THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 386 November 2009
Society 2009 ELECTIONS for the 2010 elections was also in- Meetings cluded. Members are also able to TO COUNCIL AND make direct nominations; details and Events NOMINATING will be given in the April and May Newsletters next year. 2009 COMMITTEE Friday 20 November The ballot papers for the November ANNUAL GENERAL AGM, London elections to Council and Nominat- MEETING [pages 1, 3] ing Committee were circulated with the October Newsletter. Nominat- The Annual General Meeting of 4–6 December ing Committee has put forward the Society will be held at 3.00 Joint meeting names for each Officer post; in pm on Friday 20 November 2009 with the Belgian addition members have proposed at the Institute of Education, Mathematical Society, candidates for two posts: General London. The business shall be: Leuven Secretary and Education Secre- (i) the adoption of the Annual tary. A total of 15 candidates have Report for 2008/09 2010 been proposed (9 by Nominating (ii) the report of the Treasurer Friday 26 February Committee, 6 by members) for (iii) appointment of Auditors Mary Cartwright the 7 vacancies in Members-at- (iv) elections to Council and Lecture, Durham Large of Council. Four names have Nominating Committee been proposed (all by Nominating (v) presentation of certificates Friday 2 July Committee) for 2 vacancies in the to Prize winners Hardy Lecture membership of the Nominating I hope that as many members as London Committee. possible will be able to attend. Monday 13 September Please note that completed bal- Peter Cooper Midlands Regional lot papers must be returned by Executive Secretary Meeting, Nottingham Thursday 12 November 2009. Members should have received RESIGNATION OF the following: a pink (A4) ballot paper for the elections to Council; THE EXECUTIVE a blue (A5) ballot paper for elec- SECRETARY tions to Nominating Committee; a white (A5) booklet of biographi- Council has received with regret cal details of candidates; a white notice of the resignation of Peter return envelope. If you are missing Cooper as Executive Secretary any of these items please contact with effect from 31 December Leanne Marshall at DMH (leanne. 2009. Council has already begun [email protected]). the process that will lead to the A separate form for suggesting appointment of a new Executive names to the Nominating Com- Secretary; further details will mittee for potential candidates appear in due course.
November09-NL.indd 1 22/10/2009 13:22:08 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
EDITORIAL ADVISERS’ MEETING
The triennial meeting of the Editorial Advisers Advisory Board provided genuinely construc- for the LMS Bulletin, Journal and Proceed- tive criticism of the draft proposal that may ings took place at De Morgan House on lead to a simpler structure for the journals. Friday 25 September 2009. Many members There was also a presentation by the con- of the Advisory Board attended, some of sultants, Rightscom, who are advising the whom had travelled a considerable distance, Society on upgrading the paper-handling together with all the Editors of the three database, which is central to the smooth journals. operation of the journals. There followed There was lively discussion on a range of a useful discussion on the features of the topics, including communication between database that advisers felt were important. editors and advisers, policy on the rejection The helpful and constructive views from of papers, and the subject coverage of the the meeting will be of great value to the journals. The meeting discussed the report Publications Committee in planning future of the working group on the future struc- developments of the journals. ture of the journals and advisory boards. This Kenneth Falconer was a valuable part of the meeting as the Publications Secretary
ANNUAL DINNER
The 2009 Annual Dinner will be held after the Annual General Meeting at 7.30 pm on Friday 20 November at The Park Hotel, Participants at the 2009 LMS Editorial Advisory Board Meeting London WC1. The cost for members and
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EDITORIAL ADVISERS’ MEETING
Advisory Board provided genuinely construc- LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY tive criticism of the draft proposal that may lead to a simpler structure for the journals. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING There was also a presentation by the con- sultants, Rightscom, who are advising the Society on upgrading the paper-handling Friday 20 November 2009 database, which is central to the smooth Jeffery Hall, Institute of Education, Bedford Way, London WC1 operation of the journals. There followed a useful discussion on the features of the database that advisers felt were important. 3.00–3.15 Annual General Meeting The helpful and constructive views from the meeting will be of great value to the 3.15–3.45 Roger Heath-Brown (Oxford) Publications Committee in planning future The most important problem in mathematics (?) developments of the journals. Kenneth Falconer 3.45–4.15 Tea Publications Secretary 4.15–4.45 Leif Abrahamsson (Uppsala) Support for mathematics in developing countries
4.45–5.15 Rosemary Bailey (QMUL) Teaching mathematics: satnav or map?
5.15–5.45 Ken Brown (Glasgow) The Research Excellence Framework and issues arising from it
Followed by a Reception at De Morgan House. The AGM will include the presentation of certificates to the 2009 LMS prize winners. 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, and any other queries about the AGM, should be sent to Isabelle Robinson ([email protected]).
ANNUAL DINNER their guests is £43 per person. A booking The 2009 Annual Dinner will be held after form was enclosed with the October News- the Annual General Meeting at 7.30 pm letter and should be returned together on Friday 20 November at The Park Hotel, with payment to Leanne Marshall at the Participants at the 2009 LMS Editorial Advisory Board Meeting London WC1. The cost for members and Society’s offices byMonday 9 November.
November09-NL.indd 3 22/10/2009 13:22:10 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY PRIZES 2010 previous winners appears in the Handbook and on the Society’s website. The full regu- In 2010, Council expects to award the De not describe in detail the candidate’s work, lations for each prize can be obtained from Morgan Medal, Senior Berwick Prize, Fröhlich as detailed references for those shortlisted the Society (contact details as above). Prize, and up to four Whitehead Prizes. will be sought; what is important is that the The De Morgan Medal is the Society’s Nominations should be made by complet- ‘Case for Award’ section of the nomination premier award; the only grounds for the ing the designated form, which is available form should be completed in approximate- award of the Medal are the candidate’s to download from the Society’s website ly 500 words. Council has emphasised that contributions to mathematics. The Medal is (www.lms.ac.uk) or can be obtained by con- the scope of the Society’s Prizes includes awarded every third year (in years numbered tacting the Secretary to the Prizes Committee all aspects of mathematics, and that this by a multiple of 3), in memory of Professor (email: [email protected]). Nominations should includes applied mathematics, mathemati- A. De Morgan, the Society’s first President. be received no later than Friday 22 January cal physics and mathematical aspects of The De Morgan Medal for 2010 can only be 2010. computer science. awarded to a mathematician who is normally The Prizes Committee is keen to increase Brief descriptions of the criteria for each resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain the number of nominations it receives, and Prize are given below. Council reserves the and Northern Ireland on 1 January 2010. would like to draw attention to the dis- right not to make an award of any particular The Senior Berwick Prize, for 2010, is proportionately low numbers of women Prize in the event that no candidate of suf- awarded in respect of an outstanding piece nominated for prizes each year. The prize ficient merit is recommended by the Prizes of mathematical research actually published regulations refer to the concept of ‘academic Committee. Nominators should note that, in by the Society during the period 1 January age’ – rather than date of birth – in order each case, current Members of Council or the 2001 until 31 December 2009. The award to take account more fully of broken career Prizes Committee may not be considered for is named after Professor W.E.H. Berwick, a patterns. Also, in order to encourage pro- the prize, and that no one may be award- former Vice-President of the Society, and is posals for candidates, nominations need ed the same prize more than once. A list of awarded in even-numbered years. The Senior Berwick Prize for year 2010 can only be awarded to a mathematician who is a mem- ber of the Society on 1 January 2010. The LMS Newsletter Senior Berwick Prize may not be awarded General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) to any person who has previously received the De Morgan Medal, Pólya Prize, Senior Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Whitehead Prize or Naylor Prize. Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) The Fröhlich Prize is awarded for original Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) and extremely innovative work in any branch Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, of mathematics. The Prize is awarded in London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) even-numbered years in memory of Professor Albrecht Fröhlich. The Fröhlich Fund for this Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. purpose was based on a generous dona- Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the tion from Mrs Fröhlich, reflecting Professor first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. Fröhlich’s great enthusiasm for, and grati- News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, tude to, the London Mathematical Society. although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter The 2010 awarding of this prize is restricted are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The to mathematicians who, on 1 January 2010, LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed are either (i) normally resident in the United do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or (ii) members of the Society mainly Charity registration number: 252660. educated in the United Kingdom. The Prize can only be awarded to a mathematician
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LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY PRIZES 2010 previous winners appears in the Handbook who has fewer than 25 years (full-time and on the Society’s website. The full regu- equivalent) of involvement in mathematics not describe in detail the candidate’s work, lations for each prize can be obtained from at post-doctoral level, allowing for breaks as detailed references for those shortlisted the Society (contact details as above). in continuity, or who in the opinion of the will be sought; what is important is that the The De Morgan Medal is the Society’s Prizes Committee is at an equivalent stage ‘Case for Award’ section of the nomination premier award; the only grounds for the in their career. The Fröhlich Prize may not be form should be completed in approximate- award of the Medal are the candidate’s awarded to any person who has received the ly 500 words. Council has emphasised that contributions to mathematics. The Medal is De Morgan Medal or the Pólya Prize. the scope of the Society’s Prizes includes awarded every third year (in years numbered The Whitehead Prizes are awarded on all aspects of mathematics, and that this by a multiple of 3), in memory of Professor grounds which include work in and influ- includes applied mathematics, mathemati- A. De Morgan, the Society’s first President. ence on mathematics, and are in memory of cal physics and mathematical aspects of The De Morgan Medal for 2010 can only be Professor J.H.C. Whitehead, a former Presi- computer science. awarded to a mathematician who is normally dent of the Society. The awards are restricted Brief descriptions of the criteria for each resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain to mathematicians who, on 1 January 2010: Prize are given below. Council reserves the and Northern Ireland on 1 January 2010. (i) are either normally resident in the United right not to make an award of any particular The Senior Berwick Prize, for 2010, is Kingdom or members of the Society mainly Prize in the event that no candidate of suf- awarded in respect of an outstanding piece educated in the United Kingdom, (ii) are not ficient merit is recommended by the Prizes of mathematical research actually published already Fellows of the Royal Society, and Committee. Nominators should note that, in by the Society during the period 1 January (iii) either have fewer than 15 years (full- each case, current Members of Council or the 2001 until 31 December 2009. The award time equivalent) of involvement in mathe- Prizes Committee may not be considered for is named after Professor W.E.H. Berwick, a matics at post-doctoral level, allowing for the prize, and that no one may be award- former Vice-President of the Society, and is breaks in continuity, or, in the opinion of the ed the same prize more than once. A list of awarded in even-numbered years. The Senior Prizes Committee, are at an equivalent stage Berwick Prize for year 2010 can only be in their career. awarded to a mathematician who is a mem- ber of the Society on 1 January 2010. The COMPOSITIO PRIZE 2009 LMS Newsletter Senior Berwick Prize may not be awarded General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) to any person who has previously received The first Compositio Prize for the best paper the De Morgan Medal, Pólya Prize, Senior in Compositio Mathematica has been award- Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Whitehead Prize or Naylor Prize. ed to D. Maulik, N. Nekrasov, A. Okounkov Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) The Fröhlich Prize is awarded for original and R. Pandharipande: ‘Gromov–Witten Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) and extremely innovative work in any branch theory and Donaldson–Thomas theory. II’, Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, of mathematics. The Prize is awarded in Compositio Mathematica 142 (2006) no. 5, London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) even-numbered years in memory of Professor 1286–1304. Albrecht Fröhlich. The Fröhlich Fund for this The Compositio Prize is a prize awarded Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. purpose was based on a generous dona- every third year by the Foundation Com- Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the tion from Mrs Fröhlich, reflecting Professor positio Mathematica in recognition of an first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. Fröhlich’s great enthusiasm for, and grati- outstanding piece of mathematical research News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, tude to, the London Mathematical Society. that is published in the journal Compositio although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter The 2010 awarding of this prize is restricted Mathematica during a three-year period. are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The to mathematicians who, on 1 January 2010, The 2009 Compositio Prize is the first to be LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed are either (i) normally resident in the United awarded. do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern The actual prize consists of a model of the Ireland, or (ii) members of the Society mainly Cayley surface and will be handed to the Charity registration number: 252660. educated in the United Kingdom. The Prize authors during a festive colloquium featuring can only be awarded to a mathematician talks by the authors in the spring of 2010.
November09-NL.indd 5 22/10/2009 13:22:11 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY • Suuri wo Tanoshimu Sirizu (Series for Joy of Mathematical Sciences) by Haya- OF JAPAN kawa Shobou Publishing Co. for its con- The 2009 Mathematical Society of Japan tribution to popularizing mathematical (MSJ) prizes were awarded as follows: sciences by publishing many new and The Spring Prize is awarded to an MSJ good old mathematics books in the pop- member, below the age of forty, who has ular science genre in a reader-friendly made outstanding contributions to mathe- manner. matics in the highest and broadest sense. • Chikuma Gakugei Bunko, Math & Science The Prize has been awarded to Narutaka (Chikuma Library on Arts and Sciences, Ozawa, Associate Professor of the Universi- Math & Science) by Chikuma–Shobou ty of Tokyo for his outstanding contribution Publishing Co. for its contribution to to Discrete Group and Operator Algebra. popularizing more serious mathematical He has introduced very novel methods sciences by publishing many good books for the classification of operator algebras on the motive and the philosophy be- and has solved many important unsolved hind the development of mathematical problems; in particular, in a series of papers sciences. with S. Popa, he has proved the unique- ness of tensor decomposition of tensor products of von Neumann group-rings of PARTNERSHIPS FOR various discrete groups and determined the structure of Cartan subrings of classes PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT of von Neumann algebras, which provides Call for Proposals very strong information on the structure of von Neumann algebra. The EPSRC Partnerships for Public Engage- The Algebra Prize has been awarded to ment (PPE) scheme provides opportunities Professor Keiji Oguiso (Keio University) for his for researchers to undertake public engage- fundamental and outstanding contribution to ment projects related to their research the theory of generalized Calabi–Yau mani- interests. Awards are aimed at active re- folds, the most important subject of present searchers, and their research groups, in algebraic geometry, and to Akihiko Yukie partnership with outside specialists or for his fundamental and outstanding contri- partner organisations that can provide the bution to the theory of pre-homogeneous necessary expertise. vector spaces, in particular for his novel EPSRC is particularly interested in geometric methods for studying orbits in projects that not only increase the public’s pre-homogeneous vector spaces and apply- awareness of science and engineering, but ing them to number theory. also include some level of dialogue be- The Publication Prize has been awarded tween members of the public and scientists to the following individual and two series or engineers. EPSRC would also encourage of books: projects to consider the wider context of • Professor Masahito Takase of Kyushu Uni- the research area, particularly in reference versity for his contribution to populariz- to societal and ethical issues. ing mathematical culture by translating The deadline is 4 pm on Wednesday 11 important classical books including those November 2009. For further and more de- of Euler, Gauss and Legendre and by his tailed information visit the website at www. writings on mathematics. epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ppe14.htm.
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• Suuri wo Tanoshimu Sirizu (Series for Joy of Mathematical Sciences) by Haya- kawa Shobou Publishing Co. for its con- tribution to popularizing mathematical sciences by publishing many new and good old mathematics books in the pop- ular science genre in a reader-friendly manner. • Chikuma Gakugei Bunko, Math & Science (Chikuma Library on Arts and Sciences, Math & Science) by Chikuma–Shobou Publishing Co. for its contribution to popularizing more serious mathematical sciences by publishing many good books on the motive and the philosophy be- hind the development of mathematical sciences.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Call for Proposals
The EPSRC Partnerships for Public Engage- ment (PPE) scheme provides opportunities for researchers to undertake public engage- ment projects related to their research interests. Awards are aimed at active re- searchers, and their research groups, in partnership with outside specialists or partner organisations that can provide the necessary expertise. EPSRC is particularly interested in projects that not only increase the public’s awareness of science and engineering, but also include some level of dialogue be- tween members of the public and scientists or engineers. EPSRC would also encourage projects to consider the wider context of the research area, particularly in reference to societal and ethical issues. The deadline is 4 pm on Wednesday 11 November 2009. For further and more de- tailed information visit the website at www. epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/ppe14.htm.
November09-NL.indd 7 22/10/2009 13:22:13 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
LMS DURHAM RESEARCH until at least 2013, and the RMC is able to associated costs) in the range £4k–£15k will be approve proposals (after an external referee- considered by the Committee. Applications SYMPOSIA ing process) and commit substantial funding, for partial support for larger events will only The LMS Research Meetings Committee is including full economic costs of the organis- exceptionally be supported. The primary pur- responsible for the planning of the LMS ers, the subsistence costs of all invited partici- pose of the scheme is to support new research Durham Symposia, which have been running pants, and some travel support. Considerable initiatives, and the Committee may take this successfully each July and August since 1974, assistance is available in preparing the scien- into account in considering support for meet- with 90 symposia to date, in a wide range of tific and financial case for the proposals, and ings which form part of an established series. mathematical disciplines. In 2009 there were in the running of the symposium itself. Grant requests for conferences should be two Durham Symposia, both supported by More information concerning the Durham made to the Society’s Programme Committee EPSRC. Symposia is available on the LMS website instead, which has funds for this purpose. • 6-16 July: Combinatorial and geometric (www.lms.ac.uk/activities/rmc/). Applications should be sent by email to structures in representation theory [email protected]; there is no application (organisers: J. Brundan, J. Chuang, I. Gordon, LMS Research Workshops form. Proposals should contain a description B. Leclerc) As well as the successful series of Durham of the research area, the aims and format • 20-30 July: New directions in the model Research Symposia, the Research Meetings of the workshop, a list of participants and theory of fields (organisers: D. Macpherson, Committee supports research workshops. a budget, as well as details of the proposed A. Pillay, M. Prest, A. Wilkie) These may be held anywhere in the UK, and location and timing. Applicants are advised The Durham website (www.maths.dur.ac.uk/ are an opportunity for a small group of active to consult Nick Manton ([email protected]) events/Meetings/LMS/) gives information researchers to work together for a concen- informally about their proposed programme about the above, and all previous symposia trated period, on a specialised topic. Possible and timescale before making an application. including, in many cases, a list of participants, aims could include: Applications should normally be made 8–12 abstracts of talks, a symposium photograph • to understand an important new piece of months before the proposed workshop. (the earliest surviving photograph is from mathematics in an area where the partici- 1976), lecture notes and, for more recent pants hope to make further progress; JIM WIEGOLD symposia, videos of the talks. • to make progress on a particular problem; The symposia in 2008 and 2007 were as • to combine expertise to shed new light on Professor James Wiegold, who was elected a follows. a specific area. member of the London Mathematical Society 2008 There is no prescribed format for an LMS on 13 June 1957, died on 4 August 2009, aged • Mathematical aspects of graphical models research workshop, but it is expected that 74. He was LMS Journal Secretary 1975–77, (P. Dawid, S. Lauritzen) the number of participants will be usually Proceedings Editor 1986–92 and Deputy Editor • Computational linear algebra for partial no more than 40, and could be as low as 10, on Sbornik. differential equations (A. Ramage, meeting for a period of a week or more. All John Lennox writes: Jim Wiegold was a D. Silvester, A. Wathen) participants should be actively involved in the gifted and passionate mathematician. At 2007 programme, and should be identified in the Manchester he gained a BSc (1st class) in • Recent developments in random walks proposal; the participation of appropriate 1954, MSc 1955 and PhD 1958 on Nilpotent (B. Hambly, L. Saloff-Coste, P. Tarr�s), postdocs and graduate students is encour- products of groups with amalgamations, • Twistors, strings and scattering amplitudes aged. Applications to support development supervised by Bernhard Neumann. (Z. Bern, P. Candelas, X. de la Ossa, L. Mason) of research in an area not ready for a larger- He was Assistant Lecturer at the University The LMS Research Meetings Committee scale application (either to LMS or EPSRC) are College of North Staffordshire (1957–60) and (RMC) welcomes ideas for symposia, for 2012 welcomed. All proposals are refereed, and Lecturer, Faculty of Technology, Manchester and later, from potential organisers and oth- the Committee will offer support only if it University (1960–63). In 1963 family consider- ers, who should contact the Chairman of the believes that the benefits to UK mathematics ations drew him back to Wales to what is now Committee, Professor N.S. Manton (manton@ are likely to be significant. Cardiff University. He rose rapidly through lms.ac.uk). The EPSRC has recently agreed to Requests for support (for travel and sub- the ranks of Senior Lecturer and Reader and fund the Durham Symposium programme sistence of participants, and reasonable was awarded a personal chair in 1974 and
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until at least 2013, and the RMC is able to associated costs) in the range £4k–£15k will be a University of Wales DSc in 1976. During approve proposals (after an external referee- considered by the Committee. Applications 1968–70 he visited the ANU to work with ing process) and commit substantial funding, for partial support for larger events will only Hanna Neumann, a visit of great impor- including full economic costs of the organis- exceptionally be supported. The primary pur- tance to his mathematical development. ers, the subsistence costs of all invited partici- pose of the scheme is to support new research He was also a Member of the Mathematical pants, and some travel support. Considerable initiatives, and the Committee may take this Sciences Subcommittee of the University assistance is available in preparing the scien- into account in considering support for meet- Grants Committee. tific and financial case for the proposals, and ings which form part of an established series. But first and foremost Jim was a gifted in the running of the symposium itself. Grant requests for conferences should be research mathematician, prolific and -gre More information concerning the Durham made to the Society’s Programme Committee garious. Two-thirds of his 126 papers were Symposia is available on the LMS website instead, which has funds for this purpose. written jointly with others. His joy in collabo- (www.lms.ac.uk/activities/rmc/). Applications should be sent by email to rative work sprang from a rare intellectual [email protected]; there is no application generosity. He had 14 research students in all LMS Research Workshops form. Proposals should contain a description of whom he took great pride. He was also a As well as the successful series of Durham of the research area, the aims and format gifted communicator whose lectures were Research Symposia, the Research Meetings of the workshop, a list of participants and a model of fluency, logical clarity and, some- Committee supports research workshops. a budget, as well as details of the proposed what rare among mathematicians, legibility These may be held anywhere in the UK, and location and timing. Applicants are advised – and that, incidentally, whether he wrote are an opportunity for a small group of active to consult Nick Manton ([email protected]) with his right hand or his left. He was much researchers to work together for a concen- informally about their proposed programme in demand as a plenary speaker. trated period, on a specialised topic. Possible and timescale before making an application. In 1981 Jim contributed a series of cel- aims could include: Applications should normally be made 8–12 ebrated lectures (published by the LMS) on • to understand an important new piece of months before the proposed workshop. his seminal and elegant work on the Schur mathematics in an area where the partici- multiplicator to the first ever Groups St pants hope to make further progress; JIM WIEGOLD Andrews conference. In their history of that • to make progress on a particular problem; conference Colin Campbell and Edmund • to combine expertise to shed new light on Professor James Wiegold, who was elected a Robertson write: “Despite our planning of a specific area. member of the London Mathematical Society the 1981 dates, the wedding of Prince Charles There is no prescribed format for an LMS on 13 June 1957, died on 4 August 2009, aged and Princess Diana was announced to take research workshop, but it is expected that 74. He was LMS Journal Secretary 1975–77, place during it… However, Jim Wiegold, the the number of participants will be usually Proceedings Editor 1986–92 and Deputy Editor ‘Mathematical Prince of Wales’, provided our no more than 40, and could be as low as 10, on Sbornik. own star attraction.” It was fitting that at the meeting for a period of a week or more. All John Lennox writes: Jim Wiegold was a 29th Groups St Andrews conference in Bath participants should be actively involved in the gifted and passionate mathematician. At that ended last week, participants were called programme, and should be identified in the Manchester he gained a BSc (1st class) in upon by Charles Leedham-Green to stand proposal; the participation of appropriate 1954, MSc 1955 and PhD 1958 on Nilpotent in silence in tribute to that Mathematical postdocs and graduate students is encour- products of groups with amalgamations, Prince of Wales. aged. Applications to support development supervised by Bernhard Neumann. Jim, though small in stature, was a big man of research in an area not ready for a larger- He was Assistant Lecturer at the University in every other way making it impossible to scale application (either to LMS or EPSRC) are College of North Staffordshire (1957–60) and separate the personal from the professional. welcomed. All proposals are refereed, and Lecturer, Faculty of Technology, Manchester Peter Neumann wrote: “Jim’s professional the Committee will offer support only if it University (1960–63). In 1963 family consider- record is excellent; his personal record the believes that the benefits to UK mathematics ations drew him back to Wales to what is now same, and he had the uncanny knack of com- are likely to be significant. Cardiff University. He rose rapidly through bining the two in such a way that everyone Requests for support (for travel and sub- the ranks of Senior Lecturer and Reader and who came across him professionally, loved sistence of participants, and reasonable was awarded a personal chair in 1974 and him personally.”
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NEWSLETTER
PETER RADO preliminarily agreed that, if it is approved, the administration of the project will be Dr Peter Rado who was elected a member run by the European Science Foundation. of the London Mathematical Society on 16 Thibaut will assist with writing the pro- November 1972, died on 25 June 2009, aged 66. posal, so it satisfies all necessary Brussels’ Norman Biggs writes: Peter was born into requirements. The ESF will be responsible mathematics, because his father Richard for the administration but not for the Rado was for many years Professor at scientific content of the project. Work is Reading University. At the age of 15 he proceeding on the text of the proposal was diagnosed to be suffering from kidney in coordination with the ESF (Thibaut), failure, and the prognosis was bleak. De- ERCOM (Jean-Pierre) and the EMS Applied spite spending many hours on dialysis in Mathematics Committee (Mario). There a hospital bed, he graduated from Cam- will be a further meeting in October in bridge in 1966, and in 1970 he became a Strasbourg. lecturer at Royal Holloway. Not surpris- ingly, his lifestyle at that time was rather NEWS FROM THE IMU complicated, although he managed to pursue his interest in choral singing. In African Mathematical Union 10 due course he was able to have dialysis at At the General Assembly of the African Math- home, and in 1976 he married Jo Headley, ematical Union which took place in Yamous- a fellow member of the BBC Symphony soukro (Ivory Coast) on 2 August 2009, the Choir, who brought some order and nor- following new Executive Committee mem- mality into his life. Peter and Jo started bers were elected: a family, and in 1988 a kidney transplant • President: Professor Saliou Touré was successful. In 1989 he took up a post (Ivory Coast) at Leighton Park School in Reading, but • Secretary General: Professor Oluwole he remained in touch with the mathe- Daniel Makinde (South Africa) matical community and was often to be • Treasurer: Professor Moussa Ouattara seen at the annual Reading Combinatorics (Burkina Faso) Colloquia. • Regional Vice-Presidents: Vice-President for North Africa: EU INFRASTRUCTURE Professor Chikh Bouzar (Algeria) Vice-President for West Africa: IN MATHEMATICS Professor Sam Ale (Nigeria) After considerable efforts by the European Vice-President for Central Africa: Mathematical Society, the European Union Professor Juma Shabani (Burundi) has agreed to acknowledge infrastructures Vice-President for East Africa: in Mathematics. At the end of July Brussels Verdiana Masanja (Tanzania) published a €10M call on ‘Infrastructures Vice-President for Southern Africa: for Mathematics and its interfaces with Edward Lungu (Botswana) science, technology and society at large’. For more information, contact Professor On 24 September there was an infrastruc- Makinde ([email protected] or dmakinde@ ture meeting in Brussels where Jean-Pierre yahoo.com). Bourguignon, Mario Promicerio, Thibaut The above item is taken from the 37th issue of the IMU Lery (ESF) and Ari Laptev (EMS President) electronic newsletter IMU Net (see www.mathunion.org/ met Lorenza Saracco of the EU. It has been IMU-Net).
November09-NL.indd 10 22/10/2009 13:22:14 No. 386 November 2009
preliminarily agreed that, if it is approved, the administration of the project will be run by the European Science Foundation. Thibaut will assist with writing the pro- posal, so it satisfies all necessary Brussels’ requirements. The ESF will be responsible for the administration but not for the scientific content of the project. Work is proceeding on the text of the proposal in coordination with the ESF (Thibaut), ERCOM (Jean-Pierre) and the EMS Applied Mathematics Committee (Mario). There will be a further meeting in October in Strasbourg. NEWS FROM THE IMU
African Mathematical Union At the General Assembly of the African Math- 11 ematical Union which took place in Yamous- soukro (Ivory Coast) on 2 August 2009, the following new Executive Committee mem- bers were elected: • President: Professor Saliou Touré (Ivory Coast) • Secretary General: Professor Oluwole Daniel Makinde (South Africa) • Treasurer: Professor Moussa Ouattara (Burkina Faso) • Regional Vice-Presidents: Vice-President for North Africa: Professor Chikh Bouzar (Algeria) Vice-President for West Africa: Professor Sam Ale (Nigeria) Vice-President for Central Africa: Professor Juma Shabani (Burundi) Vice-President for East Africa: Verdiana Masanja (Tanzania) Vice-President for Southern Africa: Edward Lungu (Botswana) For more information, contact Professor Makinde ([email protected] or dmakinde@ yahoo.com).
The above item is taken from the 37th issue of the IMU electronic newsletter IMU Net (see www.mathunion.org/ IMU-Net).
November09-NL.indd 11 22/10/2009 13:22:16 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP REF consultation
Setting Research Funding Priorities The mathematics community was also rep- The Higher Education Funding Council for resented by the IMA’s education officer and England launched a consultation on its pro- The Council for the Mathematical Sciences the secretariat of the Advisory Committee posals for the Research Excellence Frame- has responded to the House of Lords Science on Mathematics Education. CaSE is working work, which is due to replace the Research and Technology Committee’s recent call for with its members (learned and professional Assessment Exercise from 2012. The new sys- evidence on the setting of research fund- societies, universities and institutes, chari- tem will see each university department sub- ing priorities. The CMS response was strong ties and business) to produce a document mit evidence to be rated, with 60% of marks in its defence for funding fundamental on behalf of the science, technology, engi- awarded for the quality of their research as research. It argued that the balance between neering and mathematics community which judged by academic panels, 25% according targeted and response-mode research has will be used in the coming few months to to the impact the research makes and 15% shifted so far towards the former as to inform the political parties in the run up to according to the quality of the department. threaten the viability of basic science in the next general election. The Council for the Mathematical Sciences this country. Citing the recent cuts to the is planning to respond to the consultation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research The Big Bang Young Scientists and Engineers and will examine the potential benefits and Council’s annual budget for mathematical Fair possible drawbacks of having a combined sciences (down from £21 million in 2006/7 panel and Unit of Assessment covering all 12 to just £14 million in 2009/10), the CMS Jeremy Buckle, event director of the Big pure mathematics, applied mathematics and wrote: “We believe that the budget is Bang Fair, addressed a well-attended meet- statistics. It will also consider the weighting now below the minimum needed to sus- ing of the Mathematics Promotion Network of the ‘impact’ component of the assessment tain mathematical sciences research. The at the end of September. The fair aims to and the extent to which the assessment of effects of ‘turning the tap off’ will be felt attract over 20,000 visitors, predominantly this will take account of particular features for a long time… a decision to decrease aged 9 to 19, celebrating STEM and ulti- of mathematical sciences. The CMS had been investment in fundamental research now is mately looking to show them what sort of concerned that reliability of citation meas- a decision to limit innovation further down- careers are available to them from studying ures in the mathematical sciences would be stream, even in the targeted areas that the STEM subjects. The fair will pull together a problem in the new system, but the con- Research Councils are aiming to support.” over 70 organisations from business and in- sultation document suggests that individual The enquiry was launched in the context of dustry, government and the STEM commu- panels will be able to decide on the extent to public debate on cuts in public spending, nity, with stands, competitions, workshops which metrics will inform their peer review looking at how these will affect science and and large-scale high-tech shows. Mr Buckle process and other matters such as possible technology spending. To read the full CMS is keen to see activities from the mathemat- sampling methods for reviewing outputs. To response, visit www.cms.ac.uk/submissions. ical sciences well represented at the event, view the consultation, which closes on 16 De- html. which will take place in Manchester from cember 2009, visit www.hefce.ac.uk/news/he- 11 to 13 March 2010. He invited the mathe- fce/2009/ref.htm. General Election planning matical sciences to submit proposals for the Caroline Davis fair, underlining his understanding of the Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer LMS staff attended workshops at the Cam- unique nature of these subjects and en- paign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) couraging the community to work with the EUROMATH 2010 to ensure that the views of the mathemati- fair to develop suitable resources. The fair cal sciences community are represented in first took place earlier this year in London. The EUROMATH 2010 Student Confer- the CaSE’s forthcoming general election It grew from a proposal in Lord Sainsbury’s ence in Mathematics for students aged campaign. The workshops covered the 2007 report Race to the Top. To find out more 12–18 will be held in Bad Goisern, Austria, machinery of science and engineering in about the fair, visit www.thebigbangfair. from 25 to 28 February 2010. Please visit government and government departmental co.uk and to submit proposals go to www. the website www.euromath.org for more R&D, education, skills and the research base. thebigbangfair.co.uk/activities.cfm. information.
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MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP REF consultation NEWS FROM ICMS Calls for proposals The mathematics community was also rep- The Higher Education Funding Council for resented by the IMA’s education officer and England launched a consultation on its pro- The International Centre for Mathematical the secretariat of the Advisory Committee posals for the Research Excellence Frame- Sciences (ICMS) is inviting proposals for work- on Mathematics Education. CaSE is working work, which is due to replace the Research shops to take place in 2011. Proposals can be with its members (learned and professional Assessment Exercise from 2012. The new sys- submitted up to the end of November 2009 for societies, universities and institutes, chari- tem will see each university department sub- consideration by the Programme Committee ties and business) to produce a document mit evidence to be rated, with 60% of marks in January 2010. Potential organisers should on behalf of the science, technology, engi- awarded for the quality of their research as contact Irene Moore, Centre Manager at ICMS neering and mathematics community which judged by academic panels, 25% according ([email protected]) to discuss ideas and will be used in the coming few months to to the impact the research makes and 15% timetables before submitting a firm proposal. inform the political parties in the run up to according to the quality of the department. Proposals are also invited for the ICMS the next general election. The Council for the Mathematical Sciences Research-In-Groups (RiGs) programme. This is planning to respond to the consultation programme enables researchers to spend a The Big Bang Young Scientists and Engineers and will examine the potential benefits and short period in intensive research collaboration Fair possible drawbacks of having a combined at ICMS, in Edinburgh, away from teaching and panel and Unit of Assessment covering all administration. The primary aim of this flexible Jeremy Buckle, event director of the Big pure mathematics, applied mathematics and programme is to support top-quality interna- 13 Bang Fair, addressed a well-attended meet- statistics. It will also consider the weighting tional research in the mathematical sciences. ing of the Mathematics Promotion Network of the ‘impact’ component of the assessment Therefore ICMS encourages adventurous pro- at the end of September. The fair aims to and the extent to which the assessment of posals involving novel groupings of researchers, attract over 20,000 visitors, predominantly this will take account of particular features especially in interdisciplinary areas, involving aged 9 to 19, celebrating STEM and ulti- of mathematical sciences. The CMS had been overseas collaborators. Proposals can be sub- mately looking to show them what sort of concerned that reliability of citation meas- mitted at anytime. Forthcoming workshops: careers are available to them from studying ures in the mathematical sciences would be • Mixture estimation and applications STEM subjects. The fair will pull together a problem in the new system, but the con- 3–5 March 2010 over 70 organisations from business and in- sultation document suggests that individual • Numerical solution of the Painlevé equations dustry, government and the STEM commu- panels will be able to decide on the extent to 10–14 May 2010 nity, with stands, competitions, workshops which metrics will inform their peer review • Uncertainty quantification 24–28 May 2010 and large-scale high-tech shows. Mr Buckle process and other matters such as possible • Hodge-theoretic reflections on the string is keen to see activities from the mathemat- sampling methods for reviewing outputs. To landscape 14–18 June 2010 ical sciences well represented at the event, view the consultation, which closes on 16 De- • Mathematical challenges and modelling of which will take place in Manchester from cember 2009, visit www.hefce.ac.uk/news/he- hydroelasticity 22–25 June 2010 11 to 13 March 2010. He invited the mathe- fce/2009/ref.htm. • Symplectic geometry and transformation matical sciences to submit proposals for the Caroline Davis groups 5–9 July 2010 fair, underlining his understanding of the Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer • Reconstructing and understanding climate unique nature of these subjects and en- change over the last few millennia and the couraging the community to work with the EUROMATH 2010 Holocene 12–13 July 2010 fair to develop suitable resources. The fair • Multivariate approximation and interpola- first took place earlier this year in London. The EUROMATH 2010 Student Confer- tion with applications 6–10 September 2010 It grew from a proposal in Lord Sainsbury’s ence in Mathematics for students aged • Oscillatory integrals in harmonic analysis 2007 report Race to the Top. To find out more 12–18 will be held in Bad Goisern, Austria, 25–29 July 2011 about the fair, visit www.thebigbangfair. from 25 to 28 February 2010. Please visit Further information on both programmes co.uk and to submit proposals go to www. the website www.euromath.org for more is available at www.icms.org.uk/forthcoming thebigbangfair.co.uk/activities.cfm. information. Workshops.php.
November09-NL.indd 13 22/10/2009 13:22:16 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
ALAN TURING Alan Turing gets an apology as the centenary of his birth approaches.
It is not often mathematicians feature in the international media, still less get an apology from a head of government. But the petition asking for an apology from the UK Prime Minister for the prosecution of Alan Turing that led to his untimely death (see the Octo- ber Newsletter) rapidly attracted over 31,000 signatures. It was rewarded with a full and obviously sincere statement of regret for Turing’s treatment from Gordon Brown, with the petition still having four months to run (it closes on 20 January 2010). The next step, it is hoped, will be wider 14 recognition of the unique impact of Turing’s scientific work on the modern world. Turing was one of only two mathematicians to feature in 2000 in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Important People of the Century, those who “most influenced the last 100 years”. Apart from Turing’s key code-breaking work at Bletchley Park during WWII, he also made seminal contributions to artificial intelli- gence, the development of the computer, and the mathematical analysis of morpho- genesis, complexity and incomputability in the world. The 2012 Turing Centenary is now less than three years away, and people from many spheres of activity are working together to prepare for a 2012 ‘Alan Turing Year’ worthy of the great man and mathematician. Already the BMC committee has confirmed the dates (16–19 April 2012) for the British Mathematical Colloquium at the University of Kent, with unanimous agreement to include a suitable celebration of Turing’s birthday. There are also a number of other major Turing-related conferences planned for 2012. For more in- formation go to www.turingcentenary.eu. Barry Cooper University of Leeds
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ALAN TURING IBNI OUMAR Alan Turing gets an apology as the MAHAMAT SALEH centenary of his birth approaches. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh was kidnapped from his home in N’Djamena on 3 February It is not often mathematicians feature in the 2008, and almost certainly murdered soon international media, still less get an apology after. Saleh was a French-trained mathemati- from a head of government. But the petition cian, academic administrator and politician, asking for an apology from the UK Prime and was very active in Chadian mathematics Minister for the prosecution of Alan Turing and science and in scientific contacts between that led to his untimely death (see the Octo- Chad and France. In September 2008 the au- ber Newsletter) rapidly attracted over 31,000 thorities in Chad published a report on the signatures. It was rewarded with a full and events of February 2008, concluding that the obviously sincere statement of regret for crime was the work of elements of the Chad Turing’s treatment from Gordon Brown, with army, but without giving any details. the petition still having four months to run A number of French colleagues of Saleh (it closes on 20 January 2010). have set up a petition demanding the truth The next step, it is hoped, will be wider on Saleh’s disappearance, supported by recognition of the unique impact of Turing’s Société Mathématique de France among 15 scientific work on the modern world. many other organisations and individuals. Turing was one of only two mathematicians Looking to the future, they are also setting to feature in 2000 in Time Magazine’s 100 up a scientific prize to keep his memory Most Important People of the Century, those alive, and to foster his scientific work and who “most influenced the last 100 years”. international collaboration. For details, or Apart from Turing’s key code-breaking work to subscribe to the prize fund, please go to at Bletchley Park during WWII, he also made http://smf.emath.fr/PetitionSaleh/ and http:// seminal contributions to artificial intelli- prisonniers-politiques.over-blog.com/article- gence, the development of the computer, 27611897.html. and the mathematical analysis of morpho- Miles Reid genesis, complexity and incomputability in University of Warwick the world. The 2012 Turing Centenary is now less than VISIT OF three years away, and people from many spheres of activity are working together to PROFESSOR P. GORKIN prepare for a 2012 ‘Alan Turing Year’ worthy Professor Pamela Gorkin (Bucknell University, of the great man and mathematician. Already Lewisburg, USA) will be visiting the UK and the BMC committee has confirmed the dates Ireland from 16 to 29 November 2009. She (16–19 April 2012) for the British Mathematical will give talks on Blaschke products and re- Colloquium at the University of Kent, with lated topics at: unanimous agreement to include a suitable • Leeds, 17 November celebration of Turing’s birthday. There are • Lancaster, 20 November also a number of other major Turing-related • Maynooth, 25 November conferences planned for 2012. For more in- • Belfast, 27 November formation go to www.turingcentenary.eu. For further information contact Dr Martin Barry Cooper Mathieu ([email protected]). This visit is sup- University of Leeds ported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant.
November09-NL.indd 15 22/10/2009 13:22:20 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
GOOD PRACTICE AWARD ICWM 2010 Advancing women’s careers in the mathematical sciences Second Announcement The International Conference of Women It is well documented that although nearly encourage the participation of all staff. Mathematicians (ICWM) will take place from 40% of graduates in the mathematical sciences 5: Flexible and sensitive employment 17 to 18 August 2010 at the University of are female, there is a severe drop-off in the arrangements that enable individuals, at all Hyderabad over the two days immediately proportion of women who become academic career and life stages, to maximise their con- before the International Congress in 2010. mathematicians. Only about 4% of profes- tribution to mathematics, their department The meeting is aimed principally at women sors of mathematics in the UK are female. and institution. mathematicians attending the ICM (though This is a general story across STEM subjects, A number of initiatives have been de- men are also very welcome to attend), and in although the drop-off rate is particularly bad veloped to try and improve the culture in particular at young women mathematicians for mathematics. science and technology de- and women from Asia and from developing The LMS Women in Mathe- partments – specifically for countries. The talks will be colloquium-style matics Committee (WiM), women, but such cultural lectures aimed at a general mathematical working with the Commit- changes often benefit the audience, and it is hoped that participants tee of Heads of Departments working lives of all. For will be provided with an opportunity to meet of Mathematical Sciences example, the Institute of other women mathematicians about to take 16 (HoDoMS), has launched a Physics recently launched part in the ICM and to find out about some new scheme, called the Good ‘Project Juno’, a code of of the areas of research to be covered at the Practice Award, which aims practice for university physics ICM. There will be nine lectures of 45 minutes to address this problem. All departments following a each from the following speakers: UK university mathematical series of audit visits to uni- • Julie Deserti (Paris, France) science departments should versity departments. The • Frances Kirwan (Oxford, UK) have now received informa- Royal Society of Chemistry • Maryam Mirzakhani (Stanford, USA) tion about the scheme. also has an active scheme, • Neela Nataraj (IIT Bombay, India) The Good Practice Award and there is an overarching • Raman Parimala (Atlanta, USA) aims to advance women’s code of practice for STEM • Mythily Ramaswamy (TIFR Bangalore, careers in these departments. faculties, the Athena SWAN India) The process is intended not Charter. • Maria Saprykina (KTH Stockholm, Sweden) to be overly bureaucratic or onerous, but to The Good Practice Award committee ben- • Nathalie Wahl (Copenhagen, Denmark) focus on the real issues and produce actual efited from the expertise of the IoP, who have • Di Yana (CAS Beijing, China) benefits to the departments and those who been happy to share their experience, and In addition to the lectures there will be a work in them. It is based on five principles. from links with the RSC and Athena SWAN. discussion forum and a conference dinner on 1: A robust organisational framework to It is hoped that all departments will sign up the evening of 17 August. Registration will deliver equality of opportunity and reward. to the five principles and become ‘GPA Sup- begin on 1 January 2010. More information 2: Appointment, promotion and selection porters’, before working their way through (on the venue, programme, accommodation processes and procedures that encourage action plans to become ‘GPA Champions’. etc) will be available on the website by then. men and women to apply for academic posts Departments which would like to be con- ICWM 2010 is being organised with the at all levels. sidered will be asked to submit a report support of European Women in Mathematics 3: Departmental structures and systems and action plan and would then be visited (http://www.math.helsinki.fi/EWM/), the Eu- that enable men and women to progress and by a small panel from the Award Steering ropean Mathematical Society (http://www. continue in their careers. Committee. emis.de/) and the Association for Women in 4: Departmental organisation, structure, For more information or a copy of the bro- Mathematics (http://www.awm-math.org/). management arrangements and culture chure please see the LMS website www.lms.ac. Financial support is being provided by the that are open, inclusive and transparent and uk or contact [email protected]. National Board for Higher Mathematics
November09-NL.indd 16 22/10/2009 13:22:24 No. 386 November 2009
ICWM 2010 (NBHM), India, and by Schlumberger. There will be some funding available to support the Second Announcement Advancing women’s careers in the mathematical sciences travel and accommodation costs of women The International Conference of Women participants from Asian and developing coun- encourage the participation of all staff. Mathematicians (ICWM) will take place from tries, and women from these countries are 5: Flexible and sensitive employment 17 to 18 August 2010 at the University of encouraged to apply to the local organizing arrangements that enable individuals, at all Hyderabad over the two days immediately committee. The local organising committee career and life stages, to maximise their con- before the International Congress in 2010. (set up by the ICM Executive Organizing Com- tribution to mathematics, their department The meeting is aimed principally at women mittee) is: and institution. mathematicians attending the ICM (though • Shobha Madan (Indian Institute of A number of initiatives have been de- men are also very welcome to attend), and in Technology, Kanpur), chair veloped to try and improve the culture in particular at young women mathematicians • Mahuya Datta (Indian Statistical Institute, science and technology de- and women from Asia and from developing Kolkata) partments – specifically for countries. The talks will be colloquium-style • S.G. Dani (Tata Institute of Fundamental women, but such cultural lectures aimed at a general mathematical Research, Mumbai) changes often benefit the audience, and it is hoped that participants • Jaya N. Iyer (Institute of Mathematical working lives of all. For will be provided with an opportunity to meet Sciences, Chennai) example, the Institute of other women mathematicians about to take • B. Sri Padmavathy (University of Physics recently launched part in the ICM and to find out about some Hyderabad, Hyderabad) 17 ‘Project Juno’, a code of of the areas of research to be covered at the • Rahul Roy (Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi) practice for university physics ICM. There will be nine lectures of 45 minutes • Geetha Venkataraman departments following a each from the following speakers: (St. Stephen’s College, Delhi) series of audit visits to uni- • Julie Deserti (Paris, France) The scientific programme has been planned versity departments. The • Frances Kirwan (Oxford, UK) by the EWM/EMS Scientific Committee, co- Royal Society of Chemistry • Maryam Mirzakhani (Stanford, USA) opting two mathematicians from India. The also has an active scheme, • Neela Nataraj (IIT Bombay, India) scientific committee is: and there is an overarching • Raman Parimala (Atlanta, USA) • Ulrike Tillmann (Oxford, UK), chair code of practice for STEM • Mythily Ramaswamy (TIFR Bangalore, • Viviane Baladi (ÉNS, Paris, France) faculties, the Athena SWAN India) • Eva Bayer (Lausanne, Switzerland) Charter. • Maria Saprykina (KTH Stockholm, Sweden) • Christine Bernardi (Paris VI, France) The Good Practice Award committee ben- • Nathalie Wahl (Copenhagen, Denmark) • Christine Bessenrodt (Hannover, Germany) efited from the expertise of the IoP, who have • Di Yana (CAS Beijing, China) • Antonella Grassi (U. Penn., USA) been happy to share their experience, and In addition to the lectures there will be a • Ursula Hamenstädt (Bonn, Germany) from links with the RSC and Athena SWAN. discussion forum and a conference dinner on • Dusa McDuff (Stony Brook, USA) It is hoped that all departments will sign up the evening of 17 August. Registration will • Ragni Piene (Oslo, Norway) to the five principles and become ‘GPA Sup- begin on 1 January 2010. More information • Mythily Ramaswamy (TIFR Bangalore, porters’, before working their way through (on the venue, programme, accommodation India) action plans to become ‘GPA Champions’. etc) will be available on the website by then. • Sujatha Ramadorai (TIFR Mumbai, India) Departments which would like to be con- ICWM 2010 is being organised with the • Vera Sos (Rényi Institute, Budapest, sidered will be asked to submit a report support of European Women in Mathematics Hungary) and action plan and would then be visited (http://www.math.helsinki.fi/EWM/), the Eu- • Nina Uraltseva (St Petersburg, Russia) by a small panel from the Award Steering ropean Mathematical Society (http://www. • Mich�le Vergne (École Polytechnique, Committee. emis.de/) and the Association for Women in Paris, France) For more information or a copy of the bro- Mathematics (http://www.awm-math.org/). For more information contact the chair of chure please see the LMS website www.lms.ac. Financial support is being provided by the the organising committee Shobha Madan uk or contact [email protected]. National Board for Higher Mathematics ([email protected]).
November09-NL.indd 17 22/10/2009 13:22:24 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
ICM 2010 INVITED SPEAKERS
The International Mathematical Union prepares the list of invited speakers of an International Congress with extreme care. The PC/OC Guide- lines (www.mathunion.org/fileadmin/IMU/PC- OC-Guidelines.pdf) state in the beginning: “Every ICM should reflect the current activity of mathe- matics in the world, present the best work be- ing carried out in all mathematical subfields and different regions of the world, and thus, point to the future of mathematics. The invited speak- ers at an ICM should be mathematicians of the highest quality who are able to present current research to a broad mathematical audience.” The IMU President chooses the chair of the programme committee (Hendrik Lenstra for ICM 2010), then the IMU Executive Committee selects, 18 together with the PC chair, the other members of the programme committee, which then decides on the structure of the next ICM (sections and their definition, number of lectures, etc.), and se- lects panels for each section, which recommend the persons to be invited to speak. The PC then composes the scientific ICM programme taking such issues as gender balance, geographical/ regional distribution, representation of develop- ing countries and of subfields of mathematics into account (as long as these considerations do not compromise mathematical quality). This complicated process has now ended. The ICM 2010 Organizing Committee has invited all mathematicians selected by the PC, and almost all have accepted this very special honour. There are two types of Invited Lecturers: Plenary Speak- ers who will speak for one hour without any par- allel activity and Sectional Speakers lecturing for 45 minutes with five to seven of such lectures in parallel. There will be twenty plenary lectures: • David Aldous (USA) • Artur Avila (Brazil and France) • R. Balasubramanian (India) • Jean-Michel Coron (France) • Irit Dinur (Israel) • Hillel Furstenberg (Israel) • Thomas J.R. Hughes (USA)
November09-NL.indd 18 22/10/2009 13:22:40 No. 386 November 2009
ICM 2010 INVITED SPEAKERS • Peter Jones (USA) • Carlos Kenig (USA) The International Mathematical Union prepares • Ngo Bao Chau (USA) the list of invited speakers of an International • Stanley Osher (USA) Congress with extreme care. The PC/OC Guide- • R. Parimala (USA) lines (www.mathunion.org/fileadmin/IMU/PC- • A. N. Parshin (Russia) OC-Guidelines.pdf) state in the beginning: “Every • Shige Peng (P.R. China) ICM should reflect the current activity of mathe- • Kim Plofker (USA) matics in the world, present the best work be- • Nicolai Reshetikhin (USA) ing carried out in all mathematical subfields and • Richard Schoen (USA) different regions of the world, and thus, point • Cliff Taubes (USA) to the future of mathematics. The invited speak- • Claire Voisin (France) ers at an ICM should be mathematicians of the • Hugh Woodin (USA) highest quality who are able to present current For the list of Sectional Speakers and Panel research to a broad mathematical audience.” Discussions visit the website at www.icm2010. The IMU President chooses the chair of the org.in/speakers.php. programme committee (Hendrik Lenstra for ICM 2010), then the IMU Executive Committee selects, BSHM SPECIAL together with the PC chair, the other members of 19 the programme committee, which then decides DECEMBER LECTURE on the structure of the next ICM (sections and The British Society for the History of Mathe- their definition, number of lectures, etc.), and se- matics (BSHM) Special December Lecture will lects panels for each section, which recommend be given by Dr Volker R. Remmert (Mainz the persons to be invited to speak. The PC then University) on Visual representations of the composes the scientific ICM programme taking mathematical sciences in the early modern such issues as gender balance, geographical/ period. The early modern mathematical sci- regional distribution, representation of develop- ences were embedded in a rich visual culture ing countries and of subfields of mathematics and mathematicians drew heavily on it. To into account (as long as these considerations do promote their individual career, particular not compromise mathematical quality). results and theories, or their specific discipline This complicated process has now ended. The they would design elaborated visual state- ICM 2010 Organizing Committee has invited all ments. Thus the iconography of frontispieces mathematicians selected by the PC, and almost or scientific instruments often highlighted all have accepted this very special honour. There the antiquity, the nobility and the utility of are two types of Invited Lecturers: Plenary Speak- the mathematical sciences. The talk affords ers who will speak for one hour without any par- an insight into such visual strategies – often allel activity and Sectional Speakers lecturing for overlooked today, but essential to early 45 minutes with five to seven of such lectures in modern mathematicians. parallel. There will be twenty plenary lectures: The lecture will take place at 2.00 pm on • David Aldous (USA) Saturday 12 December 2009 in the Hardy Room • Artur Avila (Brazil and France) at De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, • R. Balasubramanian (India) London WC1B 4HS. Admission is £5 (free to • Jean-Michel Coron (France) students) including tea/coffee after the lec- • Irit Dinur (Israel) ture. Payment should be sent with your name, • Hillel Furstenberg (Israel) address and email to Raymond Flood, Kellogg • Thomas J.R. Hughes (USA) College, 62 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PN..
November09-NL.indd 19 22/10/2009 13:22:40 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
BMC/BAMC 2010 BCS–FACS EVENING CHISWELL SYMPOSIUM SEMINAR The 2010 combined meeting of the British On Monday 9 November 2009, there will Mathematical Colloquium and British Applied The British Computer Society – Formal be three lectures and a dinner to celebrate Mathematics Colloquium is being organised Aspects of Computing Science (BCS–FACS) the career and mark the retirement of Ian by the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical will be holding a joint event with the London Chiswell from Queen Mary, University of Sciences in Edinburgh. It will be held from Mathematical Society on Tuesday 1 December London. The lectures will be given by: 6 to 9 April (begins mid-morning, Tuesday 2009 at 5.45 pm. The speaker will be Pro- • Martin Dunwoody (Southampton) 6 April, ends at 12.30 pm on Friday 9 April) fessor Michael J. C. Gordon, FRS (University Finitely presented groups acting on trees in Edinburgh and will feature talks by the of Cambridge) with a talk entitled Forward • Jim Howie (Heriot-Watt) following plenary speakers: with Hoare. Residually free groups • Emmanuel Candes (Stanford University) Refreshments will be available from 5.30 Stewartson Lecture pm. The seminar will be held at De Morgan • Peter Kropholler (Glasgow) • Darryl Holm (Imperial College) House, 57–58 Russell Square, London WC1B Soluble groups and their classifying Lighthill Lecture 4HS. The seminar is free of charge and open spaces • Robert MacKay (University of Warwick) to everyone. If you would like to attend email Please email Peter Cameron (p.j.cameron@ • L. Mahadevan (Harvard University) Paul Boca ([email protected]). Infor- qmul.ac.uk) for further details, or to register • Maciej Zworski (Univ. of California, Berkeley) mation is also available on the BCS-FACS web- your interest in attending the lectures and/ 20 • Christopher Hacon (University of Utah) site at www.bcs-facs.org/events. or the dinner. • Jeffrey Lagarias (University of Michigan) Abstract. Hoare’s celebrated paper entitled • Gigliola Staffilani (MIT) ‘An Axiomatic Basis for Computer Program- • Philip Maini (Oxford University) ming’ appeared in 1969, so the Hoare formula JUST INFINITE PROFINITE • Eric Vanden-Eijnden (New York University) P{S}Q is now forty years old! That paper intro- • Paul Embrechts (ETH) Public Lecture duced Hoare Logic, which is still the basis for BRANCH GROUPS Targeted special sessions and mini-symposia program verification today, but is now mecha- A one day meeting on Just Infinite Profinite of this meeting include nised inside sophisticated verification systems. Branch Groups will be held on 12 December • Algebraic Geometry My talk aims to give an accessible introduction 2009 at Royal Holloway, University of Lon- • Dynamical Systems to methods for proving Hoare formulae based don. The meeting will introduce newcomers • Financial Mathematics both on the forward computation of post- to self-similar groups. It will then move on • Geophysical Fluid Dynamics conditions and on the backwards computa- to recent results and open problems from • Liquid Crystals tion of preconditions. Although precondition a profinite perspective. There will be three • Mathematical Neuroscience methods are better known, computing post- talks and one problem session with breaks • Mathematical Medicine conditions provides a verification framework for discussions. The provisional programme • Mathematics of Information that encompasses methods ranging from is: • Mathematics of String Theory symbolic execution to full deductive proof of • Branch groups: theory and practice • Numerical Analysis correctness. (John Wilson) • PDEs and Applications • Spectral Theory • Some branch group constructions As always, contributed talks in all areas LMS CONFERENCE FACILITIES (Dan Segal) • Profinite groups generated by automata of pure and applied mathematics are wel- Organising a seminar in central London? (Laurent Bartholdi) comed. Registration opens on 1 December Meeting rooms and catering are available • Open Problems 2009 and closes on 12 February 2010. For in De Morgan House. For terms and avail- further information visit the website at (Laurent Bartholdi, Dan Segal, John Wilson ability, please call 020 7927 0800 or email www.maths2010.org.uk or email enquiries@ et al.) [email protected]. maths2010.org.uk. This meeting is supported The meeting is part of the ‘South England by an LMS Conference grant. Profinite Groups Meetings’ which are funded
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BCS–FACS EVENING CHISWELL SYMPOSIUM by an LMS Scheme 3 grant. Limited funds are SEMINAR available to reimburse travel expenses of UK- On Monday 9 November 2009, there will based students and young mathematicians. The British Computer Society – Formal be three lectures and a dinner to celebrate For more details see www.ma.rhul.ac.uk/ Aspects of Computing Science (BCS–FACS) the career and mark the retirement of Ian profinite_groups/meetings.html or contact will be holding a joint event with the London Chiswell from Queen Mary, University of Y. Barnea and B. Klopsch (profinitegroups@ Mathematical Society on Tuesday 1 December London. The lectures will be given by: googlemail.com). 2009 at 5.45 pm. The speaker will be Pro- • Martin Dunwoody (Southampton) fessor Michael J. C. Gordon, FRS (University Finitely presented groups acting on trees of Cambridge) with a talk entitled Forward • Jim Howie (Heriot-Watt) GROUP REPRESENTATION with Hoare. Residually free groups Refreshments will be available from 5.30 THEORY AND pm. The seminar will be held at De Morgan • Peter Kropholler (Glasgow) RELATED TOPICS House, 57–58 Russell Square, London WC1B Soluble groups and their classifying 4HS. The seminar is free of charge and open spaces An international conference Group Rep- to everyone. If you would like to attend email Please email Peter Cameron (p.j.cameron@ resentation Theory and Related Topics Paul Boca ([email protected]). Infor- qmul.ac.uk) for further details, or to register will take place from Tuesday 22 to Friday mation is also available on the BCS-FACS web- your interest in attending the lectures and/ 25 June 2010, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The aim of the conference is to stimulate site at www.bcs-facs.org/events. or the dinner. 21 Abstract. Hoare’s celebrated paper entitled activity in and enhance interaction between ‘An Axiomatic Basis for Computer Program- representation theory and related areas of ming’ appeared in 1969, so the Hoare formula JUST INFINITE PROFINITE mathematics. The meeting is also held in P{S}Q is now forty years old! That paper intro- BRANCH GROUPS honour of Professor Jacques Thévenaz. The duced Hoare Logic, which is still the basis for main speakers are: program verification today, but is now mecha- A one day meeting on Just Infinite Profinite • Paul Balmer (UCLA) nised inside sophisticated verification systems. Branch Groups will be held on 12 December • David Benson (Aberdeen) My talk aims to give an accessible introduction 2009 at Royal Holloway, University of Lon- • Serge Bouc (Amiens) to methods for proving Hoare formulae based don. The meeting will introduce newcomers • Michel Broué (Paris 7) both on the forward computation of post- to self-similar groups. It will then move on • Steve Donkin (York) conditions and on the backwards computa- to recent results and open problems from • Meinolf Geck (Aberdeen) tion of preconditions. Although precondition a profinite perspective. There will be three • Jesper Grodal (Copenhagen) methods are better known, computing post- talks and one problem session with breaks • Lacri Iancu (Aberdeen) conditions provides a verification framework for discussions. The provisional programme • Radha Kessar (Aberdeen) that encompasses methods ranging from is: • Markus Linckelmann (Aberdeen) symbolic execution to full deductive proof of • Branch groups: theory and practice • Nadia Mazza (Lancaster) correctness. (John Wilson) • Bob Oliver (Paris 13) • Some branch group constructions • Jérôme Scherer (Lausanne) LMS CONFERENCE FACILITIES (Dan Segal) • Peter Symonds (Manchester) • Profinite groups generated by automata • Peter Webb (Minneapolis) Organising a seminar in central London? (Laurent Bartholdi) In addition to the invited lectures, there Meeting rooms and catering are available • Open Problems will be contributed talks, mainly for young in De Morgan House. For terms and avail- (Laurent Bartholdi, Dan Segal, John Wilson participants. ability, please call 020 7927 0800 or email et al.) More information, including registration [email protected]. The meeting is part of the ‘South England process and organiser’s contact details can be Profinite Groups Meetings’ which are funded found at http://grt.epfl.ch.
November09-NL.indd 21 22/10/2009 13:22:41 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
MATHEMATICAL NEUROSCIENCE
A three-day Mathematical Neuroscience The Invited Speakers are: conference will take place from 19 to 21 • Paul Bressloff (University of Oxford) April 2010 at the ICMS (15 South College • Romain Brette (École Normale Supérieure, Street, Edinburgh EH8 9AA). The confer- Paris) ence will provide an overview of the current • Peter Dayan (University College, London) state of research in mathematical approach- • Bard Ermentrout (University of Pittsburgh) es to neuroscience, bringing together • Kevin Gurney (University of Sheffield) both physical and life scientists. Drawing • Yixin Guo (Drexel University) together the field in this way will allow for • Arjen van Ooyen (VU University a critical discussion of the relevant experi- Amsterdam) mental facts and of various mathematical • Alex Roxin (Columbia University) methods and techniques that have been • Steven Schiff (Penn State University) successfully applied to date. Importantly, it • Eric Shea-Brown (University of will draw attention to, and help develop, Washington) those pieces of mathematical theory which • Louis Tao (Peking University) are likely to be relevant to future studies • Paul Tiesinga (Radboud University 22 of the brain. Nijmegen) The meeting will consist of invited speakers • Xiao-Jing Wang (Yale University) and registered participants, though will be • John White (University of Utah) limited to 100 people. The schedule will • Si Wu (Shanghai Institute for Biological allow for a number of poster presentations. Sciences)
The registration fee for the conference is £80. On 18 April, prior to the meet- ing, there will be a one- day training workshop for PhD students and post-docs entitled An introduction to Math- ematical Neuroscience. Some financial assist- ance is available to assist graduate students who attend both the training workshop and the con- ference. Registration will open on 1 December 2009. Further details can be found at www.icms.org. uk/workshops/neuro2010. Enquiries should be ad- dressed to Irene Moore: © Sidney Harris [email protected].
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MATHEMATICAL NEUROSCIENCE
The Invited Speakers are: • Paul Bressloff (University of Oxford) • Romain Brette (École Normale Supérieure, Paris) • Peter Dayan (University College, London) • Bard Ermentrout (University of Pittsburgh) • Kevin Gurney (University of Sheffield) • Yixin Guo (Drexel University) • Arjen van Ooyen (VU University Amsterdam) • Alex Roxin (Columbia University) • Steven Schiff (Penn State University) • Eric Shea-Brown (University of Washington) • Louis Tao (Peking University) • Paul Tiesinga (Radboud University Nijmegen) 23 • Xiao-Jing Wang (Yale University) • John White (University of Utah) • Si Wu (Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences)
The registration fee for the conference is £80. On 18 April, prior to the meet- ing, there will be a one- day training workshop for PhD students and post-docs entitled An introduction to Math- ematical Neuroscience. Some financial assist- ance is available to assist graduate students who attend both the training workshop and the con- ference. Registration will open on 1 December 2009. Further details can be found at www.icms.org. uk/workshops/neuro2010. Enquiries should be ad- dressed to Irene Moore: [email protected].
November09-NL.indd 23 22/10/2009 13:22:44 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
INSTITUT DES HAUTES External Members of the Scientific Coun- BRIAN DAVIES 65TH cil: George Papanicolaou, Gerd Faltings, ÉTUDES SCIENTIFIQUES Gabriele Veneziano, Bertrand Duplantier BIRTHDAY CONFERENCE The Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques A two-day conference to mark Professor (IHÉS), located in Bures-sur-Yvette (France), William Hodge Fellowships 2010 / 2011 E. Brian Davies’s 65th birthday will take welcomes each year up to 250 mathema- place in London from 8 to 9 December ticians and theoretical physicists from all In 2000 the EPSRC committee reviewing 2009. The conference will be followed by over the world for research periods rang- IHÉS suggested that the EPSRC and IHÉS a special session of the London Analysis ing from two to three weeks up to one or offer each year two one-year fellowships Seminar on 10 December. The conference two years. bearing the name of Sir William Hodge, speakers are: Created in 1958, IHÉS is an international the eminent British mathematician. The • Albrecht Böttcher (Chemnitz) research institute, registered as a Founda- fellowships enable outstanding young • Nick Higham (Manchester) tion in the public interest since 1981. Its mathematicians and theoretical physicists mission is to support and develop theo- to spend time at IHÉS. Fellows are encour- • Frederic Klopp (Paris 13) retical research in mathematical sciences, aged to have a UK-based mentor and to • Vladimir Maz’ya (Liverpool) physics and more recently, at the interface be in contact with the UK mathematics • Barry Simon (Caltech) with biology and medicine. Support for community. • John Toland (Bath) IHÉS comes from several sources: the French Applicants must have a PhD in Mathe- • Nick Trefethen (Oxford) 24 Ministry of Research, several European matical Sciences or Theoretical Physics • Maciej Zworski (Berkeley) research agencies among which are the obtained in 2008, 2009 or in early 2010. The seminar speakers are: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research One of the two grants will be awarded to • Lyonell Boulton (Heriot-Watt) Council (EPSRC), the US National Science an applicant who has spent at least the • Gerassimos Barbatis (Athens) Foundation, the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, preceding nine months at a UK academic the Swiss National Science Foundation, institution or has just graduated from a UK The event is organised by A. Pushnitski and also some private foundations and institution Applications will be reviewed and E. Shargorodsky (King’s College London). companies. and selection made based on the sole Some limited support for PhD students is EPSRC has been supporting IHÉS for a criterion of excellence in research by the available; please contact the organisers. number of years, fostering closer links IHÉS Scientific Council in December 2009. To register and for further information between British and French mathematical The Committee consists of the Permanent visit the website at www.mth.kcl.ac.uk/ research centres. British mathematicians and Professors, the Director, and the external ~pushn/ebd65. The conference is support- theoretical physicists are invited to apply to members (the list can be found above). ed by an LMS Conference grant. IHÉS for visits (for more information, please The fellowships would start in the Autumn go to www.ihes.fr). Their visit can be an of 2010. opportunity to work with researchers from Applications should be made on the IHÉS PARIS–LONDON other research groups in the Paris area. website (www.ihes.fr) and should include: ANALYSIS SEMINAR Director: Jean-Pierre Bourguignon the application form, a cover letter, a CV, Permanent Professors: Thibault Damour, a publication list, a research project, two A group of analysts working in London and Mikhael Gromov, Maxim Kontsevich, Laurent or three letters of recommendation, and a Paris are organizing joint seminars, support- Lafforgue, Nikita Nekrasov proposal for a UK mentor. ed by an LMS Scheme 3 grant. These newly Honorary Professor: David Ruelle Deadline for applications: 16 November created Paris–London Analysis Seminars Léon Motchane Chair: Alain Connes 2009. will occur four times a year in Paris and Louis Michel Chairs: Michael Douglas, For more information contact: IHÉS – 35, London. The next session will take place on Samson Shatashvili, Ali Chamseddine route de Chartres, F-91440 Bures-sur-Yvette 4 December 2009 at the Institut Henri Long-term CNRS visitors: Christophe (France), tel: +33 1 6092 6605, fax: +33 1 Poincaré in Paris. For further information Breuil, Ofer Gabber, Dirk Kreimer, Christophe 6092 6609, email: [email protected], website: visit the website at http://people.math. Soulé www.ihes.fr. jussieu.fr/~lerner/index.plans.html.
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External Members of the Scientific Coun- BRIAN DAVIES 65TH INTERNATIONAL cil: George Papanicolaou, Gerd Faltings, Gabriele Veneziano, Bertrand Duplantier BIRTHDAY CONFERENCE MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD A two-day conference to mark Professor Report William Hodge Fellowships 2010 / 2011 E. Brian Davies’s 65th birthday will take place in London from 8 to 9 December This July the 50th annual International In 2000 the EPSRC committee reviewing 2009. The conference will be followed by Mathematical Olympiad was held in IHÉS suggested that the EPSRC and IHÉS a special session of the London Analysis Bremen, Germany. Each member of the offer each year two one-year fellowships Seminar on 10 December. The conference UK team earned a medal by coming in bearing the name of Sir William Hodge, speakers are: the top half of the competitors. Tim the eminent British mathematician. The Hennock of Christ’s Hospital, Horsham • Albrecht Böttcher (Chemnitz) fellowships enable outstanding young secured a gold medal. Silver medals were • Nick Higham (Manchester) mathematicians and theoretical physicists awarded to Luke Betts of Hills Road Sixth to spend time at IHÉS. Fellows are encour- • Frederic Klopp (Paris 13) Form College, Cambridge, Peter Leach aged to have a UK-based mentor and to • Vladimir Maz’ya (Liverpool) of Monkton Combe School, Bath, and be in contact with the UK mathematics • Barry Simon (Caltech) Preeyan Parmar of Eton College. Bronze community. • John Toland (Bath) medals were awarded to Sean Moss of Applicants must have a PhD in Mathe- • Nick Trefethen (Oxford) Havering Sixth Form College and Chris matical Sciences or Theoretical Physics • Maciej Zworski (Berkeley) Bellin of Queen Mary’s Grammar School, 25 obtained in 2008, 2009 or in early 2010. The seminar speakers are: Walsall. The only team member who will One of the two grants will be awarded to • Lyonell Boulton (Heriot-Watt) not be going to university this year is an applicant who has spent at least the • Gerassimos Barbatis (Athens) Luke Betts who was only one mark short preceding nine months at a UK academic of a gold medal. Luke will be available institution or has just graduated from a UK The event is organised by A. Pushnitski for IMO 2010 in Astana, Kazakhstan. institution Applications will be reviewed and E. Shargorodsky (King’s College London). At the pre-IMO camp, held in Trinity and selection made based on the sole Some limited support for PhD students is College Cambridge, the IMO faced the criterion of excellence in research by the available; please contact the organisers. Australian side in the annual Mathemat- IHÉS Scientific Council in December 2009. To register and for further information ics Ashes. In a performance which may The Committee consists of the Permanent visit the website at www.mth.kcl.ac.uk/ have inspired our cricketers, the UK Professors, the Director, and the external ~pushn/ebd65. The conference is support- won the Ashes from Australia by 67–60. members (the list can be found above). ed by an LMS Conference grant. The funerary urn (containing the burnt The fellowships would start in the Autumn scripts from the first competition) and of 2010. the associated cup are now safe in the Applications should be made on the IHÉS PARIS–LONDON northern hemisphere for the coming website (www.ihes.fr) and should include: ANALYSIS SEMINAR year. the application form, a cover letter, a CV, A special 50th birthday celebration day a publication list, a research project, two A group of analysts working in London and included short lectures by some IMO stars or three letters of recommendation, and a Paris are organizing joint seminars, support- from the past who have gone on to make proposal for a UK mentor. ed by an LMS Scheme 3 grant. These newly important contributions to mathemati- Deadline for applications: 16 November created Paris–London Analysis Seminars cal research: Béla Bollobás, Tim Gowers, 2009. will occur four times a year in Paris and László Lovász, Stanislav Smirnov, Terence For more information contact: IHÉS – 35, London. The next session will take place on Tao and Jean-Christophe Yoccoz. route de Chartres, F-91440 Bures-sur-Yvette 4 December 2009 at the Institut Henri As well as lecturing, the speakers took (France), tel: +33 1 6092 6605, fax: +33 1 Poincaré in Paris. For further information part in a very successful ‘meet the stu- 6092 6609, email: [email protected], website: visit the website at http://people.math. dents’ session, and many autographs www.ihes.fr. jussieu.fr/~lerner/index.plans.html. were obtained.
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NEWSLETTER
These days the United Kingdom He argued that, while a small number and Meltdown: How Mathematics Trust also sends teams to of formulae have a proper mathematical Financial Systems participate in the Romanian Master foundation, for the most part PR companies Collapse, organised of Mathematics Competition and the cynically manipulate the press and that this by the Royal Statis- Balkan Mathematical Olympiad, and from reinforces the public’s impression that sci- tical Society; From August 2010 onwards we hope to send entists and mathematicians are “bonkers” Flapping Birds to teams to the China Girls Maths Olympiad, and will deliver results according to who- Space Telescopes: The joining the USA which already sends both ever is paying. Modern Science of East-Coast and West-Coast teams as guest Before Simon’s session, the Section held Origami, organised competitors. its Presidential Reception which was ex- by the British Origami Full reports, together with leader’s dia- tremely well attended. Simon had kindly Society (sessions were ries, are available at www.imo-register. provided signed copies of his books which also run for the Fes- org.uk/reports.html. were sold to help finance the Section. tival’s schools pro- Geoff Smith Other sessions were: The Magic of Com- gramme); and Fly Me Chair, British Mathematical Olympiad puter Science, in which Peter McOwan to the Moon (and University of Bath from Queen Mary, University of London, beyond), organised led a demonstration of magic card tricks which by the University of depend on simple mathematics having ap- Surrey in cooperation 26 BRITISH SCIENCE plication to computer science; Mathematics with the Surrey Space Centre, a world leader FESTIVAL 2009 in the design and pro- Report duction of small satellites. After describing the work of the Centre, the speakers talked This year’s British Science Festival about current and future missions to the (formerly the British Association’s outer planets, using gravity or the pressure Festival of Science) took place at of sunlight to power the space vehicles. the University of Surrey in Guild- There was plenty of coverage in the ford from 5 to 10 September. The media of this year’s programme, in particu- Mathematical Sciences Section lar of Simon Singh’s session and the Fly Me organised a busy programme to the Moon session. with six scheduled sessions rang- Next year’s Science Festival will be held ing from paper folding to space in Birmingham from 14 to 19 September travel, from the financial collapse hosted by Aston University. The Mathe- to magic tricks. matical Sciences Section President will be This year’s Section President Professor David Spiegalhalter, who is a was Simon Singh, writer of popu- specialist in the public understanding of lar books on mathematics, jour- uncertainty and risk, Bayesian methods, nalist and documentary maker. biostatistics and performance assessment His session dealt with the media’s at the University of Cambridge’s Statistical apparent passion for pseudo- Laboratory. mathematical formulae claiming Proposals for sessions at the 2010 Festi- to calculate everything from the val have already been submitted, and plans “perfect boobline” and the best are under way for another impressive pro- day for doing Christmas Shop- gramme in the mathematical sciences. ping, to the best method for kick- Caroline Davis ing a penalty in football. An origami session unfolding Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer
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He argued that, while a small number and Meltdown: How of formulae have a proper mathematical Financial Systems foundation, for the most part PR companies Collapse, organised cynically manipulate the press and that this by the Royal Statis- reinforces the public’s impression that sci- tical Society; From entists and mathematicians are “bonkers” Flapping Birds to and will deliver results according to who- Space Telescopes: The ever is paying. Modern Science of Before Simon’s session, the Section held Origami, organised its Presidential Reception which was ex- by the British Origami tremely well attended. Simon had kindly Society (sessions were provided signed copies of his books which also run for the Fes- were sold to help finance the Section. tival’s schools pro- Other sessions were: The Magic of Com- gramme); and Fly Me puter Science, in which Peter McOwan to the Moon (and from Queen Mary, University of London, beyond), organised led a demonstration of magic card tricks which by the University of depend on simple mathematics having ap- Surrey in cooperation plication to computer science; Mathematics with the Surrey Space 27 Centre, a world leader Peter Giblin, Recorder of the BSA Mathematical Sciences Section (left), with the LMS Education Secretary Chris Budd and Simon Singh, Section President in the design and pro- duction of small satellites. After describing the work of the Centre, the speakers talked A TRIP TO BEIJING about current and future missions to the Report outer planets, using gravity or the pressure of sunlight to power the space vehicles. At the end of last year I received an invitation to There was plenty of coverage in the give a course of lectures at the recently estab- media of this year’s programme, in particu- lished Beijing International Center for Mathe- lar of Simon Singh’s session and the Fly Me matical Research (BICMR), set up by the Chinese to the Moon session. Ministry of Education in Peking University Next year’s Science Festival will be held (Beijing). There was to be a summer school and in Birmingham from 14 to 19 September a workshop on group theory from 1 May to hosted by Aston University. The Mathe- 31 August 2009 covering permutation groups, matical Sciences Section President will be algebraic combinatorics, the representation Professor David Spiegalhalter, who is a theory of groups, the abstract group theory, specialist in the public understanding of especially finite p-groups, the computational uncertainty and risk, Bayesian methods, group theory, and their applications. biostatistics and performance assessment The invitation said that I could give a series at the University of Cambridge’s Statistical of lectures on any topic that interested me. Laboratory. The invitation came from Huiling Li (Zhejiang Proposals for sessions at the 2010 Festi- University) whom I knew and had visited in val have already been submitted, and plans Hangzhou in the past. So I chose as the topic are under way for another impressive pro- for my course Automorphism groups of linear gramme in the mathematical sciences. spaces. This topic was one which I had first Caroline Davis worked on in 1984 and which Professor Li and An origami session unfolding Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer his students have developed so I knew there
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NEWSLETTER
would be interest in the topic. drink. No, they wanted to take pictures, so that Graduate students came from all over China, is what we did. It was a pleasure to celebrate so although I had lectured in China before it with them and gave me a chance to under- had never been to such a mixed audience. There stand what had been happening in China in were about 20 students, none of whom was at this branch of mathematics. We are dependent Peking University, and I had no details of where on the reviews to know what has been proved they were from or what they were studying for in papers written in Chinese. their research degrees. The assumption (given People might be interested in more about the title of the course) was that it was either in the Center. The following is taken from their group theory or combinatorics, so I prepared website, www.bicmr.org (Peter Shiu kindly gave some lecture notes in advance and sent them me some help as most of the site is in Chinese). to two of the colleagues who had invited me. The purpose of the BICMR is to nurture Fortunately one had circulated them to all the and sustain the best mathematicians in the supervisors of the students who were going to country. Meanwhile, its other aim is to build a attend so the students had my printed lecture bridge for the many talented overseas scholars notes in advance. with inclination or intention to return to the This was very helpful since some of the stu- country. dents were not that proficient in spoken English In each year the Center will select several 28 and given my tendency to speak both quickly important themes in some areas from basic and colloquially it can sometimes be difficult to mathematics or applied mathematics in or- follow me. I try very hard but when discussing der to carry out some in-depth research. This interesting sums it is easy to get carried away. will include the organising of workshops, The two Chinese colleagues had been through conferences and symposiums with invited the manuscript quite carefully and as the lec- distinguished individuals as participants. ture course proceeded, and explanations At the same time, in each year the Center were developed to suit the audience, updated will also select certain problems of particu- versions were placed on the BICMR website. lar importance and having good prospects The worry about such websites is that, once for breakthough; various relevant distin- something is there, anyone has access and guished individuals in the country will then might believe that this is the final version. be invited to the Centerto carry out the A mixture of difficulty with English and a research. All projects and main problems will cultural unwillingness to challenge the lecturer be vetted by internationalexperts, and the left me uncertain how the students reacted so decision on the final selections is the respon- it was hard to know how much the students sibility of the mathematics committee of the enjoyed and learnt from the course. I tried Center. to encourage them to ask questions and find For the programme I was invited to take part errors in the notes, though I did not go as far in there was a separate organizing commit- as a colleague at my home university who once tee whose members were Xingui Fang (Peking offered a pint for every mistake: this turned University), Rongquan Feng (Peking Univer- out to be quite expensive! One interesting dif- sity), Huiling Li (Zhejiang University), Jie Wang ference between British and Chinese students (Peking University), Lizhong Wang (Peking Uni- came at the end of the course. It was due to versity), Mingyao Xu (Peking University), Jiping end at noon on a Wednesday, so at the previ- Zhang (Peking University) and Qinhai Zhang ous lecture I asked if the students would like (Shanxi Normal University). to do something to celebrate and mentioned Alan Camina that in Britain we would go to the pub for a University of East Anglia
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drink. No, they wanted to take pictures, so that is what we did. It was a pleasure to celebrate ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES with them and gave me a chance to under- stand what had been happening in China in FINAL WORKSHOP this branch of mathematics. We are dependent on the reviews to know what has been proved 14–18 December 2009 in papers written in Chinese. in association with the Newton Institute programme entitled People might be interested in more about Non-Abelian Fundamental Groups in Arithmetic Geometry the Center. The following is taken from their (20 July – 18 December 2009) website, www.bicmr.org (Peter Shiu kindly gave me some help as most of the site is in Chinese). Organisers: David Burns (KCL), John Coates (Cambridge), Guy Henniart The purpose of the BICMR is to nurture (Université Paris-Sud), Minhyon Kim (UCL), Florian Pop (Pennsylvania) and and sustain the best mathematicians in the Mohamed Saidi (Exeter). country. Meanwhile, its other aim is to build a Scientific theme: The Final Workshop aims at presenting some of the most exciting bridge for the many talented overseas scholars new developments in the main topics of the NAG Programme, namely Anabelian with inclination or intention to return to the Geometry and (Non-commutative) Iwasawa Theory, as well as in other areas of country. arithmetic geometry, like rational points on varieties, p-adic representations, spe- In each year the Center will select several cial values of complex L-functions, automorphic forms, and the interactions important themes in some areas from basic between these. We hope as well to provide not only a picture of the questions and 29 mathematics or applied mathematics in or- problems discussed or solved during the Programme, but also to draw future der to carry out some in-depth research. This possibilities for applying non-abelian aspects to a broad range of arithmetic will include the organising of workshops, investigations. The workshop will bring together experts in the above areas of conferences and symposiums with invited arithmetic geometry. distinguished individuals as participants. At the same time, in each year the Center Preliminary list of invited speakers: will also select certain problems of particu- • David Burns (Kings College London) lar importance and having good prospects • Laurent Clozel (Université Paris-Sud) for breakthough; various relevant distin- • Tim Dokchitser (Cambridge) guished individuals in the country will then • Hél�ne Esnault (Universität Duisburg-Essen) be invited to the Centerto carry out the • Gerd Faltings (MPIM, Bonn) research. All projects and main problems will • Adrian Iovita (Concordia) be vetted by internationalexperts, and the • Aise Johan de Jong (Columbia) decision on the final selections is the respon- • Gérard Laumon (Université Paris-Sud) sibility of the mathematics committee of the • Michael Harris (Jussieu) Center. • Guy Henniart (Université Paris-Sud) For the programme I was invited to take part • Mahesh Kakde (University College London) in there was a separate organizing commit- • Minhyong Kim (University College London) tee whose members were Xingui Fang (Peking • Guido Kings (Regensburg) University), Rongquan Feng (Peking Univer- • Shinichi Mochizuki (Kyoto) sity), Huiling Li (Zhejiang University), Jie Wang • Alexander Schmidt (Regensburg) (Peking University), Lizhong Wang (Peking Uni- • Leila Schneps (Université Pierre et Marie Curie) versity), Mingyao Xu (Peking University), Jiping Zhang (Peking University) and Qinhai Zhang Further information and application forms are available from the website at: (Shanxi Normal University). www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/NAG/nagw04.html. Alan Camina University of East Anglia
November09-NL.indd 29 22/10/2009 13:22:47 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES STOCHASTIC NETWORKS 22–26 March 2010
in association with the Newton Institute programme entitled Stochastic Processes in Communication Sciences (11 January – 2 July 2010)
Workshop organisers: Takis Konstantopoulos (Heriot-Watt) and Kavita Ramanan (Carnegie Mellon).
Scientific theme: Stochastic networks is a multifaceted area of research dealing with the stability, control, performance, approximations and design of stochastic models of networks. It gives rise to challenging and often subtle mathematical problems, whose solution often requires a combination of ideas and techniques from several branches of mathematics, including probability theory, stochastic processes, analysis, optimization, combinatorics and graph theory. Research in this 30 area receives a strong impetus from important applications in diverse areas, ranging from the traditional areas of telecommunications and manufacturing to service operations, biological and social networks and revenue management.
The aim of this workshop is to bring together experts in this area to survey recent developments and identify future research directions. The workshop has been structured so as to maximize interactions between speakers and participants and to facilitate a fruitful exchange of ideas.
This week-long international workshop continues a tradition that was started in 1987 and that has now become a bi-annual event.
Preliminary list of invited speakers: • Venkat Anantharam (UC Berkeley) • Carl Graham (École Polytechnique) • David Anderson (Wisconsin) • Bruce Hajek (Illinois) • Rami Atar (Technion) • Marc Lelarge (ÉNS and INRIA) • Francois Baccelli (ÉNS and INRIA) • Marty Reiman (Bell Laboratories) • Maury Bramson (Minnesota) • Phillipe Robert (INRIA) • Jennifer Chayes (Microsoft Research, • Sebastien Roch (Microsoft Research, Cambridge, USA) Cambridge, USA) • Steve Evans (UC Berkeley) • R. Srikant (Illinois) • Pablo Ferrari (Cornell) • Ruth Williams (UC San Diego) • Peter Glynn (Stanford) • Bert Zwart (CWI)
Further information and application forms are available from the website at: www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/SCS/scsw02.html. Closing date for the receipt of applications is 30 November 2009.
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ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES SPATIAL NETWORK MODELS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 6–9 April 2010
in association with the Newton Institute programme entitled Stochastic Processes in Communication Sciences (11 January – 2 July 2010) Sponsored by EURONF Workshop organisers: Venkat Anantharam (Berkeley) and Francois Baccelli (INRIA/ENS). Workshop scientific committee: D. Aldous (Berkeley), M. Franceschetti (UCSD), M. Haenggi (Notre Dame), W. Kendall (Warwick), P.R. Kumar (UIUC), R. Mazumdar (Waterloo), V. Poor (Princeton), V. Schmidt (Ulm), D. Tse (Berkeley) and S. Zachary (Heriot-Watt). Scientific theme: In the last decade, random graphs, percolation theory and stochastic geometry have emerged as essential tools in the analysis and the design 31 of wireless networks such as cellular, mobile ad hoc and sensor networks. These mathematical tools have led to new insights on the connectivity, the coverage, the capacity and the vulnerability of such networks. During this period, information theory has been successful in integrating a variety of spatial paradigms, e.g. in the framework of MIMO and relay channels and in network coding, and has led to important results on the fundamental limitations of the classes of wireless communication networks alluded to above. The aim of this trans-disciplinary workshop will be to bring together specialists in the fields of spatial stochastics, of wireless networking and information theory, and will focus on the interplay between these disciplines. Preliminary list: • David Aldous (Berkeley) • Mathew Penrose (University of Bath) • Bartek Blaszczyszyn (INRIA Paris) • Yuval Peres (Microsoft) • Béla Bollobás (Memphis/Cambridge) • Devavrat Shah (MIT) • Charles Bordenave (CNRS Toulouse) • Emina Soljanin (Bell Labs) • Massimo Franceschetti (UCSD) • Patrick Thiran (EPFL Lausanne) • David Tse (Berkeley) • Piyush Gupta (Bell Labs) • Remco van der Hofstad (Eindhoven) • Günter Last (Karlsruhe) • Liang-Liang Xie (Waterloo) • Ron Meester (Vrije Universiteit • Serguei Zuyev (University of Amsterdam) Strathclyde Glasgow)
Further information and application forms are available from the website at: www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/SCS/scsw03.html. Closing date for the receipt of applications is 30 November 2009.
November09-NL.indd 31 22/10/2009 13:22:47 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
REVIEWS Gardeners’ Question Time and The Clas- of combinatorial colouring problems, while sic Serial. More disappointingly, there was those interested in the recent history or THE TRIBES OF SCIENCE: THE MATHEMATICIANS little discussion of the usefulness of math- the sociology of mathematics will be enter- BBC Radio 4, 6 September 2009. ematics: it might have been interesting tained by lively accounts of the combinato- Mathematicians’ public image is a sensi- for the general audience (and politicians) rialists who created and worked on them. tive issue. Recent films, such as A Beautiful to hear mathematicians justifying public The problems range from the well-known Mind, Enigma, Good Will Hunting and Proof, expenditure on basic research. map colour problem (how many colours are have portrayed us as brilliant but psycho- What came across clearly was the par- needed to colour a plane map so that logically damaged, and despite Marcus du ticipants’ passion for mathematics, and the any two neighbouring countries are dif- Sautoy’s valiant efforts to project himself as INI’s value in creating critical masses of re- ferently coloured? – answer: 4), via the an ordinary footballing bloke who happens searchers, temporarily free from teaching. intriguing 60-year-old problem of find- to be good at algebra, the general public A recurring theme was how mathemati- ing the chromatic number of the plane see us as a rather weird bunch. I therefore cal research can dominate one’s thinking: (how many colours are needed to col- approached this programme, the last of a Meinolf Geck admitted himself lucky to our the points of the plane so that any series of five on different groups of scien- have his hobby as a profession, while two points at unit distance apart are tists, with both interest and trepidation. Gerhard Röhrle provoked a giggle from my differently coloured? – answer: 4, 5, 6 The programme was a 15-minute collage wife by confessing that mathematicians’ or 7, but no-one has any idea which), of interviews by Peter Curran with admin- spouses are not always guaranteed com- to various Ramsey-type problems (such 32 istrators and visiting mathematicians at the plete attention in conversation. Christine as, for each integer k, what is the small- Isaac Newton Institute. Advance publicity West explained how she encourages visi- est number n such that every colouring had concentrated on mathematicians’ tors to unwind through receptions and of the edges of the complete graph Kn unusual dress sense, and my fears were con- punting. She clearly finds some groups eas- with colours red and blue always con- firmed when the programme began with ier to cope with than others: pure mathe- tains a monochromatic complete graph the Institute’s Administrator, Christine maticians apparently “sometimes struggle Kk? – answer: 6 for k = 3, 17 for k = 4, and West, criticising “wild hair” and “wearing to deal with day-to-day life”, and are often unknown for k > 4). the same T-shirt for six months, sometimes defeated by keys, washing machines, TV Interspersed with these (and many other) inside out”. (I confess to listening in shorts sets and staplers. Frank Nijhoff and Reinout colouring problems are detailed accounts and T-shirt, but they were recently washed Quispel, on the other hand, impressed the of their history – how they were created and correctly oriented.) The Director, presenter by “passing for normal human and why, who worked on them, how they Sir David Wallace, started comparing the beings”. were generalized, and so on. Many of these INI building to Dr Who’s Tardis when a bell Despite its weaknesses, this was an inter- accounts are fascinating and revealing, and announced the beginning of a seminar, esting and entertaining programme, giving a number of rare photographs are included prompting a rather far-fetched analogy a vivid sound picture of “this sanctuary of – writing the book was clearly a labour of by Peter Curran, comparing mathematical white walls and blond wood”, even if it did love for the author, taking him eighteen seminars to religious rites, with “incanta- reinforce some untypical stereotypes. years and involving a great deal of mathe- tions of algebra”. Gareth Jones matical and historical research. Unfortu- Participants in the Algebraic Lie Theory University of Southampton nately, his enthusiasm sometimes gets the and Discrete Integrable Systems pro- better of him – for example, the algebraist grammes provided sound-bites, while in The Mathematical Coloring Book: Mathe- B.L. van der Waerden is only of tangential the background one heard snatches of matics of Coloring and the Colorful Life of interest in this area, yet the author bizarrely mathematical jargon and the unmistakable its Creators by Alexander Soifer, Springer, chooses to spend over one hundred pages sound of chalk on blackboard. There was 2009, 610 pp, $59.95, ISBN 978-0-387- describing his life. little attempt to investigate the nature of 74640-1. The book is generally well written and the mathematics going on, probably wisely This is a most unusual book – or, more presented, with good diagrams and layout, given the programme’s scheduling in the accurately, several books rolled into one. but has not been proof-read as carefully soporific post Sunday-lunch slot between For the mathematician, it contains a range as one would wish. Infelicities of grammar
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Gardeners’ Question Time and The Clas- of combinatorial colouring problems, while (especially in the use of the definite and sic Serial. More disappointingly, there was those interested in the recent history or indefinite articles), some silly off-colour little discussion of the usefulness of math- the sociology of mathematics will be enter- remarks, and rather too many typos tend to ematics: it might have been interesting tained by lively accounts of the combinato- mar what is otherwise a useful and engaging for the general audience (and politicians) rialists who created and worked on them. book. to hear mathematicians justifying public The problems range from the well-known Robin Wilson, expenditure on basic research. map colour problem (how many colours are Open University What came across clearly was the par- needed to colour a plane map so that ticipants’ passion for mathematics, and the any two neighbouring countries are dif- INI’s value in creating critical masses of re- ferently coloured? – answer: 4), via the searchers, temporarily free from teaching. intriguing 60-year-old problem of find- A recurring theme was how mathemati- ing the chromatic number of the plane cal research can dominate one’s thinking: (how many colours are needed to col- Meinolf Geck admitted himself lucky to our the points of the plane so that any have his hobby as a profession, while two points at unit distance apart are Gerhard Röhrle provoked a giggle from my differently coloured? – answer: 4, 5, 6 wife by confessing that mathematicians’ or 7, but no-one has any idea which), spouses are not always guaranteed com- to various Ramsey-type problems (such plete attention in conversation. Christine as, for each integer k, what is the small- 33 West explained how she encourages visi- est number n such that every colouring tors to unwind through receptions and of the edges of the complete graph Kn punting. She clearly finds some groups eas- with colours red and blue always con- ier to cope with than others: pure mathe- tains a monochromatic complete graph maticians apparently “sometimes struggle Kk? – answer: 6 for k = 3, 17 for k = 4, and Mythematics: Solving the 12 Labors of to deal with day-to-day life”, and are often unknown for k > 4). Hercules by Michael Huber, Princeton Uni- defeated by keys, washing machines, TV Interspersed with these (and many other) versity Press, 2009, 169 pp, £16.95, ISBN13: sets and staplers. Frank Nijhoff and Reinout colouring problems are detailed accounts 978-0-691-13575-5. Quispel, on the other hand, impressed the of their history – how they were created Exactly how the mythical Greek hero presenter by “passing for normal human and why, who worked on them, how they accomplished his twelve labours depends beings”. were generalized, and so on. Many of these on which classical version you read. Michael Despite its weaknesses, this was an inter- accounts are fascinating and revealing, and Huber offers further variations, by endow- esting and entertaining programme, giving a number of rare photographs are included ing Hercules with skill at mathematics as a vivid sound picture of “this sanctuary of – writing the book was clearly a labour of well as superhuman strength; Huber hopes white walls and blond wood”, even if it did love for the author, taking him eighteen that mathematics undergraduates might be reinforce some untypical stereotypes. years and involving a great deal of mathe- entertained, even enlightened, by this offer- Gareth Jones matical and historical research. Unfortu- ing. He has tweaked some labours in order University of Southampton nately, his enthusiasm sometimes gets the to bring in more interesting mathematics, better of him – for example, the algebraist and, imitating Paul Halmos, confesses that The Mathematical Coloring Book: Mathe- B.L. van der Waerden is only of tangential “I wrote this book for fun, and I hope you matics of Coloring and the Colorful Life of interest in this area, yet the author bizarrely will read it the same way”. its Creators by Alexander Soifer, Springer, chooses to spend over one hundred pages The twelve chapters take the labours as 2009, 610 pp, $59.95, ISBN 978-0-387- describing his life. described by Apollodorus. In each chapter, 74640-1. The book is generally well written and that labour is reformulated into several This is a most unusual book – or, more presented, with good diagrams and layout, linked mathematical problems, followed accurately, several books rolled into one. but has not been proof-read as carefully by their solutions. Various asides explore For the mathematician, it contains a range as one would wish. Infelicities of grammar other aspects of Ancient Greece, and the
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NEWSLETTER
Appendices delve further into the legend of CALENDAR OF EVENTS January 2010 Hercules, but most of the book is mathemati- 4-8 Stochastic Partial Differential Equations cal, at the level of early undergraduate years. This calendar lists Society meetings and Workshop, INI, Cambridge (383) Differential and integral calculus, includ- other events publicised in the Newsletter. 11-15 New Topics at the Interface Between ing simple differential equations, appear Further information can be obtained from the Probability and Communications Workshop, frequently, with a smattering of difference appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number INI, Cambridge (383) equations, geometry and trigonometry, is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings vectors, combinatorics, probability and and events is given on the Society’s website 12 Code Breaking in Everyday Life, Gresham statistics. Algebraic structures as such are (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). College Public Lecture, Museum of London absent, but some ideas of physical applied (384) mathematics – the flight of an arrow (aimed NOVEMBER 2009 at the Nemean lion), work done (in carrying Mathematical Curiosities and Treasures FEBRUARY 2010 home the Cerynitian hind), harmonic oscil- 5 from Professor Stewart’s Cabinet, Public 9 Trains and Boats and Planes, Gresham lators (to scare off the Stymphalian birds), Lecture, The Royal Society, London (384) College Public Lecture, Museum of London water pressure (on the walls of the Augean 9 Chiswell Symposium, Queen Mary, stables) – find places. Excel spreadsheets (384) University of London (386) and Monte Carlo methods also make brief 25-28 EUROMATH 2010 Student Conference, 9-11 Dynamics of Outer Planetary Systems appearances. Bad Goisern, Austria (386) Conference, INI, Cambridge (382) One aspect of the layout is annoying: 26 LMS Mary Cartwright Lecture, Durham 34 20 LMS AGM, London (386) the full wording of every problem is given 24 The Maths of Sorting Things Out, again prior to its solution. This intrusive rep- Gresham College Public Lecture, Museum MARCH 2010 etition is sometimes on the page facing its of London (384) 3-5 Mixture Estimation and Applications first appearance, and always within a few 30-10 Dec De Brún Workshop in ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh (386) pages. My only major mathematical quibble Computational Algebra, Galway (384) is that the approach used to analyse the 9 Maths and Sport, Gresham College Public interaction between the hydra generating Lecture, Museum of London (384) new heads, and Iolaus assisting his uncle DECEMBER 2009 22-26 Stochastic Networks Workshop, INI, by cauterising the necks, is not consistent 1 Forward with Hoare, Joint LMS/BCS–FACS Cambridge (386) with the background given. There are other Evening Seminar, London (386) 4 Paris–London Analysis Seminar, IHÉS, lapses, of a minor nature, but they will not APRIL 2010 seriously mislead. In the spirit of the book, Paris (386) readers should take their cue from the 4-6 LMS–Belgian Mathematical Society 6-9 BMC/BAMC 2010, Edinburgh (386) author, and offer their own variations and joint meeting, Leuven 6-9 BCME7, Manchester (385) th generalisations. 8-9 Brian Davies 65 Birthday Conference, 6-9 Spatial Network Models for Wireless The figures and diagrams are well chosen, London (386) Communications, INI, Cambridge (386) the mathematics is presented attractively, 8-12 Operators and Operator Algebras 19-21 Mathematical Neuroscience Conference, Conference, Edinburgh (382) the pace is appropriate. Unobtrusively, the ICMS, Edinburgh (386) general level of mathematical sophistica- 10 London Analysis Seminar, London (386) 12 Visual Representations in the tion tends to rise as the book progresses. Mathematical Sciences in the Early Modern This book offers ideas to teachers seeking MAY 2010 Period, BSHM Lecture, London (386) topics on which to pin some abstract maths, 10-14 Numerical Solution of the Painlevé 12 Just Infinite Profinite Branch Groups and could encourage students to think Equations ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh Meeting, Royal Holloway (386) imaginatively about their subject, and where 14-18 Non-Abelian Fundamental Groups in (386) it might arise in unexpected circumstances. Arithmetic Geometry: Final Workshop, INI, 24-28 Uncertainty Quantification ICMS John Haigh Cambridge (386) Workshop, Edinburgh (386) Sussex University
November09-NL.indd 34 22/10/2009 13:22:48 No. 386 November 2009
CALENDAR OF EVENTS January 2010 JUNE 2010 4-8 Stochastic Partial Differential Equations 14-18 Hodge-theoretic Reflections on the This calendar lists Society meetings and Workshop, INI, Cambridge (383) String Landscape ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh other events publicised in the Newsletter. 11-15 New Topics at the Interface Between (386) Further information can be obtained from the Probability and Communications Workshop, 22-25 Group Representation Theory and appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number INI, Cambridge (383) Related Topics Conference, Lausanne, is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings Switzerland (386) and events is given on the Society’s website 12 Code Breaking in Everyday Life, Gresham 22-25 Mathematical Challenges and Model- (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). College Public Lecture, Museum of London (384) ling of Hydroelasticity ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh (386) NOVEMBER 2009 FEBRUARY 2010 5 Mathematical Curiosities and Treasures JULY 2010 9 Trains and Boats and Planes, Gresham from Professor Stewart’s Cabinet, Public 2 LMS Hardy Lecture, London Lecture, The Royal Society, London (384) College Public Lecture, Museum of London 5-9 Symplectic Geometry and Transformation 9 Chiswell Symposium, Queen Mary, (384) Groups ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh (386) University of London (386) 25-28 EUROMATH 2010 Student Conference, 12-13 Reconstructing and Understanding 9-11 Dynamics of Outer Planetary Systems Bad Goisern, Austria (386) Climate Change over the Last Few Conference, INI, Cambridge (382) 26 LMS Mary Cartwright Lecture, Durham Millennia and the Holocene ICMS Workshop, 20 LMS AGM, London (386) 35 24 The Maths of Sorting Things Out, Edinburgh (386) Gresham College Public Lecture, Museum MARCH 2010 of London (384) 3-5 Mixture Estimation and Applications AUGUST 2010 30-10 Dec De Brún Workshop in ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh (386) 17-18 International Conference of Women Computational Algebra, Galway (384) 9 Maths and Sport, Gresham College Public Mathematicians 2010, Hyderabad, India Lecture, Museum of London (384) (386) DECEMBER 2009 22-26 Stochastic Networks Workshop, INI, 19-27 International Congress of 1 Forward with Hoare, Joint LMS/BCS–FACS Cambridge (386) Mathematicians 2010, Hyderabad, India Evening Seminar, London (386) (386) 4 Paris–London Analysis Seminar, IHÉS, APRIL 2010 Paris (386) SEPTEMBER 2010 BMC/BAMC 2010, Edinburgh (386) 4-6 LMS–Belgian Mathematical Society 6-9 6-10 Multivariate Approximation and joint meeting, Leuven 6-9 BCME7, Manchester (385) th Interpolation with Applications ICMS 8-9 Brian Davies 65 Birthday Conference, 6-9 Spatial Network Models for Wireless Workshop, Edinburgh (386) London (386) Communications, INI, Cambridge (386) 13 LMS Midlands Regional Meeting, 8-12 Operators and Operator Algebras 19-21 Mathematical Neuroscience Conference, Nottingham Conference, Edinburgh (382) ICMS, Edinburgh (386) 10 London Analysis Seminar, London (386) 12 Visual Representations in the NOVEMBER 2010 Mathematical Sciences in the Early Modern MAY 2010 19 LMS Annual General Meeting, Naylor Period, BSHM Lecture, London (386) 10-14 Numerical Solution of the Painlevé Lecture, London 12 Just Infinite Profinite Branch Groups Equations ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh Meeting, Royal Holloway (386) 14-18 Non-Abelian Fundamental Groups in (386) DECEMBER 2010 Arithmetic Geometry: Final Workshop, INI, 24-28 Uncertainty Quantification ICMS 6-10 Australian Statistical Conference Cambridge (386) Workshop, Edinburgh (386) 2010, Fremantle, Australia (383)
November09-NL.indd 35 22/10/2009 13:22:48 H. MARTIN LMS member 1867–72 and 1874–75 Moffat, Princes Street, Edinburgh Moffat,
Rev. Hugh Martin, MA Examiner in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh
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