THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
Forthcoming LMS 2004 ELECTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS Society AND OFFICERS AND PERIODICALS Meetings The ballot papers for the The annual subscription to the November elections to Council London Mathematical Society 2004 and Nominating Committee are for the 2004-05 session shall be: Friday 19 November being circulated with this copy Ordinary Members £33.00; London of the Newsletter. Nine candi- Reciprocity Members £16.50; Annual General dates for Members-at-Large of Associate Members £8.25. The Meeting Council were proposed by the prices of the Society’s periodi- D. Olive Nominating Committee. In cals to Ordinary, Reciprocity and P. Goddard addition, H.G. Dales was nomi- Associate Members for the (Presidential Address) nated directly by D. Salinger, 2004-05 session shall be: 1 [page 3] seconded by J.R. Partington, Proceedings £66; Journal J.K. Truss and R.B.J.T. Allenby, in £66.00; Bulletin £33.00; 2005 accordance with By-Law II.2. Nonlinearity £47.00; Journal of Friday 25 February Tony Scholl has completed his Computation and Mathematics London term as a Vice-President and Martin remains free. S. Lauritzen Bridson is nominated in his place. E. Thompson Please note that completed ANNUAL (Mary Cartwright ballot papers must be returned Lecture) by Thursday 11 November 2004. SUBSCRIPTION Norman Biggs The LMS annual subscription, Wednesday 18 May General Secretary including payment for publica- Birmingham tions, for the session Midlands Regional ANNUAL DINNER November 2004–October 2005 Meeting is due on 1 November 2004. The Annual Dinner will be held Together with this Newsletter after the Annual General is a renewal form to be com- Meeting on Friday 19 November pleted and returned with your at 7.30pm at the Bonnington remittance in the enclosed Hotel, London WC1. The cost is envelope. £35.00 per person and members No action is required if you may book places for guests. are already paying by direct The booking form, enclosed debit, and do not wish to with this Newsletter, should be change your choice of publica- returned together with pay- tions. Fully complete and return ment to the London the form if you are paying by Mathematical Society office by direct debit but wish to change Monday 15 November. your choice of publications or THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
add/delete a subscription to the European library, common room or other public Mathematical Society. Bank accounts of room, and members paying by direct debit will be deb- (b) are accessible to other mathematicians ited with the appropriate amount on 17 (or to students) only with the mem- LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY January 2005. Other members should either ber's permission, given individually in enclose a cheque (£ sterling or US$) with each case. Annual General Meeting their form or, if they have a UK bank account Issues are the personal property of and wish to take advantage of this conven- members, who would be able, without Friday 19 November 2004 ient form of payment, request a direct debit negotiation with authorities, to take the mandate. Although the facility to pay by issues with them if they left their present University College London credit card is open to all members of the institution or to give them to another indi- Society, it is our preference that members vidual who is willing to abide by these continue to pay by direct debit. terms. 3.15 – 3.30 Annual General Meeting PUBLICATIONS PRICING ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE 3.30 – 4.30 Professor D.I. Olive (Swansea) Unified theories and the increasing synergy POLICY Sir John Kingman, the current Director of the between mathematics and physics The LMS has a pricing structure that allows Isaac Newton Institute, retires in 2006 and 2 individual members to purchase its journals, the University of Cambridge has started the 4.30 – 5.00 Tea 3 for personal use only, at a substantial dis- process of seeking a successor. Details are at count. In common with other mathematical www.newton.cam.ac.uk/director.html; appli- societies, the Society regards a subscription as cations should reach the Academic Secretary 5.00 – 6.00 Professor P. Goddard (IAS) for personal use only if: no later than 30 November 2004. Informal Presidential Address (a) issues are either destroyed or held on enquiries may be made to Peter Landshoff, Infinite dimensional symmetry a continuing basis among the mem- Chair of the Management Committee of the ber's personal belongings, and are Institute, (tel: +44 (0)1223 337880; email: not deposited even temporarily in a [email protected]). The meeting will be held in the Chemistry Auditorium, Christopher Ingold Building, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1. Please note early start.
LMS Newsletter There are limited funds available to contribute in part to General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) the expenses of members of the Society or research students Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) to attend the meeting. Requests for support, including an Reviews Editor: Professor M.P.F. du Sautoy ([email protected]) Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) estimate of expenses, may be addressed to the Programme Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, Secretary at the Society (web: www.lms.ac.uk; email: 57-58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS (tel: 020 7637 3686; fax: 020 7323 3655; [email protected]). email: [email protected], web: www.lms.ac.uk) Designed by CHP Design (tel: 020 7240 0466, email: [email protected], web:www.chpdesign.com) The meeting will be followed by the Annual Dinner. For Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. further details see the announcement in this Newsletter. Items and advertisements by first day of the month prior to publication. All enquiries may be addressed to Susan Oakes (tel: 020 Information in the Newsletter is free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated; attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. The LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy 7637 3686, e-mail: [email protected]). of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. Charity registration number: 252660. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
GENDER AND RESEARCH sciences as to lovers of Turner, the exhibition adds a new dimension to our appreciation of ACTIVITY IN THE 2001 RAE Britain’s greatest painter. The exhibition is at You may recall an item in the LMS Newsletter the Clore Watercolour Galleries, Tate Britain, a few months ago in which an analysis of the London until 7 November (www.tate.org.uk/ gender differences in the numbers of UK aca- home/news/vanishingpoint_ 23-04-04.htm) demics in mathematics and in those submitted to the 2001 RAE was carried out. The overall ERRATUM conclusion was that a smaller percentage of female mathematicians were submitted as In the notice of the Twistor String Theory research active than male mathematicians. Workshop in the last issue the name Jolliffe Interestingly, a similar analysis has now was spelt incorrectly. The email address been carried out by the AUT across all RAE should be [email protected] (and the Units of Assessment. The study found that web address is www.maths.ox.ac.uk/~lma- ‘across the sector, among academics engaged son/Tws.html). Our apologies. in both teaching and research activities, males were 1.6 times more likely than their IMU PRIZES female colleagues to be counted as research- 4 active and to have had their work submitted Nominations for the following 5 in the 2001 RAE.’ This ratio varies between International Mathematical Union prizes, subjects, and it turns out that in Mathematics which will be awarded at the opening cer- the ratio is almost exactly 1.6. We could com- emony of the ICM 2006 Congress, should fort ourselves with this – we are no worse be sent to the Chairs of the corresponding than many other disciplines – but overall the Prize Committees. The prizes being result is a disturbing one for UK research. awarded are Fields Medals, the Rolf The article may be found at Nevanlinna Prize and the Carl Friedrich www.aut.org.uk/ under News for July 2004. Gauss Prize. The relevant Committee Rachel Camina Chairs are as follows: Cathy Hobbs Fields Medals: Professor John Ball, Mathematical Institute, UP AND COMING 24-29 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LB, UK ([email protected]) Vanishing Point: The Perspective Drawings Rolf Nevanlinna Prize: of Turner Professor Margaret Wright, Computer As Professor of Perspective at the Royal Science Department, New York University, Academy for thirty years (1807-37), Turner Warren Weaver Hall, 251 Mercer Street, produced a number of remarkable drawings New York, NY 10012, USA demonstrating both the theory and practice ([email protected]) of linear and atmospheric perspective. Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize: Featuring about thirty-five of these rarely Professor Dr Martin Groetschel, Konrad- exhibited lecture diagrams, this special dis- Zuse-Zentrum für Informationstechnik play highlights the diagrams he used to illus- Berlin (ZIB), Takustr. 7, D-14195 Berlin- trate such subjects as colour theory, the Dahlem, Germany ([email protected]) nature of reflection and refraction, and the Nominations should ideally be sent by 15 basic theorems of standard perspective. Of December 2004. Winners of each prize are equal fascination to students of the arts and not eligible for the others. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
ICM2006 well as for young Spanish mathematicians. MATHEMATICS AT THE THE ICIAM 99 FUND Financial Support Applicants are kindly requested to seek travel support from other sources. Spanish grantees BRITISH ASSOCIATION The Council of the London The Executive Committee of the may not be more than 32 years old at the FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE Mathematical Society invites applica- International Congress of Mathematicians time of the congress. tions from UK residents to a restricted (ICM2006) has already received quite a num- IMU and the local organizer advise appli- The Clay Institute Millennium Problems fund created in 2001 by a donation from ber of requests concerning grants for attend- cants that five different support categories formed the focus of the Mathematics Section ICIAM 99 Ltd. Grants are awarded on ing ICM2006 in Madrid (Spain). The have been established, for Programme at the British Association Festival the recommendation of an ad hoc com- International Mathematical Union (IMU) and • young mathematicians from developing of Science in Exeter in early September. mittee consisting of Professor R.J. Knops the Organizing Committee of ICM2006 are and economically disadvantaged countries Simon Singh, Marcus du Sautoy and Keith (Convener), Professor J. Carr, Dr B.A. currently making efforts to obtain financial • senior mathematicians from developing Devlin informed and entertained an enthusi- Olde Daalhuis, Professor T. Easingwood support to enable and economically disadvantaged countries astic audience, with discussions on the origins and Professor L. Thomas. as many mathe- • senior mathematicians from Latin America of the Millennium Problems, Andrew Wiles’ The purpose of The ICIAM 99 Fund is to maticians as possi- • senior mathematicians from developing solution of Fermat’s Last Theorem, the help support activities in the following two ble from develop- Mediterranean countries Riemann Hypothesis and the Poincaré categories: ing countries to • young Spanish mathematicians Conjecture. The session received good media • Organisation of short workshops in the UK participate in A link to the list of eligible countries for coverage, and has already led to plans for that continue the most promising themes ICM2006. each category will be posted as part of the several more media items (print and broad- that have emerged from ICIAM 99 and 6 Therefore IMU and application information accompanying the cast) in the future. The session concluded ICIAM 03 7 the Organizing electronic application form (see below). with a buffet lunch for all participants spon- • Any other UK activity in industrial and Committee will Other young and senior mathematicians who sored by the LMS. applied mathematics that the committee award a limited do not fall within these groups are asked to The session was the outcome of a group deems suitable for recommendation number of travel refrain from applying for this aid. convened by the LMS with the support of There is no formal form of application, but grants to active Applicants may apply for only one category the IMA, RSS and BSHM. The group, which information, to be provided in writing and young research each. A common application form for the now constitutes the Mathematics Section signed by the applicant, should include as mathematicians above five groups, and detailed information Committee of the BA, is now planning a appropriate: from developing and economically disadvan- for each category of applicant, will be avail- more ambitious programme for the 2005 • Brief description, purpose, duration taged countries, and to senior mathemati- able by summer of 2005 on the ICM2006 Festival of Science, to be held in Dublin. and intended location of the proposed cians from developing and economically dis- website (www.icm2006.org) and by email. Details will be announced as they are activity advantaged countries (not necessarily mem- Applicants will be asked to provide a brief developed. • Names and affiliation of those principally bers of IMU) to enable them to attend curriculum vitae (including academic educa- Inquiries about the BA Mathematics involved ICM2006. The local organizer will cover their tion, degrees, professional employment, and Section should be sent to Peter Cooper at the • Itemised list of costs with supporting living expenses in Madrid during the the list of publications) and also to indicate if LMS ([email protected]). justification Congress. The age limit for the young travel they are planning to contribute with a com- • For meetings, whether a registration grantees is 35 years at the time of the meet- munication or poster. fee and its amount is intended to be ing. The deadline for receipt of applications for charged The IMU travel grants, provided by the all the categories is 1 January 2006. All appli- • Other (proposed) sources of income IMU Special Development Fund, will support cations will be reviewed and applicants will • Any other relevant information travel costs and are intended primarily for be informed of the results as soon as possible It is intended to close the Fund in young mathematicians from developing and after 1 May 2006. Queries concerning travel November 2004. Accordingly, applications for economically disadvantaged countries (not grants should be sent to ICM2006 the final round should be sent by regular necessarily members of IMU). The Organizing ([email protected]) as of 6 September postal mail to the Convener at the following Committee of ICM2006 will also launch par- 2004. Please do not submit queries before address to reach him by 1 November 2004. tial support for a limited number of senior that date. Professor R. J. Knops, Department of mathematicians from Latin America and Manuel de León, Mathematics, Heriot-Watt University, from developing Mediterranean countries, as President, ICM2006 Keith Devlin Marcus du Sautoy Simon Singh Edinburgh EH14 4AS. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
LEVERHULME Leicester) Generalized thermal baths and Study Abroad Fellowships information about the call can be found on the accelerated dynamics methods for molecu- • Michael Brennan (Professor of Engineering website www.epsrc.ac.uk/ CallsforProposals/ or TRUST AWARDS lar simulation Dynamics, University of Southampton) by contacting Helen Carter (tel: 01793 444162; The following mathematicians have been award- • Carmen Molina-Paris (Lecturer, Department Smart structures, control algorithms and email: helen.carter@epsrc. ac.uk). ed research fellowships by the Trustees of the of Applied Mathematics, University of active vibration control Leverhulme Trust, under schemes administered Leeds) Compressible hydrodynamics in • Mark Pollicott (Professor, Department of EPSRC MATHEMATICAL by their Research Awards Advisory Committee. accreting systems Mathematics, University of Manchester) Research Fellowships • Michael Monoyios (Senior Lecturer in Harmonic analysis and its applications SCIENCES PROGRAMME • David Burns (Professor of Pure Mathematical Finance, Brunel University) Emeritus Fellowships Research Grant Funding Data Mathematics, King’s College, University of Optimal hedging performance in incom- • J. Milne Anderson (Department of Mathematics, Annette Bramley (EPSRC Programme Manager, London) Equivariant Tamagawa numbers plete markets University College, London) Complex Mathematical Sciences) and Peter Green (Head and related topics • Mikhail Osipov (Professor of Applied analysis, potential theory, probability of Statistics Group, Bristol University) have • John Dold (Chair of Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, University of Strathclyde) • Ronald C. King (School of Mathematics, been working together to produce a summary UMIST) Continuum modelling of discrete Models of smectic phases without layer University of Southampton) Representations of data relating to research grant funding biological behaviour contraction of Lie algebras and superalgebras coming from EPSRC’s Mathematical Sciences • Yibin Fu (Professor of Applied Mathematics, • Beatrice Pelloni (Lecturer in Applied • Tom J. Willmore (Department of Programme during the financial years 2001/2, Keele University) Characterization of edge Mathematics, University of Reading) The Mathematical Sciences, University of 2002/3 and 2003/4. The aim of this exercise was waves on generally anisotropic elastic or spectral analysis of odd order boundary Durham) Conformal geometry of to allow a member of the research community 8 piezoelectric plates value problems Riemannian submanifolds access to suitably anonymised funding data to 9 • Anne Henke (Lecturer in Pure Mathematics, • John Vaccaro (Reader in Theoretical help EPSRC present it in a way that would be University of Leicester) Structural patterns Quantum Physics, University of RESEARCH NETWORKS useful to the wider community. No formal of Schur algebras Hertfordshire) Accessible quantum entan- modelling or analysis has been attempted; the • Steffen Koenig (Chair of Pure Mathematics, glement IN THE MATHEMATICAL report is confined to simple cross-tabulations. University of Leicester) From quantum • Howard Wheater (Professor of Hydrology SCIENCES By making these data available, it is hoped to groups to Schur algebras Processes, Imperial College London) establish a greater degree of understanding • Benedict Leimkuhler (Director, Centre for Modelling the scale-dependence of rainfall Following the International Review of about the recent success rates in research grant Mathematical Modelling, University of and runoff Mathematics the EPSRC Mathematical Sciences funding through EPSRC’s Mathematical programme would like to clarify the situation Sciences Programme. regarding its research network call. Research net- The report is available on the EPSRC web- THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM works to encourage collaborative activity may be site under Research Funding/Programmes/ submitted in responsive mode in any area of the Mathematical Sciences/Responsive Mode SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS mathematical sciences at any time. The purpose Funding. CHAIR OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS (Post Reference S38020) of the call is to stimulate interdisciplinary net- works between sub-disciplines of the mathemat- VISIT OF PROFESSOR The University of Birmingham seeks to appoint an Applied Mathematician ical scientists and with other disciplines or indus- of international distinction to a Chair. Applications are invited from strong try. Such networks are a priority for the pro- Y.J. CHOIE researchers in any area of Applied Mathematics whose research comple- gramme and are particularly encouraged. Professor Y.J. Choie (Pohang University of ments and/or adds breadth to the research of the current Applied The call allows funds of up to £60,000 to cover Science and Technology, Korea) will be visiting Mathematics Group. There will be a further three lectureships in a network’s operating and support costs over a the UK in October 2004 supported by an LMS Applied Mathematics associated with the Chair on appointment. maximum three year period. It should be noted Scheme 2 grant. Professor Choie is an expert that the networks should aim to become self sus- on modular forms, Jacobi forms and their Information on the application procedure and further particulars are taining as follow-on funding for existing net- applications to code theory and cryptography. available from Mrs J. Dowden, Assistant Director, Personnel Services, works will not normally be provided by EPSRC. She will be giving lectures at the universities The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT Potential applicants are strongly advised to of Nottingham, Cambridge and Sheffield. For (tel: 0121 414 2686 or 0121 415 8116, fax: 0121 414 7043, email: read the EPSRC’s Networks Guidance at more information contact Dr N. Diamantis [email protected]) or from www.punit.bham.ac.uk/vacancies. www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/. Further ([email protected]). THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
VISIT OF PROFESSOR elected a member of the London Mathematical Society on 18 December 1952. P.D. LAX D.R. Taunt was born on 16 November 1917 Professor Peter Lax (Courant Institute, New and educated at Enfield Grammar School and York University) will be visiting the City of London School. He then went up to Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Jesus College, Cambridge, where he read from 11-22 October, supported by an LMS Mathematics. His first love in mathematics Scheme 2 grant. He will also be lecturing in was analysis, and he was influenced by Bath and at Imperial College, London. For fur- Hardy’s lectures. Hardy accepted him as a ther information on the times, locations and research student, but his plan to begin topics of these lectures, please visit the relevant research was overtaken by the outbreak of departmental websites (www.maths.ox.ac.uk, the war. He worked at Bletchley Park on www.bath.ac.uk/math-sci/, http://geometry.ma. code-breaking from 1941 to VE Day. ic.ac.uk/). When Taunt returned to Cambridge after the war, Hardy had retired, and Taunt became AUTOMORPHIC FORMS, a research student in group theory under Philip Hall. Taunt wrote his thesis in this area, SPECTRAL THEORY AND and later published several papers. He spent 10 KLOOSTERMAN SUMS the rest of his career at his old college, Jesus, 11 as Fellow, Cayley Lecturer in Mathematics Professor Roger Baker (Brigham Young (1954–82), director of studies in Mathematics, University) will be giving a series of four lec- then Bursar (1964–79), and finally President tures entitled Automorphic forms, spectral the- (1979–82). He was devoted to the College. In ory and Kloosterman sums in the Department his private life, Taunt enjoyed music, cricket of Mathematics, UMIST, in the week beginning and walking. His wife, the artist Angela 1 November. In these lectures, totalling six Verren Chick, whom he married in 1949, sur- hours, the usefulness of Kloosterman sums in vives him, as do their two sons and a daughter. analytic number theory will be explained, showing how these sums occur in expansions RESEARCH TRENDS IN of automorphic forms, and examine the ana- lytic tools (including Kuznetsov's formulae) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY that paved the way for some recent applica- Over the past several years, the International tions to prime number theory. The talks will be Conference on Research Trends in Science accessible to beginning graduate students. For and Technology has become a primary forum an abstract and timetable please see for engineers, mathematicians and scientists www.ma.umist.ac.uk/mdc/RogerBaker.htm from around the world to interact and pres- or contact Dr M. D. Coleman (coleman@ ent their work. The conference will be held umist.ac.uk). from 7-9 March 2005 at the Lebanese American University on its two campuses DEREK TAUNT (Beirut and Byblos). The organization of the conference by the University is a tribute to Derek Taunt, one of the code-breakers who science and technology and a look to the worked at Bletchley Park in World War Two, future of the Lebanese American University then becoming a Cambridge mathematician in the third millennium. For further informa- and later President of Jesus College, tion please visit www.lau.edu.lb/news- Cambridge, died on 15 July, aged 86. He was events/conferences/rtst2005/intro.html. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
BELFAST FUNCTIONAL 4.30 Len Berggren (Simon Fraser University) Special Offer to LMS Members! Recent trends in the study of Islamic ANALYSIS DAY 2004 mathematics Get a 50% discount on your 2005 Subscription to... The seventh annual Belfast Functional 6.00 Memorial party with string quartet and Analysis Day will be held on Saturday 20 buffet dinner The Quarterly Journal of Mathematics November in the Department of Pure The event is open to all who would like to Mathematics of Queen’s University Belfast, attend, but the organisers ask that all those www.qjmath.oupjournals.org organised by Dr Martin Mathieu, Dr Ivan intending to participate register by contact- Todorov and Professor Anthony W. ing the Warwick Mathematics Research The Quarterly Journal of Mathematics publishes original contributions to pure math- Wickstead. Centre ([email protected]), which ematics including areas such as algebra, differential geometry, and global analysis. Professor Lyudmila Turovska (Chalmers can also provide information about travel and University, Göteborg, Sweden) will be the other practical matters. The scientific organis- Oxford University Press are pleased to offer members of the London Mathematical principal speaker, delivering two one-hour ers are: J. Gray, E. Robson and M. Reid. Society a 2005 subscription to the Quarterly Journal of Mathematics at the special lectures on Operator Synthesis and Harmonic rate of £99/US$181. The standard personal rate is £204/US$373, so this represents a Analysis. There will also be approximately THE HISTORY OF discount of more than 50%. seven contributed thirty-minute talks by par- ticipants. The meeting is supported by an STATISTICS 1900±30 To take advantage of this offer, contact: Journals Subscription Department, Oxford LMS conference grant, in particular to sup- The Department of Statistics and the Centre University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, UK (tel: +44 (0)1865 port attendance by graduate students. for the History of the Mathematical Sciences, 12 353907; fax: +44 (0)1865 353485; email: [email protected]). 13 Research students who may be interested both at the Open University, will present a in participating are strongly encouraged to one-day conference on The History of contact the organisers as early as possible. Statistics, 1900 ± 30, on Wednesday 15 For further information please contact December, at the Open University campus in Martin Mathieu ([email protected]) or visit Milton Keynes. www.qub.ac.uk/bfad/. Speakers will be: • J. Aldrich (Southampton) Information and The Glasgow Mathematical Journal DAVID FOWLER economics in Fisher’s Design of Experiments A Memorial Symposium The Glasgow Mathematical Journal is published by Cambridge University • Sir David Cox (Oxford) Major late Press and covers new research over a broad range of topics in pure and A symposium in memory of David Fowler will 19th–early 20th century figures in statistics be held on Tuesday 9 November at the • A. Edwards (Cambridge) John Venn as stat- applied mathematics. Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick istician 2005 subscriptions to the Glasgow Mathematical Journal are offered at (the new Institute on the main campus). • E. Magnello (UCL) Karl Pearson and the ori- the rate of £45. Programme gin of modern statistics: an elastician 10.00 Coffee and registration becomes a statistician LMS members wishing to subscribe to the journal should send subscriptions 11.00 Eleanor Robson (University of Cambridge) • C. Pritchard (Open University) Francis directly to: Dr C. Athorne, Secretary to the GMJ, Department of Mathematics, Influence, ignorance, or indifference? Galton and George Darwin’s ‘Common University of Glasgow, University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QW, UK. Rethinking the relationship between family weakness for statistics’ Babylonian and Greek mathematics • S. Senn (Glasgow) An early ‘Atkins’ diet; Cheques should be made payable to the ‘Glasgow Mathematical Journal 12.15 Tree planting R.A. Fisher analyses a medical ‘experiment’ Trust’. Further information concerning the journal is available from the 12.30 Buffet lunch The registration fee is £15.00 (including publisher's web page: http://titles.cambridge.org/journals/. 2.00 Paddy Patterson (Göttingen University) lunch and coffee/tea). For further details, Cyclotomy yesterday and today please visit the conference website at statis- 3.00 Henry Mendell (California State tics.open.ac.uk/Historyofstats/historyofstats. University) Early Greek mathematics html, or email MCS-Statistics-Conferences 4.00 Tea @open.ac.uk. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
Wendy Fortescue- council to pilot Mathagony Aunt in Bristol, work- to interface directly with the general public, MATHEMATICA Hubbard, LMS member ing with the local community. The aim is to deliv- with sessions being archived. A programme of and NESTA fellow, is to er mathematics through different avenues and interactive sessions now needs to be devel- CONFERENCE develop her skills in the encourage further study of the subject, and has oped throughout the mathematics community. A conference on Mathematica will be held at National media to help resulted in a Mathagony Aunt column now fea- If you are interested in spearheading the imple- the Palais des Congrès in Paris on Wednesday popularise maths and make it more accessi- turing in the Bristol Evening Post, providing read- mentation of Mathagony Aunt in your locality, 6 October. The event will offer a unique ble to people of all ages: ‘To reach, teach and ers with help on maths problems and with inter- assisting with the development of any of the com- opportunity to attend talks from experienced inspire the unsuspecting audience’. The vehi- esting mathematical facts. A successful four-day ponents, or contributing in anyway to the work- users and to learn more about new innova- cle she has chosen to pursue this goal is a interactive mathematics exhibition, called ‘Maths ing concept of Mathagony Aunt, please contact tions, as several senior developers and working concept called Mathagony Aunt. on the Menu’, was also held in The Mall in Cribbs Wendy (tel: 01793 772278; email:wendy@math- researchers from the US headquarters of The vision is that we, as a mathematics com- Causeway, with members of the public taking agonyaunt.co.uk). If the media won’t come to us Wolfram Research, as well as from Wolfram munity, work together to raise the profile of part in mathematical quizzes, using voting mod- then we will take mathematics to them! Research Europe and Wolfram Research mathematics and mathematics teaching ules to keep their contributions anonymous. France, will be present to demonstrate state- through a common portal that has no insti- A central piece of the jigsaw is the series of EDINBURGH MATHEMATICAL of-the-art Mathematica technologies, applica- tutional, societal or government allegiance. Mathagony Aunt workshops that are run in the ble for both the academic and industrial com- Wendy is looking for mathematicians from community, in people's homes, at community cen- SOCIETY MEETINGS munities. The conference will close with the universities, industry, and those working in math- tres, or wherever the learner feels comfortable. The The following meetings have been arranged appearance by videoconference of Stephen ematics education, to help realise the vision. It sessions are ‘learner led’ - enabling participants to for the Edinburgh Mathematical Society on Wolfram, creator of Mathematica and CEO of 14 could be that you have an ESPSRC fellowship and be taught what they want to learn; are time flexi- Fridays during the 2004–05 Session: Wolfram Research. He will discuss his book A 15 would like to get involved in a TV or radio pro- ble, and are for no more than ten people at a time. 2004 New Kind of Science and answer questions gramme, or that you would like to share your The first session was so successful that all those who • 15 October (Edinburgh) AGM and Professor from attendees. passion for mathematics via the webcast facility took part expressed a desire to take their mathe- J. Roe An optional two-day Mathematica training on www.mathagonyaunt.co.uk; or even directly matics further: four are talking about going on to • 12 November (Strathclyde) Professor I.G. Graham course will be offered to conference attendees with the general public at a shopping mall pres- take ‘A’ Level maths and subsequent Mathematics • 10 December (Napier) Professor P. Graves-Morris for a substantially reduced cost. The course (in entation. Perhaps you have students who would degrees, while two would definitely like to teach. 2005 French or English) takes place on 4-5 October, be interested in becoming Mathagony The aim of the Mathagony Aunt project is to iden- • 21 January (Edinburgh) Professor E. Zuazua and will provide direct experience with all of the Aunts/Uncles, working in people’s homes or in tify these people in every community, and inspire • 18 February (Edinburgh) Professor B.J. Green basic features of Mathematica, as well as a com- local community centres. them with the confidence to take their mathemat- • 18 March (Aberdeen) Professor M. Reid prehensive foundation for developing For the past two and a half years Wendy has ical experience to the next level. • 29 April (Stirling) Professor J.P. Keating advanced applications. Besides the step-by-step been writing a successful Mathagony Aunt col- The concept is now moving into Newcastle, with • 20 May (St Andrews) Professor M. Pollicott instruction on performing basic operations, the umn in the Times Educational Supplement, ‘surrogate Mathagony Uncle’ Steve Humble from For further information contact the responding to teachers’ mathematics problems - Newcastle College heading the extension. The next Meetings Secretary, Tom Lenagan from the concept of number to understanding ‘Maths on the Menu’ will be at the end of January ([email protected]). calculus - often using poetry as an illustration. She in Newcastle and he is seeking mathematicians to has toured her mathematics show ‘Algebra for interact with the general public and show them YORKSHIRE DURHAM Science’ with the BBC Tomorrow's World our human face! Professor Neville Davies, director Roadshow, set up the www.perfect-times.co.uk of the Royal Statistical Society for Statistical GEOMETRY DAYS website as part of the Livelab international Education, has also expressed interest in acting as a The first Yorkshire Durham Geometry Day will take experiment, and acted as the mathematics expert surrogate Mathagony Uncle for Nottingham. place on Wednesday 6 October from 11.00 am to on living TV. She has also created a set of ‘Action Interest has also been expressed in Wiltshire, 5.00 pm in Room CM221, Department of Mats’ illustrating the use of mathematics in dif- Gloucestershire, Redditch and Northern Ireland. Mathematics, Durham University. Talks will be ferent careers in the RAF; this as part of the RAF A webcast facility is now also available on given by Farid Tari, Norbert Peyerimhoff, Ivan Maths challenge, which has now toured the UK www.mathagonyaunt.co.uk for up to ten peo- Smith and Chris Wood. For further information several times, reaching over 5000 pupils. ple at a time, including the presenter. The facil- email Wilhelm Klingenberg (wilhelm. Wendy is now being supported for two days a ity is available for an indefinite period, cour- [email protected]) or visit the website week by the West of England Learning and Skills tesy of Virtex, and allows the maths community www.maths.dur.ac.uk/~dma0jb/ydgd.html. © Sidney Harris THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
course includes an introduction to Mathematica the Coxeter complex (in which all stabilizers are and a deeper look at the Mathematica pro- finite) was introduced, and he showed how to gramming language, graphics, notebooks, and use this to produce various examples in Geometry other features. For more information or to reg- and Group Theory, including the celebrated ister please visit: www.wolfram.com/services/ results mentioned above. Various types of coho- seminars/paris2004/ index.en.html. mological invariants were computed for Coxeter groups. The final two talks concentrated on L2- LMS INVITED LECTURE cohomology, culminating in the recent work of Davis, Dymara, Januszkiewicz and Okun on SERIES 2004 weighted cohomology. This introduces a weighted The LMS Invited Lectureship for 2004, which was version of L2-cohomology for Coxeter groups, awarded to Professor Michael W. Davis, of the which for integer (vector) weights computes the Ohio State University, was hosted by the School of ordinary L2-cohomology of a building with this Mathematics at the University of Southampton. weight as its thickness vector, and gives an Professor Davis has contributed greatly to the intriguing new invariant for non-integer weights. theory of Coxeter groups and to the use of Coxeter Six supplementary lectures were given by par- groups in constructing examples in both algebra ticipants, on topics that included hyperbolic and geometry. For example, he has constructed manifolds, hyperbolic polytopes, notions of 16 examples of contractible manifolds admitting dimension and cohomology of Coxeter groups. 17 cocompact discrete group actions which are not The participants included 21 PhD students and homeomorphic to Euclidean space, and Poincaré post-docs. Most participants were from the UK duality groups which are not finitely presented. although Ireland, Israel and Russia were also repre- Professor Davis’ lecture series, entitled ‘The sented. The full programme together with the Geometry and Topology of Coxeter Groups’, cov- overhead slides used by Professor Davis during his ered a range of material. He started with semi- talks is available from www.maths.soton.ac.uk/lms. classical results on the combinatorics of Coxeter Professor Ian Leary groups and word lengths. Next, Davis’ version of University of Southampton Photograph attributed to M.J. Dunwoody
Professor Michael Davis (front row centre, with white t-shirt) with attendees at the 2004 LMS Invited Lectures THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
It was clear that there was also a lot hap- lar to restrict the first Betti number. He pening outside the talks too, from the mate- explained how these restrictions severely lim- RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS rial which kept appearing on blackboards ited the kinds of groups which could be asso- throughout the School of Mechanical ciated with algebraic Kähler manifolds. AT MEETINGS Engineering, where the meeting took place. The meeting ended with a dinner at the In between, the visitors enjoyed the Assembly Rooms, which reinforced a view of REGIONAL ORDINARY MEETING delights of Newcastle. To round off the work- Newcastle as a city with a great history. shop the newly elected Lord Mayor and his Professor Sarah Rees held on Wednesday 2 July 2004 at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as part of Mayoress entertained us at his Mansion University of Newcastle the Northern Regional Meeting and Workshop on Geometric Group Theory. At least House in the first social function of his office. 70 members and visitors were present for all or part of the meeting. The house and gardens were spectacular and THEATRE REVIEW The meeting began at 2.15 pm, with Professor J. HOWIE in the Chair. One person afterwards a large delegation strolled down was elected to Associate Membership: T.M. Edwards. to enjoy Newcastle nightlife on our famous Calculus by Carl Djerassi Quayside; no chimney stacks in sight, just life New End Theatre, Hampstead Eleven members signed the book and were admitted to the Society. and rejuvenation in a city which is famous According to the publicity for this play, the Professor D. Holt introduced a lecture given by R.I. Grigorchuk on Groups, finite now for partying. author, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, is seek- automata and spectra. On the following day the two main speak- ing a reappraisal of the greatest scientist of ers enthralled their audience with a pair of his (and perhaps any) time, Isaac Newton, by Professor G. Baumslag introduced a lecture given by M. Gromov on Separation in 18 beautiful surveys. depicting his behaviour during the notorious 19 groups and L Kähler geometry. 2 Rostislav Grigorchuk opened the meeting dispute with his German contemporary Professor Howie expressed the thanks of the Society to the local organisers and the with a broad discussion which linked groups, Leibnitz over priority for the discovery of dif- speakers for putting on such an excellent meeting. dynamical systems, graphs, finite automata ferential calculus as being unworthy of so and spectral theory. His groups were defined eminent a thinker. My impression at the out- After the meeting a dinner was held at the Assembly Rooms, Newcastle. from automorphisms of rooted trees, or by set was that this view of Newton as flawed finite transducers, or from iterated mon- genius seemed hardly new, and the moral odromy, and he showed us how to compute (rather than mathematical) interpretation LMS NORTHERN REGIONAL their spectra, and how to use them. His posited for ‘calculus’ as a metaphorical kidney surveys of exciting new developments. They famous infinite 2-group of intermediate stone lodged in his soul a little tendentious. MEETING 2004 covered the solution of equations, the con- growth appeared on a few occasions (in vari- Things got moving very briskly, plunging us jugacy problem, the word problem, first ous disguises) as one of many very illuminat- into the atmosphere backstage at Drury Lane in The 2004 Northern Regional Meeting took order theory for groups (and hence Tarski’s ing examples. The spectrum of the 1712. This familiar Shakespearean ruse served place in Newcastle on the afternoon of July 2nd, problem and its generalisations), the Lamplighter group, which he had computed to establish an atmosphere of intense involve- with Mihail Gromov and Rostislav Grigorchuk as Andrews-Curtis conjecture, and Tits alterna- with Zuk in 2001, had turned out to be rather ment, sometimes teetering on the brink of its speakers. It was preceded by a 3-day work- tives. They referred to hyperbolic groups, to special, and he explained how the construc- hyperactivity. Or were we just a bit too close to shop on geometric group theory, focusing on their subdirect products, to fully residually tion of a counter-example to the strong the action? You felt like helping them change formal languages, logic and equations. free groups (which share some behaviour Atiyah conjecture could be deduced from this. their jerkins with all those buttons. All four days of this double event were with free groups, and are associated with Mihail Gromov followed with a very geo- The performance was fun, with the period impressively well attended, perhaps not sur- the solution of Tarski’s problem), to gener- metric talk. He introduced us to Kähler man- costumes generating an air of Restoration prisingly given our star speakers and a very alised tetrahedral groups, and to the ‘con- ifolds; for manifolds of this type he famously comedy, some humour and a touch of impressive supporting cast of Gilbert tinuum’ (according to a seminal paper of proved an old conjecture (attributed to Hopf) intrigue. A fine lesson on how to enliven a Baumslag, Sasha Borovik, Martin Bridson, Bernhard Neumann, on which Baumslag’s on the sign of the Euler characteristic, via a dull lecture on rates of change was given by Bob Gilman, Derek Holt, Jim Howie, Alexei talk reflected) of 2-generator groups. They study of square integrable harmonic forms the eccentric Mr de Moivre, who consumed Myasnikov, Mark Sapir and Paul Schupp studied Dehn functions and measured worst on the universal cover. He explained how the an apple in memorable fashion to enlighten a speaking at the workshop. case and generic case complexity (which Kähler property could be defined by restric- committee colleague: perfect for impressing The workshop speakers covered a spec- often turned out to be dramatically differ- tion of monodromy to the unitary group, and the QAA inspectors. Various themes which trum of subjects, many giving broad ranging ent) and much more. outlined the use of Hodge theory, in particu- resonate with contemporary life enter, includ- THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
ing the misogynistic attitudes endemic at the scenes. No-one, including the playwright, has time and the intellectual frustrations of any clear view of his personality and that role women reduced to indirect involvement in seems impossible to portray. How did it hap- politics and science through social activities of pen that someone of such supreme scientific ostensibly trivial nature. The classically gifts, equally capable of solving explicit prob- ambiguous nature of the procedure used by lems and formulating an entire theory on the Royal Society to set up a commission which physics would ride smoothly for two charged with the task of judging the Newton- centuries, could see it as his role to supervise Leibnitz priority case recalls more recent gov- the Royal Mint, with the attendant duty of ernment activities of this kind. And in the end supervising mediaeval-style executions of peo- we were left, as always, with a preordained ple convicted of debasement of the coinage? decision cloaked in a characteristic fudge. In the end, though, it is quite believable that The actors deliver some strong, enthusiastic Newton would stack a committee to suit his characterisations, fleshing out a rather thin purpose; he must have been politician enough plotline, and the evening is certainly entertain- for all that. Perhaps the moral interpretation ing, but there is a large hole at the centre of of Calculus makes some sense after all. the play: the personality of the great man him- Bill Harvey self, only present for two short peripheral King’s College London 20 21 THE INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS
FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES Mathematics in Signal Processing VI Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 14-16 December 2004 Recent Advances in Aberdeen University, Non-linear Mechanics 30 August –1 September 2005 Mathematics of Surfaces XI Loughborough University, 5-7 September 2005 Cryptography and Coding X Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, December 2005 CO-SPONSORED CONFERENCES International Conference on City University, London, Mathematical Modelling 10-14 July 2005 and Applications For further details of all these conferences visit our website on www.ima.org.uk or contact: Lucy Nye, Conference Officer, The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Catherine Richards House, 16 Nelson Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1EF. Direct line: (01702) 356104 Switchboard: (01702) 354020 Email: [email protected] Fax: (01702) 354111. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 330 October 2004
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 10-14 Lévy Processes Symposium, ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, CAMBRIDGE Manchester University (329) This calendar lists Society meetings and 21 Edinburgh Mathematical Society AN INTRODUCTION TO RECENT other events publicised in the Newsletter. Meeting, Edinburgh University (330) APPLICATIONS OF MODEL THEORY Further information can be obtained from the appropriate LMS Newsletter whose num- FEBRUARY 2005 (29 March - 8 April 2005) ber is given in brackets. A fuller list of meet- 18 Edinburgh Mathematical Society ings and events is given on the Society’s web- Meeting, Edinburgh University (330) in association with the Newton Institute programme entitled site (www.lms.ac.uk/meetings/calendar.html). 25 LMS Mary Cartwright Lecture, London Model Theory and Applications to Algebra and Analysis (17 January - 15 July 2005) OCTOBER 2004 MARCH 2005 Conference supported by the European Commission, Sixth Framework Programme 6 Yorkshire Durham Geometry Day, 7-9 Research Trends in Science & – Marie Curie Conferences and Training Courses - MSCF-CT-2003-503674 Durham University (330) Technology Conference, Lebanon (330) 6 Mathematica Conference, Palais de 18 Edinburgh Mathematical Society Organisers: A. Pillay (Chair), E. Bouscaren, B. Poonen, B. Zilber Congrès, Paris (330) Meeting, Aberdeen University (330) Theme of Conference: The workshop will consist of a series of tutorials together with 11-12 Mathematical Biology & Applied 29-8 Apr Introduction to Recent some research talks on related topics. It is hoped that graduate students and young Analysis Seminar, Dundee University (329) Applications of Model Theory Conference, researchers will also give a few short invited talks which will be decided on closer to 15 Edinburgh Mathematical Society AGM, INI, Cambridge (330) 22 the workshop date. Tutorials are expected to be given on the following themes: Edinburgh University (330) 23 18 Euler Day, Warwick University (329) APRIL 2005 • Model theory of differential fields, difference fields, and compact complex spaces 18-19 Nature of Mathematical Proof Discussion 4-7 Mathematics 2005, Liverpool University • Zariski structures, analytic Zariski structures and complex analytic structures Meeting, Royal Society, London (329) 29 Edinburgh Mathematical Society • Model theory of valued fields Meeting, Stirling University (330) • Model theory of metric structures NOVEMBER 2004 • Motivic integration 9 David Fowler Memorial Symposium, MAY 2005 • Hilbert’s 10th problem and variations Warwick University (330) 18 LMS Midlands Regional Meeting • Real analytic geometry and o-minimality 12 Edinburgh Society Meeting, Strathclyde Birmingham Invited speakers: A. Berenstein, J.-B. Bost, E. Bouscaren, F. Campana*, Z. Chatzidakis, University (330) 20 Edinburgh Mathematical Society R. Cluckers, K. Eisentrager, I. Fesenko, C. W. Henson, E. Hrushovski*, D. Lippel, 19 LMS AGM, London (330) Meeting, St Andrews University (330) F. Loeser, A. Macintyre, D. Macpherson, Y. Peterzil, Th. Pheidas, A. Pillay, Y. Raynaud, 25 Mathematical Biology Conference, D. Roessler, Y. Yomdin, T. Scanlon, P. Speisseger, A. J. Wilkie, B. Zilber. Glasgow University (329) JUNE 2005 (* to be confirmed) 20 Belfast Functional Analysis Day 2004, 17 LMS Meeting, London Queen’s University, Belfast (330) Location and cost: The Euro Training Course will take place at the Newton Institute JULY 2005 and accommodation for participants will be provided in single study bedrooms with DECEMBER 2004 10-14 Mathematical Modelling and shared bathrooms at Wolfson Court. The conference package, costing £835, includes 10 Edinburgh Mathematical Society Applications International Conference accommodation, breakfast and dinner (from dinner on Monday 28 March to break- Meeting, Napier University (330) (ICTMA12), City University, London (321) fast on Saturday 9 April 2005), with lunch and refreshments during the days that 14-16 Mathematics in Signal Processing VI, 10-15 British Combinatorial Conference, lectures take place. IMA Conference, Cirencester (319) Durham University (329) Further information and applications forms are available at www.newton.cam.ac.uk/ 15 The History of Statistics, 1900 ± 30 11–15 Inverse Problems in Engineering programmes/MAA/maaw01.html. Completed application forms should be sent to Conference, Open University, Milton Conference: Theory & Practice, Cambridge Tracey Andrew, Isaac Newton Institute, 20 Clarkson Road, Cambridge CB3 0EH, Keynes (330) University (320) or via email, ([email protected]). Scientific enquiries should be sent 25–29 Gregynog Workshop on to Anand Pillay, ([email protected]). The closing date for the receipt of JANUARY 2005 Computational Techniques in Spectral Theory applications is 30 November 2004. 10-14 Twistor String Theory Workshop, & Related Topics, Gregynog Hall, Powys (320) Oxford University (329) LOUIS JOEL MORDELL DE MORGAN MEDALLIST 1941
Professor Mordell received the De Morgan ful analyst, Mordell has always been primarily Medal on 11 December 1941. Extract from the an arithmetician. He was indeed for long President's address: ‘Mordell has been recog- almost the only British mathematician of whom nized for a long time as one of the first among this could be said; and, if this is no longer true, British mathematicians, both for the impor- it is mainly the result of his own exertions. The tance of his own researches and for his inspira- list of Mordell’s contributions to the Theory of tion of the work of others. Although a power- Numbers is a long and imposing one.’