talks will be: Monday Ib Madsen (�rhus) Algebraic Topology and K-theory Mikael R�rdam (Odense) Operator Algebras Tuesday Erkki Somersalo (Helsinki) Applied Mathematics, especially inverse problems * Niels Peter J�rgensen (Newcastle) Homological Algebra Martin Bridson (Oxford) Geometric Group Theory Wednesday Nils Henrik Risebro, Oslo Differential Equations Olle Häggström (Göteborg) Probability Dominic Joyce (Oxford) Differential Geometry * Thursday Frances Kirwan (Oxford) Algebraic Geometry * 14 Hermann Thorisson (Iceland) Probability Theory Carsten Thomassen (Copenhagen) Graph Theory (* to be confirmed) The topics for the special sessions with their organizers are: . Stochastic and applied analysis (G. Di Nunno, B. �ksendal) . Quantum fields and representation theory (H.-P. Jakobsen, J. Fuchs) 3. Algebraic topology (J. Greenlees, I. Madsen, B. Dundas) 4. Inverse problems (L. Päivärinta) 5. Discrete probability (J. Steiff) . Nonlinear PDE (H. Holden, K. H. Karlsen) 7. Lie theory: transformation groups, geometric structures and integrability (V. Lychagin, B. Kruglikov) 8. Group theory - group actions (M. Barrios, G.A. Jones) 9. Mathematical physics and spectral theory (T. �. S�rensen, H. Cornea, S. Fournais) 0. Operator algebras and non-commutative geometry (S. Neshveyev, R. Nest, N. Larsen) . Algebraic geometry (K. Ranestad, R. Piene) . Spectral theory and analytic functions (M. Langer, A. Luger) 3. Operator methods for wavelets, dynamics and fractals (in honor of Christian Skau’s 70th birthday) (P. Jorgensen, S. Eilers, S. Silvestrov) 4. Non-commutative functional analysis (I. Todorov, L. Turowska) 15. Mathematical logic (D. Norman) The members of the scientific committee are Ola Bratteli (Chair) (Norway), Helge Holden (Norway), Anders Björner (Sweden), Philip Slovej (Denmark), Eero Saksman (Finland), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Iceland), Ulrike Tillmann (London Mathematical Society), Richard Thomas (London Mathematical Society) and Jim Howie (Edinburgh Mathemat- ical Society). Please visit the congress website at www.math.uio.no/2009/. Further details on the programme will appear soon.

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BRITISH–NORDIC CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICIANS 2009 First announcement The 25th Nordic and 1st British–Nordic Congress of Mathematicians will be held from 8 to 11 June 2009 in Oslo. There will be 11 plenary talks in the morning and 15 different sessions on a variety of subjects in the afternoons. The plenary talks will be: Monday Ib Madsen (�rhus) Algebraic Topology and K-theory Mikael R�rdam (Odense) Operator Algebras Tuesday Erkki Somersalo (Helsinki) Applied Mathematics, especially inverse problems * Niels Peter J�rgensen (Newcastle) Homological Algebra Martin Bridson (Oxford) Geometric Group Theory Wednesday Nils Henrik Risebro, Oslo Differential Equations Olle Häggström (Göteborg) Probability Dominic Joyce (Oxford) Differential Geometry * Thursday Frances Kirwan (Oxford) Algebraic Geometry * Hermann Thorisson (Iceland) Probability Theory 15 Carsten Thomassen (Copenhagen) Graph Theory (* to be confirmed) The topics for the special sessions with their organizers are: . Stochastic and applied analysis (G. Di Nunno, B. �ksendal) . Quantum fields and representation theory (H.-P. Jakobsen, J. Fuchs) 3. Algebraic topology (J. Greenlees, I. Madsen, B. Dundas) 4. Inverse problems (L. Päivärinta) 5. Discrete probability (J. Steiff) . Nonlinear PDE (H. Holden, K. H. Karlsen) 7. Lie theory: transformation groups, geometric structures and integrability (V. Lychagin, B. Kruglikov) 8. Group theory - group actions (M. Barrios, G.A. Jones) 9. Mathematical physics and spectral theory (T. �. S�rensen, H. Cornea, S. Fournais) 0. Operator algebras and non-commutative geometry (S. Neshveyev, R. Nest, N. Larsen) . Algebraic geometry (K. Ranestad, R. Piene) . Spectral theory and analytic functions (M. Langer, A. Luger) 3. Operator methods for wavelets, dynamics and fractals (in honor of Christian Skau’s 70th birthday) (P. Jorgensen, S. Eilers, S. Silvestrov) 4. Non-commutative functional analysis (I. Todorov, L. Turowska) 15. Mathematical logic (D. Norman) The members of the scientific committee are Ola Bratteli (Chair) (Norway), Helge Holden (Norway), Anders Björner (Sweden), Philip Slovej (Denmark), Eero Saksman (Finland), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Iceland), Ulrike Tillmann (London Mathematical Society), Richard Thomas (London Mathematical Society) and Jim Howie (Edinburgh Mathemat- ical Society). Please visit the congress website at www.math.uio.no/2009/. Further details on the programme will appear soon.

October08-NL.indd 15 23/09/2008 11:49:59 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

VISIT OF PROFESSOR K. DYKEMA Professor Ken Dykema (Texas A&M) will be visiting the UK during October and November 2008. Professor Dykema’s research interests concern free probability and the structure of operator algebras. During his visit he will give the following talks at: • University of Oxford, Thursday 30 October Sums of Hermitian operators in finite von Neumann algebras • Queen’s University Belfast, Saturday 1 November, part of the North British Functional Analysis Seminar, two talks on Schur–Horn Inequalities in II1-factors. The exact titles for these talks are yet to be determined. 16 • University of Glasgow, Tuesday 3 November Some results on approximation in II1-factors For further information contact Stuart White ([email protected]). Professor Dykema’s visit is supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. VISIT OF PROFESSOR R. MESHULAM Professor Roy Meshulam (Technion, Haifa) will be visiting the UK from 21 to 28 October 2008. His main field of interest is combi- natorics and convexity, and applications of algebraic topology. During his visit he will give seminars at: • Oxford, 21 October Domination numbers, homology and hypergraph matching • Cambridge, 23 October Laplacians, homology and hypergraph matching • University College London, 28 October Combinatorics and topology of Leray complexes For further information contact Profes- sor Imre Barany, University College London ([email protected]). This visit is support- ed by an LMS Scheme 2 grant.

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VISIT OF VISIT OF PROFESSOR K. DYKEMA DR M. PAVLOV Professor Ken Dykema (Texas A&M) will be Dr Maxim Pavlov (Lebedev Physical Insti- visiting the UK during October and November tute, Moscow) will be visiting Loughborough 2008. Professor Dykema’s research interests during October and November 2008. During concern free probability and the structure of his visit he will give the following three talks: operator algebras. During his visit he will give • Universality of the Gibbons–Tsarev system the following talks at: at Imperial College • University of Oxford, Thursday 30 October • Classification of integrable conservative Sums of Hermitian operators in finite von hydrodynamic chains at Loughborough Neumann algebras University • Queen’s University Belfast, Saturday • Linearly degenerate systems of hydro- 1 November, part of the North British dynamic type and new solutions of the Functional Analysis Seminar, two talks on WDVV equations at the University of Schur–Horn Inequalities in II1-factors. The Glasgow exact titles for these talks are yet to be For further information contact Jenya determined. Ferapontov ([email protected]). This • University of Glasgow, Tuesday 3 November visit is partially supported by an LMS Scheme 2 17 Some results on approximation in grant. II1-factors For further information contact Stuart DYNAMICS ON White ([email protected]). Professor Dykema’s visit is supported by an LMS Scheme CHARACTER VARIETIES 2 grant. This mini-workshop is a follow up to the Low Dimensional Geometry and Topology VISIT OF Warwick EPSRC Symposium 2006/2007. The central theme will be different approaches PROFESSOR R. MESHULAM to, and interpretations of, the Markoff tree Professor Roy Meshulam (Technion, Haifa) of traces of simple curves on a once punc- will be visiting the UK from 21 to 28 October tured torus. It will take place in the Math- 2008. His main field of interest is combi- ematics Institute, Warwick University from natorics and convexity, and applications of 21 to 23 October 2008. The organisers are algebraic topology. During his visit he will Caroline Series and Saul Schleimer. Speakers give seminars at: include: • Oxford, 21 October Domination numbers, • Serge Cantat (Rennes) homology and hypergraph matching • Brian Bowditch (Warwick) • Cambridge, 23 October Laplacians, • Jack Button (Cambridge) homology and hypergraph matching • Jeroen Lamb (Imperial) • University College London, 28 October • Anthony Manning (Warwick) Combinatorics and topology of Leray • Caroline Series (Warwick) complexes • Ser Peow Tan (Singapore) For further information contact Profes- Limited funds are available for UK travel sor Imre Barany, University College London and subsistence. For more information and ([email protected]). This visit is support- registration visit www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ ed by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. maths/research/events/2008_2009/workshops.

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NEWSLETTER

LMS DURHAM RESEARCH WIMCS PROBABILITY SYMPOSIA colloquium Call for Proposals Since its foundation about a year ago the Wales Institute of Mathematical and Compu- The LMS Research Meeting Committee is re- tational Sciences (WIMCS) has taken up work sponsible for the planning of the LMS Durham with respect to research organized in five Symposia, which have been running successfully clusters. In order to bring more outstanding each July and August since 1974, with 88 sym- probabilists to the UK the Stochastics Cluster posia to date in a wide range of mathematical has set up the WIMCS Probability Colloquium. disciplines. The LMS Research Meetings Commit- The hope is that this Colloquium will stimu- tee welcomes ideas for symposia for 2010 and late further collaboration across the UK. later, from potential organisers and others, who The Colloquium will be launched on Friday should contact the Chairman of the Committee, 17 October at 3 pm in the Seminar Room, Professor N. Manton ([email protected]). Department of Mathematics, Swansea Uni- In 2008 there were two Durham Symposia, versity. The talks will be given by both supported by EPSRC: • K.-Th. Sturm (Bonn) Optimal transportation • Mathematical Aspects of Graphical Models, and heat flow on singular spaces 18 30 June – 10 July (organisers A.P. Dawid, • M. Ledoux (Toulouse) Markov operators, S.L. Lauritzen) classical orthogonal polynomial ensembles • Computational Linear Algebra for Partial and random matrices Differential Equations, 14–24 July In future the Colloquium will be announced (organisers: A. Ramage, D.J. Silvester, on the WIMCS webpage www.wimcs.ac.uk. A.J. Wathen) The symposia in 2006 and 2007 were as TRIANGULATED follows: 2006 CATEGORIES WORKSHOP • Dynamical Systems and Statistical Mechanics A workshop on Triangulated Categories will (C. Beck, C. Dettmann, M. Pollicott) take place from 10 to 12 December 2008 at • Methods of Integrable Systems in Geometry Swansea University. The aim of the workshop (F. Burstall, S. Dorfmeister, M. Guest, F. Pedit) is to bring together mathematicians working 2007 in algebraic geometry and topology, math- • Recent Developments in Random Walks ematical physics and representation theory (B. Hambly, L. Saloff-Coste, P. Tarr�s) in order to exchange results, questions and • Twistors, Strings and Scattering Amplitudes points of view on the role of triangulated (Z. Bern, P. Candelas, X. de la Ossa, L. Mason) categories in their respective fields. Speakers The Durham website (www.maths.dur.ac.uk/ will include: events/Meetings/LMS/) gives information about • Peter J�rgensen (Newcastle, UK) the above, and all previous symposia including, in • Henning Krause (Paderborn, Germany) many cases, a list of participants, abstracts of talks, • Teimuraz Pirashvili (Leicester, UK) a symposium photograph (the earliest surviving • Pierre Schapira (Paris, France) photograph is from 1976), lecture notes and, for • Bertrand Toën (Toulouse, France) more recent symposia, videos of the talks. The workshop is supported by an LMS con- More information about Durham Symposia ference grant. For more information email is available on the LMS website (http:///www. [email protected] or go to www- lms.ac.uk/activities/rmc/). maths.swan.ac.uk/staff/gg/Workshop.

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WIMCS PROBABILITY colloquium Since its foundation about a year ago the Wales Institute of Mathematical and Compu- tational Sciences (WIMCS) has taken up work with respect to research organized in five clusters. In order to bring more outstanding probabilists to the UK the Stochastics Cluster has set up the WIMCS Probability Colloquium. The hope is that this Colloquium will stimu- late further collaboration across the UK. The Colloquium will be launched on Friday 17 October at 3 pm in the Seminar Room, Department of Mathematics, Swansea Uni- versity. The talks will be given by • K.-Th. Sturm (Bonn) Optimal transportation and heat flow on singular spaces • M. Ledoux (Toulouse) Markov operators, 19 classical orthogonal polynomial ensembles and random matrices In future the Colloquium will be announced on the WIMCS webpage www.wimcs.ac.uk. TRIANGULATED CATEGORIES WORKSHOP A workshop on Triangulated Categories will take place from 10 to 12 December 2008 at Swansea University. The aim of the workshop is to bring together mathematicians working in algebraic geometry and topology, math- ematical physics and representation theory in order to exchange results, questions and points of view on the role of triangulated categories in their respective fields. Speakers will include: • Peter J�rgensen (Newcastle, UK) • Henning Krause (Paderborn, Germany) • Teimuraz Pirashvili (Leicester, UK) • Pierre Schapira (Paris, France) • Bertrand Toën (Toulouse, France) The workshop is supported by an LMS con- ference grant. For more information email [email protected] or go to www- maths.swan.ac.uk/staff/gg/Workshop.

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NEWSLETTER

FIFTH EUROPEAN CONGRESS RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS OF MATHEMATICS AT MEETINGS Report The fifth European Congress of Mathematics ORDINARY MEETING was held from 14 to 18 July 2008 in Amster- held on Thursday 17 July 2008 at the RAI Conference Centre, Amsterdam, during dam. There were 924 participants (45 from the the Fifth European Congress of Mathematics. At least 80 members and guests were UK), all of whom fitted comfortably into the present. auditorium at the RAI Conference Centre and, thanks to its superb equipment, expertly oper- The meeting began at 6.30 pm, with Professor E.B. DAVIES, FRS, President, in the ated, all were able to see and hear perfectly. Chair. Professor Davies welcomed members and guests including Professor Laszlo RAI proved to be an excellent venue for the Lov�sz, the President of the International Mathematical Union, Professor Ari Laptev, congress; the Dutch mathematicians earned President of the European Mathematical Society and Professor Henrik Broer, President our gratitude for its smooth running. of the Koninklijk Wiskundig Genootschap. The meeting provided an opportunity for The congress opened spectacularly with a overseas members to meet other members of the Society. The President congratulated live reconstruction of Rembrandt’s famous the European Mathematical Society and the organisers of the Congress on an excellent painting ‘The Company of Frans Banning Cocq meeting, and Professor Andrzej Pelczar, of Kraków, who would be hosting the Sixth 20 and Willem van Ruytenburch’, usually known European Congress in 2012. – erroneously, apparently – as ‘The Night Three members signed the membership book. The meeting was followed by a Watch’. After the tableau had relaxed and reception. the company had marched out of the audi- torium with full military accompaniment, the winners of the ten European Mathematical Society prizes and the Felix Klein prize were FIFTH EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICS announced. LMS stand Each day of the congress began with a ple- nary lecture, after which we had to choose from a menu of six invited speakers (or five and a round-table discussion). These included all of the EMS prize- winners, one of whom (Ben Green) served up what for me was the tastiest dish of the whole congress – fully meeting the high standard set by an- other British number theorist, Richard Taylor, in the opening plenary lecture. On three of the days we then came together again to broaden our horizons with a ‘science lecture’, though with a pronounced mathemati- cal slant; indeed, one of these Part view of the LMS stand at the 5ECM Susan Oakes, LMS lectures, Jonathan Sherratt’s

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FIFTH EUROPEAN CONGRESS delightful tale of periodic travelling waves in field vole populations, had featured earlier RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS OF MATHEMATICS this year in the BMC. The other science lectures Report were given by Tim Palmer on climate change, AT MEETINGS with a very practical interpretation of the Clay The fifth European Congress of Mathematics Millennium Prize Problem on the existence of ORDINARY MEETING was held from 14 to 18 July 2008 in Amster- solutions to the Navier–Stokes equation, and held on Thursday 17 July 2008 at the RAI Conference Centre, Amsterdam, during dam. There were 924 participants (45 from the Ignacio Cirac giving an authoritative survey of the Fifth European Congress of Mathematics. At least 80 members and guests were UK), all of whom fitted comfortably into the quantum information theory. As at the BMC, present. auditorium at the RAI Conference Centre and, the afternoons were devoted to shorter talks thanks to its superb equipment, expertly oper- in a number of minisymposia on specific topics, The meeting began at 6.30 pm, with Professor E.B. DAVIES, FRS, President, in the ated, all were able to see and hear perfectly. and finished with a second plenary lecture. Chair. Professor Davies welcomed members and guests including Professor Laszlo RAI proved to be an excellent venue for the The congress was as successful on the social Lov�sz, the President of the International Mathematical Union, Professor Ari Laptev, congress; the Dutch mathematicians earned as on the intellectual level (though, of course, President of the European Mathematical Society and Professor Henrik Broer, President our gratitude for its smooth running. at a gathering of mathematicians the two of the Koninklijk Wiskundig Genootschap. The meeting provided an opportunity for The congress opened spectacularly with a are hard to distinguish). There was an organ overseas members to meet other members of the Society. The President congratulated live reconstruction of Rembrandt’s famous recital and reception in the VU University, the European Mathematical Society and the organisers of the Congress on an excellent painting ‘The Company of Frans Banning Cocq framing a lecture by the Brouwer prizewinner meeting, and Professor Andrzej Pelczar, of Kraków, who would be hosting the Sixth and Willem van Ruytenburch’, usually known Phillip Griffiths; an excellent programme of 21 European Congress in 2012. – erroneously, apparently – as ‘The Night tours and excursions for companions and Three members signed the membership book. The meeting was followed by a Watch’. After the tableau had relaxed and participants taking an afternoon off; and a reception. the company had marched out of the audi- dinner and party in the splendid Hotel Arena in torium with full military accompaniment, the central Amsterdam, accompanied by a violin- winners of the ten European Mathematical piano duo and a jazz quintet (but, in con- Society prizes and the Felix Klein prize were trast with the ICM in Madrid, no dancing). FIFTH EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICS announced. Finally, and far from least, the LMS capped the LMS stand Each day of the congress began with a ple- social programme with a reception in the nary lecture, after which we had to choose from a menu of six invited speakers (or five and a round-table discussion). These included all of the EMS prize- winners, one of whom (Ben Green) served up what for me was the tastiest dish of the whole congress – fully meeting the high standard set by an- other British number theorist, Richard Taylor, in the opening plenary lecture. On three of the days we then came together again to broaden our horizons with a ‘science lecture’, though with a pronounced mathemati- cal slant; indeed, one of these Susan Oakes, LMS lectures, Jonathan Sherratt’s A re-enactment of the famous Rembrandt painting opened the 5ECM

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NEWSLETTER

picturesque Café Amsterdam, at the RAI. of shape) could be used with such devastating Brian Davies, the LMS President and Ari effects in the study of viruses. Truly a triumph Laptev, the European Mathematical So- for mathematics over the other sciences! ciety President spoke, the wine flowed, The second lecture, given by Tadashi Tokieda, the canapés iterated and the conversa- used mathematics in a decidedly more rec- tion resonated. This gathering put the reational environment: toys that spin. He cherry on the icing of a very successful began by demonstrating how cylinders, filled congress. with different amounts of rice, took differ- Tony Sudbery ent times to roll down a hill, and that some University of York did not even move; he linked this to filling objects with a viscous or viscous-less liquid. From angular dynamics, he moved onto Brian Davies André Ran Jan Wiegerinck linear momentum, impressing the audience still further as he demonstrated a magnetic Newton’s cradle, which, rather than mirroring the number of ball bearings colliding with the number of ball bearings being launched off from the centre, actually adds one ball bear- 22 ing onto the number being launched off! It is fair to say that the audience were very much enthralled by the demonstrations he was giving (incidentally made very accessible by the use of a video camera and projector). He then combined these two ideas, and pro- ceeded to talk about angular momentum, in the form of his favourite toy, the ‘tippy Brian Davies Ari Laptev LMS reception in the Café Amsterdam top’. He showed that if it is spun, the toy tries to raise its centre of gravity, causing LMS 2008 POPULAR LECTURES it to tip over onto its thinner end, and that the time taken for it to tip over can Report lecture would be. Well, I need not have wor- be calculated via quite a simple calcula- On a warm but inevitably wet summer’s ried; the audience received a clear, coherent tion. Finally, he moved onto a new area evening on Wednesday 9 July, a large and talk which both enlightened our knowledge of research, known as chiral dynamics, enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Institute of viruses and demonstrated that mathematics which is the study of objects that spin one of Education for this year’s LMS Popular alone is an incredible weapon in the battle way but not the other! His entertaining Lectures. Two contrasting talks were given; to restrain them. She explained how the demonstrations and fascinating results one by Reidun Twarock from the University geometry of a virus can be studied to identify created an excellent lecture thoroughly of York, the other by Tadashi Tokieda from symmetries in terms of their construction from enjoyed by everyone. Trinity Hall, Cambridge. the rotations and translations of different Josh Bernstein Reidun Twarock’s talk united mathemat- shaped faces (most prominently triangles and Sixth-Former, Trinity School, Croydon ics and biology as she explained her research pentagons). These geometric constructions Editorial note: The lectures were recorded for into the geometry of viruses, and how this can be then exploited and the information subsequent release on DVD which will be avail- work enabled new antiviral strategies to be used in other areas of study, such as linking able to buy from the LMS from November: a produced. As someone that had very happily mutations to a change in geometric construc- useful purchase for school and university math- dropped biology after GCSEs, I was slight- tion. It was fascinating to see how such a ematics departments seeking resources that will ly apprehensive as to how interesting the simple idea in mathematics (namely the study stimulate their students.

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of shape) could be used with such devastating 19TH POSTGRADUATE effects in the study of viruses. Truly a triumph for mathematics over the other sciences! COMBINATORIAL The second lecture, given by Tadashi Tokieda, CONFERENCE 2008 used mathematics in a decidedly more rec- Report reational environment: toys that spin. He began by demonstrating how cylinders, filled The 19th Postgraduate Combinatorial Con- with different amounts of rice, took differ- ference (PCC) was held from 21 to 23 July at ent times to roll down a hill, and that some the University of Warwick. The event, which did not even move; he linked this to filling is held annually under the auspices of the objects with a viscous or viscous-less liquid. British Combinatorial Committee (BCC), was From angular dynamics, he moved onto hosted this year by DIMAP (Centre for Dis- Brian Davies André Ran Jan Wiegerinck linear momentum, impressing the audience crete Mathematics and its Applications). As still further as he demonstrated a magnetic DIMAP’s areas of interest are discrete mod- Newton’s cradle, which, rather than mirroring elling, algorithmic analysis, and combinato- the number of ball bearings colliding with the rial optimization, it provided an excellent number of ball bearings being launched off environment. In previous years the PCC has from the centre, actually adds one ball bear- been held at the Universities of St Andrews, ing onto the number being launched off! It is Glamorgan, Oxford, London (Queen Mary), 23 fair to say that the audience were very much and Nottingham. enthralled by the demonstrations he was The conference started with a short wel- giving (incidentally made very accessible by come by Mike Paterson. The general for- the use of a video camera and projector). mat of the conference was one-hour talks He then combined these two ideas, and pro- by invited speakers along with twenty- ceeded to talk about angular momentum, in the form of his favourite toy, the ‘tippy LMS reception in the Café Amsterdam top’. He showed that if it is spun, the toy tries to raise its centre of gravity, causing LMS 2008 POPULAR LECTURES it to tip over onto its thinner end, and that the time taken for it to tip over can lecture would be. Well, I need not have wor- be calculated via quite a simple calcula- ried; the audience received a clear, coherent tion. Finally, he moved onto a new area talk which both enlightened our knowledge of research, known as chiral dynamics, of viruses and demonstrated that mathematics which is the study of objects that spin one alone is an incredible weapon in the battle way but not the other! His entertaining to restrain them. She explained how the demonstrations and fascinating results geometry of a virus can be studied to identify created an excellent lecture thoroughly symmetries in terms of their construction from enjoyed by everyone. the rotations and translations of different Josh Bernstein shaped faces (most prominently triangles and Sixth-Former, Trinity School, Croydon pentagons). These geometric constructions Editorial note: The lectures were recorded for can be then exploited and the information subsequent release on DVD which will be avail- used in other areas of study, such as linking able to buy from the LMS from November: a mutations to a change in geometric construc- useful purchase for school and university math- “With you, everything is gross simplification.” tion. It was fascinating to see how such a ematics departments seeking resources that will simple idea in mathematics (namely the study stimulate their students. © Sidney Harris

October08-NL.indd 23 23/09/2008 11:50:15 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

minute contributed talks by participating MATHS ON BBC4 cleverly played the character Emily the coun- postgraduates. sellor who, without giving her own opinion, The invited speakers were all sponsored Marcus du Sautoy has a new four-part TV helped the couple to understand their own by the LMS under a Scheme 1 conference series, The Story of Maths, starting at 9 pm fears and feelings. grant. The first invited speaker of the event (this time is provisional) on Monday 6 October The mathematical content came over with was Olivier Hudry from École Nationale on BBC4. The BBC writes: a passion that I hope would inspire others to Supérieure des Télécommunications, Paris, “On a journey through the ages and take more than a passing interest in the sub- who gave a survey talk on properties of around the world, Marcus du Sautoy de- ject, as well as a number of amusing insights tournament solutions. Imre Leader from scribes the often surprising lives of the great about mathematicians. If the theatre com- the University of Cambridge was the invit- mathematicians, explains the development of pany ever staged a production in London it ed speaker for the second day, talking on the key mathematical ideas and shows how would make a great trip for maths students matchings and paths in the cube. Ian Stewart – in a multitude of unusual ways – those ideas – I would enjoy seeing it again. from the University of Warwick gave an underpin the science, technology and culture Noel Ann Bradshaw entertaining final talk on generic bifurca- that shape our world.” Greenwich University tion in network dynamics and how prob- lems in this area have curious combinatorial REVIEWS Five-Minute Mathematics by Ehrhard Behrends, links. Apart from the three invited speak- American Mathematical Society, 2008, 380 pp, ers, there was a careers guidance session MATHEMATICS AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE £19.25, ISBN 978-0-82-184348-2. 24 provided by Jenny O’Leary, a Careers Con- ‘The root of minus one’ by Adam Somerset Five-Minute Mathematics started life as a sultant from the Careers Support for PhD 14 August 2008 series of one hundred weekly columns en- Students and Research Staff at Warwick In a rather warm studio at the top of sev- titled Fünf Minuten Mathematik, published University. eral flights of stairs sat a girl, Rachel, read- throughout 2003 and 2004 in Die Welt and The audience consisted of 27 registered ing Ian Stewart’s From Here to Infinity and a the Berliner Morgenpost. The author’s hope student participants and many other Warwick man, Colwyn, strumming a rather out-of-tune was “to convince readers who were trauma- researchers. The contributed talks ranged guitar. This was the opening scene of the tized by school mathematics that the subject over extremal graph theory, combinatorics Edinburgh Fringe production of the play ‘The is not the boring, dry-as-dust subject that on words, partial orders, and linear exten- root of minus one’ performed by Hartshorn– they remember, but a wellspring of fascina- sions to combinatorial game theory. There Hook Productions in association with Angel tion and excitement”. The columns gener- was a particularly strong showing on the and Virgins Theatre Company. ated considerable interest when they first third day by the University of Birmingham The play unfolded into a poignant insight appeared, and the author decided to col- with four consecutive talks on graph theory. into this couple’s struggle to come to terms lect them all together in book form, first in For more information on the programme with the death of their sister/sister-in-law. The a German edition, and now in and abstracts of the talks see the website sister, Michelle, had been a budding math- an English edition published http://go.warwick.ac.uk/pcc2008. ematician at university but had met with a by the American Mathematical The conference banquet was arranged in fatal accident before completing her degree. Society and Oxford University the Rootes Social Building on campus. The She had developed a very close and possibly Press. The columns have been organizers of the event were Haris Aziz intimate relationship with her lecturer, Karen, carefully revised and extra ma- (local organizer), Manuela Heuer, Simon who helped Rachel and Colwyn find out more terial has been added when Griffiths and Emil Vaughan. The conference about the maths in Michelle’s life. Discussions this seemed appropriate. was sponsored mainly by the LMS with im- with Karen covered a wide variety of math- The columns are a delight to portant contributions from the Open Uni- ematical issues: certain historical mathemat- read. They range very widely versity, BCC and DIMAP. We hope that the ics topics such as counting, infinity and the through mathematics, both an- sponsors will maintain their support for the Pythagoreans and other mathematical areas cient and modern, from Euclid’s PCC in the coming years. such as topology, calculus and as the title proof that there are infinitely Haris Aziz (University of Warwick) suggests – imaginary numbers. many primes to the ‘P = NP?’ Manuela Heuer (The Open University) The actress playing the part of Karen also Conjecture, from straightedge-

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MATHS ON BBC4 cleverly played the character Emily the coun- sellor who, without giving her own opinion, Marcus du Sautoy has a new four-part TV helped the couple to understand their own series, The Story of Maths, starting at 9 pm fears and feelings. (this time is provisional) on Monday 6 October The mathematical content came over with on BBC4. The BBC writes: a passion that I hope would inspire others to “On a journey through the ages and take more than a passing interest in the sub- around the world, Marcus du Sautoy de- ject, as well as a number of amusing insights scribes the often surprising lives of the great about mathematicians. If the theatre com- mathematicians, explains the development of pany ever staged a production in London it the key mathematical ideas and shows how would make a great trip for maths students – in a multitude of unusual ways – those ideas – I would enjoy seeing it again. underpin the science, technology and culture Noel Ann Bradshaw that shape our world.” Greenwich University

REVIEWS Five-Minute Mathematics by Ehrhard Behrends, American Mathematical Society, 2008, 380 pp, MATHEMATICS AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE £19.25, ISBN 978-0-82-184348-2. ‘The root of minus one’ by Adam Somerset Five-Minute Mathematics started life as a and-compass constructions to the Monty Hall 25 14 August 2008 series of one hundred weekly columns en- problem in probability, and from the math- In a rather warm studio at the top of sev- titled Fünf Minuten Mathematik, published ematics of music to Andrew Wiles’s proof of eral flights of stairs sat a girl, Rachel, read- throughout 2003 and 2004 in Die Welt and Fermat’s last theorem. ing Ian Stewart’s From Here to Infinity and a the Berliner Morgenpost. The author’s hope Professor Behrends is a well-known expos- man, Colwyn, strumming a rather out-of-tune was “to convince readers who were trauma- itor who will shortly be taking over as Chair guitar. This was the opening scene of the tized by school mathematics that the subject of the European Mathematical Society’s Edinburgh Fringe production of the play ‘The is not the boring, dry-as-dust subject that committee on Raising Public Awareness of root of minus one’ performed by Hartshorn– they remember, but a wellspring of fascina- Mathematics. He has certainly raised public Hook Productions in association with Angel tion and excitement”. The columns gener- awareness with these fine columns, which are and Virgins Theatre Company. ated considerable interest when they first clearly and engagingly written, and he does The play unfolded into a poignant insight appeared, and the author decided to col- not shy away from difficult topics when he into this couple’s struggle to come to terms lect them all together in book form, first in can find a way to explain them at an appro- with the death of their sister/sister-in-law. The a German edition, and now in priate level – even the Riemann sister, Michelle, had been a budding math- an English edition published hypothesis and the work of ematician at university but had met with a by the American Mathematical Perelman find a place within fatal accident before completing her degree. Society and Oxford University these pages. The publishers She had developed a very close and possibly Press. The columns have been have also done an excellent job; intimate relationship with her lecturer, Karen, carefully revised and extra ma- the print is clear and there are who helped Rachel and Colwyn find out more terial has been added when a large number of full-colour about the maths in Michelle’s life. Discussions this seemed appropriate. pictures, all printed on high- with Karen covered a wide variety of math- The columns are a delight to quality paper. The book is a ematical issues: certain historical mathemat- read. They range very widely delight to dip into, and can ics topics such as counting, infinity and the through mathematics, both an- be highly recommended as a Pythagoreans and other mathematical areas cient and modern, from Euclid’s stocking present for yourself or such as topology, calculus and as the title proof that there are infinitely someone else this Christmas. suggests – imaginary numbers. many primes to the ‘P = NP?’ Robin Wilson The actress playing the part of Karen also Conjecture, from straightedge- Open University

October08-NL.indd 25 23/09/2008 11:50:16 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES This calendar lists Society meetings and other events publicised in the Newsletter. INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOP Further information can be obtained from the appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number 12–23 January 2009 is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings and events is given on the Society’s website in association with the Newton Institute programme entitled (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). Algebraic Lie Theory (12 January – 26 June 2009) OCTOBER 2008 28 WIMCS Probability Colloquium, Swansea Workshop organisers: M. Geck (University of Aberdeen), A. Kleshchev (University (374) of Oregon) and G. Röhrle (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) 21-23 Dynamics on Character Varieties Theme of workshop: The programme Algebraic Lie Theory covers a wide spectrum Mini-Workshop, Warwick (374) of topics, ranging from more classical areas like the theory of Lie algebras and Lie 28 Mathematical and Statistical Modelling groups (over real, complex, p-adic or finite fields), through connections with in Medicine and Health Science Symposium, 26 geometry, combinatorics and homological algebra (Schubert varieties, Kazhdan– Belfast (372) Lusztig theory, categorification, ...), and on to the study of new classes of algebras like cyclotomic Hecke algebras or finiteW -algebras. The 2-week instructional NOVEMBER 2008 period provides an introduction to these topics by leading experts in the field. 11 LMS/BCS-FACS Evening Seminar, London There will be a mixture of lectures, informal discussions and/or problem sessions, in order to ensure a close interaction between the speakers and the participants. 21 LMS AGM, London (374)

Speakers will include: DECEMBER 2008 • P. Achar (Louisiana State University) 1-2 From Nonlinear Dynamics to Systems • C. Bonnafé (Université de Franche Comté) Biology Workshop, Warwick (373) • M. Broué (Institut Henri Poincaré) 1-5 Large Amplitude Internal Waves, ICMS • J. Chuang (City University, London) Workshop, Edinburgh (369) • M. Geck (University of Aberdeen) 5-12 Partial Differential Equations and • A. Kleshchev (University of Oregon) Applications Conference, Hong Kong (372) • A. Ram (University of Melbourne) 8-12 Rotating Stratified Turbulence and • R. Rouquier (University of Oxford) • D. Vogan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Oceans, INI Workshop, Cambridge (371) Further information and application forms are available from the web at: 10-12 Infinite Group Theory and Related www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/ALT/altw01.html. Completed application forms Topics Workshop, Edinburgh (373) should be sent to Tracey Andrew, Programme & Conference Secretary, 10-12 Triangulated Categories Workshop, Isaac Newton Institute, 20 Clarkson Road, Cambridge CB3 0EH or via email to: Swansea (374) [email protected]. 12-13 Joint Meeting with the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, Edinburgh (373) Closing date for the receipt of applications is 31 October 2008. 15-19 Classical and Quantum Transport in the Presence of Disorder, INI Conference, Cambridge (372)

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS 16-18 Mathematics in Signal Processing IMA Conference, Cirencester (370) This calendar lists Society meetings and other events publicised in the Newsletter. JANUARY 2009 Further information can be obtained from the 5-9 Dense Granular Flows, IMA Conference, appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number INI Cambridge (370) is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings 12-23 Algebraic Lie Theory Instructional and events is given on the Society’s website Workshop, INI, Cambridge (374) (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). FEBRUARY 2009 OCTOBER 2008 27 LMS Mary Cartwright Lecture, London 28 WIMCS Probability Colloquium, Swansea (374) MARCH 2009 21-23 Dynamics on Character Varieties 23-27 Algebraic Lie Structures with Origins Mini-Workshop, Warwick (374) in Physics Workshop, INI, Cambridge (373) 28 Mathematical and Statistical Modelling 31-4 Apr LMS Invited Lectures, A. Ionescu, in Medicine and Health Science Symposium, Edinburgh Belfast (372) 27 APRIL 2009 NOVEMBER 2008 6-9 BMC, Galway 11 LMS/BCS-FACS Evening Seminar, London 7-9 BAMC, Nottingham (370) 21 LMS AGM, London (374) JUNE 2009 8-11 British–Nordic Congress of Mathema- DECEMBER 2008 ticians, Oslo (374) 1-2 From Nonlinear Dynamics to Systems 15-19 Nonlinear PDE and Free Boundary Biology Workshop, Warwick (373) Problems, Warwick 1-5 Large Amplitude Internal Waves, ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh (369) AUGUST 2009 5-12 Partial Differential Equations and 1-15 Groups St Andrews 2009, Bath (372) Applications Conference, Hong Kong (372) 8-12 Rotating Stratified Turbulence and AUGUST 2010 Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Oceans, 19-27 International Congress of INI Workshop, Cambridge (371) Mathematicians 2010, Hyderabad, India 10-12 Infinite Group Theory and Related (365) Topics Workshop, Edinburgh (373) 10-12 Triangulated Categories Workshop, Swansea (374) LMS CONFERENCE FACILITIES 12-13 Joint Meeting with the Edinburgh Organising a conference in central London? Mathematical Society, Edinburgh (373) Meeting rooms and catering are available 15-19 Classical and Quantum Transport in De Morgan House. For terms and avail- in the Presence of Disorder, INI Conference, ability, please call 020 7927 0800 or email Cambridge (372) [email protected].

October08-NL.indd 27 23/09/2008 11:50:17 J. GLAISHER LMS member 1868–1902 A.J. Melhuish, Portman Square, London

James Glaisher, FRS, FRAS Meteorologist and aeronaut. Superintendent of the department of meteorology and magnetism at Greenwich Observatory 1838–74. Established the Meteorological Society in 1850 and later co-founded the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. Author of Travels in the Air (1867).

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