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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. October08-NL.indd 1 23/09/2008 11:49:49 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY 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 009 elections is also October08-NL.indd 2 23/09/2008 11:49:50 No. 374 October 2008 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 007 Naylor lecture I hope that as many members as possible Some dualities of string theory and quantum gravity 3 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 WC. The cost is £4.00 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 009 elections is also by Monday 17 November. October08-NL.indd 3 23/09/2008 11:49:50 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY 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 007 AGM, changes to the By-laws were were eligible for free membership under the approved.
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