February 2008
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THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 367 February 2008 Society MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP Meetings In early January, Makhan Singh highly beneficial, and that the and Events took up his post as the new policy generally goes against the project manager for the more Leitch agenda on lifelong learn- 2008 maths grads project, exploring ing and skills. It said, “We would Friday 8 February ways of increasing the numbers suggest that national needs Mary Cartwright taking mathematics-related would be best met by regarding Lecture, Oxford undergraduate courses. Makhan a much greater number of part- [page 3] has a wealth of experience that time mathematics ELQ students Monday 31 March will help him to take the project as exempt (or at least eligible for Northern Regional forwards. In particular, he has val- some degree of support via a tar- Meeting, Manchester uable project management skills geted allocation) than just those [page 7] and has worked in other Widen- studying for a full (second) de- Friday 25 April ing Participation projects so he gree programme with substantial Women in has a full and practical apprecia- mathematical content. The sums Mathematics Day tion of what more maths grads involved would be very small as London [page 9] is aiming to achieve. Originally a proportion of the total math- training as an engineer, Makhan ematics spend, but would have a Monday 9 June has also spent time as a classroom substantial impact on take-up of Midlands Regional teacher. Makhan takes over from the opportunities for valuable re- Meeting, Birmingham Helen Orr who left the project in training and upskilling. Compen- Friday 4 July September; he will be based at sating for the deficiencies of the Hardy Lecture the University of Birmingham. past will take many years to rem- London The Mathematics Promotion edy.” The CMS also contributed Network, run by the Mathematics to the Select Committee inquiry Monday 15 September Promotion Unit, held a New Year on the same topic. SW & South Wales Drinks Party in January. This was The CMS is working with the Regional Meeting an opportunity for those work- Centre for Science Education Swansea ing in promoting mathematics (CSE) at Sheffield Hallam Univer- Monday 15 September to meet and exchange news, as sity on the mathematics elements Computer Science Day well as introducing Makhan to of a project to highlight careers in London the community. science, technology, engineering Friday 21 November The Council for the Mathemati- and mathematics (STEM). The CSE AGM, London cal Sciences (CMS) responded to won a contract from the Depart- the HEFCE consultation on With- ment for Children, Schools and 12–13 December drawal of Funding for Equivalent Families to create a programme Joint Meeting with or Lower Qualifications (ELQs). of support and guidance aimed the Edinburgh The response focused on the fact at increasing the number of Mathematical Society that studying even relatively small young people continuing their Edinburgh amounts of mathematics can be study of STEM subjects post-6, THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 367 February 2008 by showing the wide range of careers avail- 4th in the world, compared with eighth in able through the study of STEM subjects. The 000. The Royal Society produced a state of main elements are, first, to lead a campaign the nation report entitled The UK’s Science LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY to promote STEM careers awareness among and Mathematics Teaching Workforce which students, parents, teachers and information found that there was little reliable data on MARY CARTWRIGHT MEETING and advice guidance professionals. Second, the numbers of teachers in the UK, adding making available high quality information that schools and colleges faced “acute prob- Friday 8 February 2008, 4.30 pm about STEM careers, linked to subject and lems … in maintaining a strong science and Oxford University Museum of Natural History qualification choice, from the beginning of mathematics teaching force”. In particular, it Key Stage 3 through a variety of agents in- found that the number of unfilled vacancies Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW cluding subject teachers. for mathematics teachers was higher than for December saw the release of several reports any other subject. Mathematics of medicine: on the state of mathematics in UK schools. Caroline Davis breast cancer treatment and prevention Professor Julian Williams from Manchester Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer University concluded that pupils plateau in Sir Richard Peto FRS (Oxford) mathematics between the ages of and 4. A study produced by the Organisation for NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST Mary Cartwright Lecture Economic Co-operation and Development Valerie Beral FRS (Oxford) found that UK secondary school students have Dr Peter M. Neumann, Tutor in Mathematics, 3 slipped down an international league table Queen’s College, Oxford and lately Chairman Valerie Beral and Richard Peto will of reading and mathematics standards. The of the UK Mathematics Trust, received an OBE describe worldwide evidence on the UK’s performance in mathematics was placed for his services to education. causes and treatment of breast cancer. The evidence comes from large-scale collaborations, where hundreds of researchers from around the world meet regularly in Oxford and contribute, for LMS Newsletter central review and analysis, information General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) on hundreds of thousands of women with breast cancer. The findings from Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) these international collaborations have Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) changed clinical practice over the last Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) two decades. Consequently, large reductions in mortality from breast Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, cancer are being seen. London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. There will be tea before the meeting from 4 pm at the Museum. The meeting will start at 4.30 pm with a short business meeting of the Society, Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. to which all are welcome. Items and advertisements by the first day of the month prior to publication. After the meeting a reception will be held at the Mathematical Institute from News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The reception will be followed by a dinner at Carluccio’s at a although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter cost of £6 per person, inclusive of wine. Those wishing to attend the dinner should are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The inform Susan Oakes ([email protected]) no later than Monday 4 February. LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed There are limited funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. members of the Society or research students to attend the meeting. Charity registration number: 252660. Contact Isabelle Robinson ([email protected]) for further information. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 367 February 2008 THE CMS DIARY of response to the survey was pleasing, and the Autumn 2007 Council is grateful to those who replied. The aim of the survey is, over several years, to mon- springer.com The Council for the Mathematical Sciences met itor and respond to trends as they emerge and ABCD in De Morgan House on November. produce robust information to inform policy Those who have followed the development statements and activities. Departments’ com- of the CMS in recent years will know that ments on their overall health were diverse, the Council has for some time been consid- ranging from ‘very healthy and expanding’ ering how its membership can be enhanced and ‘small but vibrant’ to ‘very hard pressed’ New from Springer to reflect better the mathematical sciences in and even ‘critical’. The 2007 survey has recently Number Story The Interactive Geometry Software the UK as a whole, both in terms of subject been distributed – all departments are encour- breadth and geographic representation. To aged to respond to help us create as full a From Counting to Cinderella.2 this end, the CMS has welcomed representa- picture as possible. Cryptography U. H. Kortenkamp, Pädagogische Hochschule, tives of the Operational Research Society (ORS) The Higher Education Funding Council for P. M. Higgins, University of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany; J. Richter-Gebert, and the Edinburgh Mathematical Society (EMS) England (HEFCE) has recently launched consul- Essex, UK Technische Universität, München, Germany to its meetings in 007, and has been working tations on proposals to withdraw funding for This is an introduction to the The new version of this well-known interactive geometry with them to develop a model for formalising ‘Equivalent or Lower Qualifications’ and on the development of numbers and software, has become an even more versatile tool than its their position. assessment and funding of higher education their applications. It blends easy predecessor. The geometry component extends the functionality to such spectacular objects as dynamic fractals, 4 The subject was considered in detail over research post-2008 in the form of ‘metrics’. The material with more challenging 5 the summer by each of the Founder Members, CMS has assembled working groups to engage ideas about infinity and complex numbers and is full of and the software includes two major new components: and with the approval of the IMA, LMS and with both of these issues – submissions will ap- examples.