THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
Forthcoming COUNCIL DIARY to concentrate on the bigger 22 June 2007 issues of the balance of the Society Society’s activities and matters of Meetings Council in June began with the its future income. The Society’s good news of the names of publishing income is vital to its 2007 mathematicians included among current scale of grant-giving and Wednesday 24 the new Fellows of the Royal other support for mathematical October Society, and extended its con- activity. Publications Committee Northern Regional gratulations to Sir John Kingman strives to maintain this compo- Meeting, Sheffield on his election as a Foreign nent of income and to position L. Breen Associate of the US National the Society to be able to A. Cattaneo Academy of Sciences; both of respond to possible future [page 3] these items were reported in changes in the publishing envi- 1 the July issue. Council was also ronment, particularly regarding Friday 23 November pleased to learn of the recent electronic publishing. AGM, London appointment of Professor Celia Council is also mindful of the M. Struwe Hoyles as the new Director of the requirements of charities legisla- J.F. Toland National Centre for Excellence tion, which restricts how the Presidential Address in the Teaching of Mathematics Society’s money can be spent. In (NCETM), and that Professors particular, Council discussed the 2008 Charles Batty and Marc Lackenby requirement that the ‘benefit’ to Friday 8 February (both Oxford University) were members of being in the Society Mary Cartwright to take over as Editors of the should not exceed the total sub- Lecture Journal of the LMS. One of the scriptions paid by members. Oxford other pleasant duties of the A key question is precisely how Council was formally to confirm to quantify ‘benefit’ in our case, Monday 31 March the winners of the Society’s and that requires further work. Northern Regional prizes for 2007, details of which The encouraging news was Meeting were also reported in the previ- that, for 2007/08, the Society Manchester ous Newsletter. was able to fund fully the pro- Much of the Council meeting posed programme of activities, Monday 9 June was taken up with financial and this included some very Midlands Regional issues, particularly agreeing the positive developments. Meeting, Birmingham budgets for the Society’s activi- (a) An 11% increase in the ties for 2007/08 and provisional money available to the Friday 4 July figures up to 2010. The bids Programme Committee for London from the various committees Schemes 1 to 5. and spending units had been (b) An increase in the funds scrutinised in depth by the available to the Education Finance & General Purposes Committee for its small edu- Committee and Council was able cational grants scheme. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
(c) The expansion of the Computer Science YOUR LMS Committee’s initiative to develop a series of papers to inform decision-makers of Readers will be aware of our regular column the opportunities at the mathematics- on discussions between the LMS and IMA on computer science interface. a possible merger: comments are continually LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY (d) A comprehensive upgrade of the sought (see page 12). However, although at Society’s website, on which input will be an early stage the LMS did seek and receive sought from users (both members and members’ comments on the whole notion of NORTHERN REGIONAL MEETING the wider mathematical community). a merger, there has been little public’ debate (e) A programme of necessary refurbishment among the membership, apart from the invit- of De Morgan House, the building now ed articles in the Newsletter (November 2006, Hicks Lecture Theatre 7, University of Sheffield having been ours for 10 years. no. 353) by Stephen Huggett and David The business of the Council ended prompt- Abrahams against and for a merger respec- Wednesday 24 October 2007 ly at 3 pm, to enable us to adjourn to the tively. Therefore we encourage members not Chemistry Auditorium, University College only to send their views directly to the Next London, for the Society meeting. Steps Initiative group (nsicontact@btinter- 2.30 Opening of the meeting Elizabeth Winstanley net,com) but to submit short opinion pieces Fröhlich Lecture to the Newsletter from which we will aim to Larry Breen (University of Paris, XIII) 2 HANDBOOK AND publish a balanced selection. Then, when the Differential forms: an intrinsic perspective 3 time comes to vote, members will be pre- LIST OF MEMBERS pared, informed, and ready with well-tuned 3.45 Tea Together with this Newsletter is the 2007 responses. Handbook and List of Members. If any Does the colour of the Newsletter for the 4.30 Alberto Cattaneo (University of Zürich) member finds an error in their entry, they new session represent a rose-coloured vision The Poisson sigma model should inform the Society as soon as possible or blood on the carpet? We leave it to mem- either by email ([email protected]) or bers to pursue their own metaphors. 7.00 Dinner in the Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell in writing. David Chillingworth
For further details or to reserve a place at the dinner, which costs LMS Newsletter £28.50 including wine, email [email protected]. General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) The meeting will be followed by a workshop from 25–27 October on Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) Lie algebroids and Lie groupoids in differential geometry. For further Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) details, see http://kchmackenzie.staff.shef.ac.uk/october07/ or email Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, Kirill Mackenzie ([email protected]) or Ieke Moerdijk London WC1B 4HS (tel: 020 7637 3686; fax: 020 7323 3655; email: [email protected], web: www.lms.ac.uk) ([email protected]). Designed by CHP Design (tel: 020 7240 0466, email: [email protected], web: www.chpdesign.com) Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. There are funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of Items and advertisements by first day of the month prior to publication. members of the Society or research students to attend the meeting Information in the Newsletter is free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated; attribution is and workshop. Requests for support, including an estimate of requested when reproducing whole articles. The LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of expenses, may be addressed to Kirill Mackenzie (email above). information in the Newsletter. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. Charity registration number: 252660. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
HONORARY MEMBERS • Bulletin £44.00 The London Mathematical Society has elect- • Journal £88.00 ed Professor Ingrid Daubechies of Princeton • Proceedings £88.00 University and Professor Dusa McDuff, FRS, • Nonlinearity £62.00 of SUNY New York to Honorary Membership • Journal of Computation and Mathematics of the Society. remains free. Professor Daubechies is recognized for her Payment key contributions to signal analysis and the No action is required if you are already paying theory of wavelets. Her distinguished work by direct debit, and do not wish to change has not only motivated engineers to exploit your choice of publications. Fully complete wavelets in numerous modern applications, it and return the form if you are paying by has inspired basic research aimed at analyz- direct debit but wish to change your choice of ing wavelets in approximation theory and publications or add/delete a subscription to elsewhere. the European Mathematical Society. Bank Professor McDuff is recognized for her accounts of members paying by direct debit research in many areas of mathematics and in will be debited with the appropriate amount particular in symplectic topology. Her work on 15 January 2008. Other members should includes fundamental theorems on symplec- either enclose a cheque (£ sterling or US$) 4 tic blowup construction, a theorem (with with their form or, if they have a UK bank 5 Polterovich) on the symplectic packing prob- account and wish to take advantage of this lem, a series of papers (with Lalonde) on the convenient form of payment, request a direct symplectic energy and the stability of debit mandate. Although the facility to pay Hamiltonian flows. by credit card is open to all members of the Full citations for Professor Daubechies and Society, it is our preference that members Professor McDuff will appear in the LMS continue to pay by direct debit. Bulletin. Publications Pricing Policy The LMS has a pricing structure that allows ANNUAL LMS individual members to purchase its journals, for personal use only, at a substantial dis- SUBSCRIPTION 2007–08 count. In common with other mathematical The LMS annual subscription, including pay- societies, the Society regards a subscription as ment for publications, for the session for personal use only if: November 2007–October 2008 is due on (a) issues are either destroyed or held on a 1 November 2007. Together with this continuing basis among the member’s Newsletter is a renewal form to be complet- personal belongings, and are not ed and returned with your remittance in the deposited even temporarily in a library, enclosed envelope. common room or other public room, and Rates (b) are accessible to other mathematicians (or The annual subscription to the London Math- to students) only with the member’s ematical Society for the 2007–08 session is: permission, given individually in each case. • Ordinary Members £43.50 Issues are the personal property of members, • Reciprocity Members £21.75 who would be able, without negotiation • Associate Members £11.00 with authorities, to take the issues with them The prices of the Society’s periodicals to if they left their present institution or to give Ordinary, Reciprocity and Associate Members them to another individual who is willing to for 2007–08 are: abide by these terms. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
PROGRAMME gy to our usual review of reports from the It wrote, ‘In the absence of scientific interest and a mission to photograph the sun’s activi- various Schemes. Committee members were and expertise on other committees, there is a ty. It received excellent feedback from both COMMITTTEE REPORT very impressed by the amount of good math- real danger that there will be no meaningful the Royal Society and the exhibitors. The Here is a brief and informal report on ematics we are able to support. This led to a scrutiny of science and technology in the MPU is hoping to do similar work at this Programme Committee’s work at its meet- corresponding review of the detailed opera- House of Commons’. year’s British Association Festival of Science in ings in February and June this year. tion of the Schemes, and we agreed to exper- The DCSF Secretary of State, Ed Balls, has York this month. Finally, in July the MPU was At our February meeting we always take iment with a streamlined application proce- asked Sir Peter Williams, currently chair of the pleased to secure a meeting with the then time to review our grant schemes, taking as dure for Scheme 3, especially for renewals. Advisory Committee on Mathematics Shadow Higher Education spokesman, Boris long and dispassionate a view of them as we We were very pleased with plans for forth- Education, to carry out a review of mathemat- Johnson, MP. can. This year our discussion quite quickly coming Forder and Hardy Lectures. We elect- ics at primary school level. The review will ‘seek Further Mathematics continued to be the focused on Scheme 1, because we suddenly ed Peter Cameron (QMUL) as our Forder to define the most effective methods of teach- fastest growing subject at A-level this year. faced an enormous number of applications Lecturer: he will be visiting New Zealand to ing and learning maths to develop pupils’ The Further Mathematics Network, which under Scheme 1. The total amount applied give the lectures in 2008. We elected Shmuel deeper understanding … The review will also builds partnerships between schools, colleges for in February was almost the same as Weinberger (Chicago) as the 2008 Hardy help with the design of Every Child Counts, and universities in order to offer all A-level the total amount awarded for the whole Lecturer: he will be based in Durham. a new intervention programme for young students the chance to study the subject, was of 2005–06. Stephen Huggett children who are struggling with numeracy’. pleased to report a 10 per cent increase in We reaffirmed our long-held view that we LMS Programme Secretary The MATHS-PROM network held a well numbers. Since 2005, the number of candi- did not want to resort to using referees, which attended meeting on very rainy day in July dates sitting the examination has risen from 6 would completely change the decision MATHEMATICS entitled ‘So many changes in the school cur- around 6,000 to 8,000. The news was wel- 7 process, slowing it down and imposing an riculum…’ Sue Pope, who co-ordinates math- comed by mathematics departments through- unacceptable burden on staff in De Morgan POLICY ROUNDUP ematics at the Qualifications and Curriculum out the UK, as well as by physics, engineering House. We noted that we were not able to Since the last Newsletter, there have been Authority, gave presentations on the many and other mathematics-related course leaders. rank the applications, because (except for a many changes in the policy world. New Prime changes under way and how these will affect Caroline Davis few) there was not a very big difference Minister Gordon Brown reorganised the gov- the mathematics taught at secondary school. Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer between them. There was a reluctance to ernment departments to reflect what many These included the new Secondary defer too many applications, and we pre- see as his strong support for science and inno- Curriculum, which will be introduced for CECIL KING TRAVEL ferred to fund all good applications at a lower vation. The parts of government which the 11–14 year olds from 2008, reforms at ages level rather than not fund some good ones at mathematics community had most contact 14–19 and changes unique to mathematics SCHOLARSHIP 2007 all, trying to be careful not to reduce the fund- with – the Department for Education and Skills which have come from recommendations in The 2007 Cecil King Travel Scholarship has ing so much that the conference would no and the Department for Trade and Industry – the 2004 Smith Enquiry on mathematics edu- been awarded to Michael Wemyss, a PhD stu- longer be viable. We then went through the no longer exist and have been replaced. The cation at ages 14–19. dent at the University of Bristol. The London rather delicate process of making our award- Department for Children, Schools and Families The Mathematics Promotion Unit has been Mathematical Society makes the award of up ing decisions, and afterwards we agreed to (DCSF) covers education up to age 19 and the busy. This summer it welcomed a temporary £5,000 annually to a young mathematician of ask Council for an increase in the Scheme 1 Department for Innovation, Universities and data analyst Ayad Othman, a recent mathe- outstanding promise, to support a period of budget for the current year if the demand Skills (DIUS) looks after further and higher matics graduate from University College study or research abroad for a typical period of remained this high in the June round. education and the functions of the Office of London, who is working on updating annual three months. Michael After dealing with grants, we moved on to Science and Innovation which funded the statistics for the unit as well as analysing will use the Scholarship the various meetings for which Programme Research Councils. some data for the Council for the to fund a trip to Committee is responsible. In particular, we The departmental changes have meant Mathematical Sciences. In a pilot project, the Nagoya University, were delighted to confirm that Andrei that the Science and Technology MPU worked with three of the non-mathe- Japan, during the Okounkov (Princeton University) would give Parliamentary Select Committee is to become matics research teams exhibiting at the Royal 2007–08 academic year. the 2008 Invited Lectures at Imperial College the Innovation, Universities and Skills Society’s prestigious Summer Science He hopes to investigate London in April, organized by Richard Thomas. Committee. The Science Council has Exhibition to create leaflets highlighting the non-commutative reso- The Scheme 1 demand at our June meeting expressed its disappointment to the govern- mathematical background to their projects. lutions in algebraic was back to normal, which made our work ment and is concerned that the cross-cutting The ‘Maths Inside’ project worked with teams geometry and their easier, and we were able to devote our ener- nature of the former committee will be lost. exhibiting 3 dimensional printers, a tilting car links with cluster tilting. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
JOHN TODD THE CMS DIARY Spring/Summer 2007 John ‘Jack’ Todd, a pioneer in the develop- ment of numerical analysis and a key player in The Council for the Mathematical Sciences the creation of some of the first large com- met in De Morgan House on 22 May. A con- puters, died on 21 June at the age of 96. He siderable amount of time at this meeting graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast, in was devoted to a discussion of some current 1931 and enrolled at the University of issues in education. The CMS remains con- Cambridge, working under J.E. Littlewood cerned that not all schools will offer and G.H. Hardy. Littlewood did not have a ‘GCSE2’ mathematics when the new two- doctorate and disapproved of doctoral GCSE system is introduced, and reaffirmed degrees, so Todd never received a higher its belief that all pupils should be entitled degree, eventually becoming one of the very to take the second qualification. It was few professors at the California Institute of noted that a legal entitlement to study Technology without one. After the end of three separate science subjects existed for World War II, during which Todd served in the all pupils achieving a Level 6 at Key Stage 3 British Admiralty, he saved the Mathematical – it was felt that entitlement could work on Research Institute at Oberwolfach from being a similar basis for mathematics. The CMS 8 destroyed, calling it ‘probably the best thing plans to pursue this issue with government 9 I ever did for mathematics.’ and to raise awareness amongst other bod- ies of the possible negative consequences MORRIS NEWMAN of not including an entitlement in the proposals. Professor Morris Newman, who was elected a The publication of the House of Commons member of the London Mathematical Society Select Committee Inquiry’s report on the on 15 December 1955, died on 4 January Bologna Process prompted a media release 2007 at the age of 82. Newman graduated from the CMS welcoming the emphasis on from New York University with a degree in creating comparability and compatibility – mathematics, and later received a master’s rather than homogenisation – of Higher degree from Columbia University and a PhD Education within a European Higher from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952 Education Area (EHEA). However, our release under the direction of Hans Rademacher. He also expressed some disappointment that worked as a research mathematician for the report had failed to resolve the question 25 years at the National Bureau of Standards of which body will fund the second cycle, (now the National Institute of Standards and despite the issue having been raised by Technology). In 1966 Newman received a several organisations in their written gold medal from the Department of evidence to the Committee. Commerce for his development of a set of The Bologna Process also featured high matrix programs. He moved to California in on the agenda for our meeting with the 1977 where he became a professor at the Higher Educations Funding Council for University of California, Santa Barbara. He England (HEFCE) on 20 June. Sir David published about 100 papers, wrote two Wallace, Nigel Steele and I met David books, and served as an editor of two jour- Eastwood (Chief Executive, HEFCE) and John nals. Although Newman retired in 1993, he Selby (Director – Widening Participation, continued to work with graduate students HEFCE) to present some areas of current until early 2005. concern to the CMS and to give a ‘heads up’
cont’d THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
on issues that may shortly be coming into teachers on a regional level. It was also focus. David Wallace presented our risk noted that students who, for various rea- analysis of the implementation of the sons, could not travel far from their home Bologna Process, which focused on the con- town to study would be disadvantaged if sequences and probability of MSc and mathematics courses were not available Integrated Master’s courses not fulfilling the throughout the country. David Eastwood requirements to be considered as Second suggested that more imaginative methods Cycle qualifications, and the fact that fund- of delivering HE courses could help with ing issues raised have still not been this problem – the EPSRC Collaborative addressed by government. David Eastwood Training Centres currently being developed replied that he thought that the likelihood were a good example of universities of UK courses not meeting the requirements working together to allow students to of Bologna was low but stressed that the participate in courses being held some quality of Master’s courses must be pre- distance away. served by HEIs: any erosion of the percep- The HEFCE meeting also took the opportu- tion of course quality would be very serious nity to discuss recent concerns about the sus- for the UK Master’s market and could tainability of academic staffing in the mathe- heighten the risk of courses being deemed matical sciences in relation to a reliance on 10 insufficient to comply with the Bologna international recruitment. Preliminary data 11 Process or simply failing to compare from a recent CMS-HoDoMS survey of favourably with other courses in the EHEA. departments had indicated that over half of David Eastwood highlighted the work Research Associates in mathematics depart- undertaken by the UK HE Europe Unit, ments had completed their first degree which the Funding Councils (together with abroad. Whilst it was acknowledged that the Universities UK, the Quality Assurance ability of the UK to attract the best mathe- Agency and Guild HE) fund; Peter Giblin (as maticians from around the world was very Chair of the CMS Bologna Working Group) encouraging, a stronger ‘home-grown’ sup- and I have met with Jessica Olley (Acting ply was needed. The meeting reflected on Manager, Europe Unit) to discuss our con- how the financial draw of well-paid city jobs cerns and the potential for bodies across the and the competition for junior positions in science community to be brought together universities could be dissuading students to explore Bologna issues of common from choosing a career in academe or even concern. from studying at the post-doctoral level. The Another ‘hot topic’ discussed at the CMS plans to investigate trends in employ- meeting with HEFCE was the set of issues ment and their impact in more detail, and raised by Nigel Steele’s report Keeping HE discuss its findings with HEFCE. Mathematics Where it Counts: The decline We were pleased to have the opportuni- in provision of mathematical sciences cours- ty to discuss these issues with the Chief es with more moderate entry requirements Executive of HEFCE, and are hopeful that – drivers and implications, which described this meeting will lead to future interaction how mathematics ‘deserts’ were beginning at this level. In the meantime, issues such as to appear in areas of the UK. Nigel Steele GCSE 1 and 2 and the Bologna Process will explained how the closure of a mathemat- continue to occupy our thoughts over the ics department affected the local economy summer period. and worked against the Government’s tar- Martin Smith gets for recruiting specialist mathematics CMS Secretariat THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
LMS AND IMA Postdoctoral Fellowships in Theoretical Closing date for all the above applications is duration of the fellowship. The expectation is Computer Science Funding of £1.3 million 4.00 pm, Tuesday 2 October 2007. For further that fellows will have established themselves DISCUSSIONS will be invested by the ICT programme in the details see www.epsrc.ac.uk. as leading researchers of international stand- Comments sought 2007/2008 call for Fellowships. Applications ing in their area by the end of the award, as The LMS and IMA Joint NSI group is develop- are welcomed from talented researchers Senior Media Fellowships are intended to well as demonstrating leadership within their ing a model that, if implemented, would lead working in the broad area of Theoretical enable leading academic researchers to institution and research community. to the replacement of both the Institute Computer Science. For further information or devote time to working more proactively It is intended to award up to 50 of Mathematics and its Applications and questions relating to eligibility, please con- with the broadcast and written media, build- Fellowships this year across the Career the London Mathematical Society by a tact Dr Claire Hinchliffe. (Claire.Hinchliffe@ ing a higher media profile for the engineer- Acceleration Fellowships and Leadership new society. epsrc.ac.uk; tel: 01793 444 541). ing and physical sciences. Fellows would be Fellowships schemes. The actual numbers of As this work progresses, members are invit- expected to act as high-profile champions each type of fellowship awarded will depend ed to send views directly to the NSI group Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematical using national and regional media opportu- on the quality of the proposals received and and can be assured that all comments Sciences At least seven Fellowships will be nities to bring the excitement and relevance the level of resources requested. Strong com- received will be brought to the attention of awarded to candidates who can demonstrate of research to society. The awards are petition is anticipated for these fellowships. the group at its next meeting. Although the excellence and originality in research within part-time and are for a period of up to Closing date: Tuesday 9 October 2007. NSI group does not guarantee to reply to all the remit of the Mathematical Sciences. The three years. messages it may on occasion choose to do so. remit of the Mathematical Sciences Senior Media Fellowship applications for Joint EPSRC and POST Postgraduate The email address to use is nsicontact@ Programme encompasses all areas of novel the 2008 call are particularly welcome and Initiative 2008 12 btinternet.com. mathematics, statistics and operational encouraged from ICT researchers and those A three month secondment opportunity to 13 research. For further information please con- with an entrepreneurial track record. Other the Parliamentary Office of Science and EPSRC 2007/2008 tact Dr Katharine Bowes (Katharine.Bowes@ eligible researchers may, of course, still apply. Technology (POST) open to EPSRC-funded epsrc.ac.uk; tel: 01793 444 162). Applicants are strongly advised to discuss PhD students. Postdoctoral Fellowships eligibility and applications with EPSRC prior Parliament passes laws, scrutinises The Physics, Information and Communications Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowships at the to submission. Closing date: Wednesday Government and acts as a forum for debate Technologies (ICT), Mathematical Sciences and Life Sciences Interface The LSI Programme 7 November 2007. on issues of concern. Science based issues per- Life Sciences Interface (LSI) Programmes are offers up to 12 Fellowships to enable talent- meate all these areas of work. Most MPs and offering Postdoctoral Fellowships to enable ed new researchers with a PhD in a physical Career Acceleration Fellowships provide up Peers do not have a background in science or the most talented new researchers to establish science (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematical to five years funding to talented researchers technology and look to others for specialist an independent research career, shortly or Sciences, Materials Science, Information and at an early stage of their career. They provide advice and information. POST is an office of immediately after completing a PhD. The Communication Technology), or any engi- an opportunity to concentrate on research the two Houses of Parliament (Commons and awards are for a period of up to three years neering discipline, to develop an independ- for the period of the award, as well as sup- Lords), charged with providing balanced and and cover the salary costs of the Fellow, travel ent career working at the interface with the porting all the costs of the associated independent analyses of science and technol- and subsistence and equipment. life sciences. Both the Medical Research research for the full duration of the fellow- ogy based issues of relevance to Parliament. Council and Biotechnology and Biological ship. The expectation is that fellows will have During their time at Parliament, Postdoctoral Fellowships in Theoretical Sciences Research Council also offer postdoc- established an independent career of inter- EPSRC/POST Fellows will work on a policy Physics Up to six Fellowships will be awarded toral fellowships and applications deemed to national standing by the end of the award. topic grounded in science and technology. to candidates whose research is within the be mainly or wholly within their remit will Closing date: Wednesday 24 October 2007. Examples of previous years’ topics include remit of the EPSRC Physics programme. This not be considered under this call. Some ‘the 24 hour society’ and ‘internet gover- encompasses the areas of magnetism, super- aspects of Medical Engineering also fall out- Leadership Fellowships provide up to five nance’. Following the placement the fellow conductivity, quantum fluids, plasmas, atom- side the scope of this call. It is mandatory that years funding to talented early or mid-career will be invited to report back to EPSRC on ic, molecular and optical physics, surface and fellows spend between 6 and 18 months researchers with the most potential to devel- the scheme. interfaces, soft condensed matter physics and working at one or more leading laboratories op into the UK’s international research lead- All EPSRC-funded postgraduate students generic theoretical/modelling studies. For outside the UK during their fellowship. ers of tomorrow. They provide an opportuni- registered for a PhD, who will be in their 2nd further information please contact Dr Steve For further information please contact ty to concentrate on research for the period or 3rd year of full-time study in March Milsom ([email protected]; tel: Dr Stephen Elsby ([email protected]; of the award, as well as supporting all the 2008, are eligible. Deadline for applications: 01793 444 319). tel: 01793 444 066). costs of the associated research for the full 5 October 2007. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
IMU NEWS The Committee consists of: Robert Adler (Haifa, Israel), appointed by IMS; Peter Taylor Associate Membership The IMU has been (Melbourne, Australia), appointed by ICIAM; striving to increase the participation of mathe- John Ewing (Providence, USA), appointed by matical communities and mathematicians from IMU. The Committee is expected to create a around the world. Currently 68 countries are summary of its findings to be endorsed by members of the IMU (out of about 190 mem- the Executive Committees of ICIAM, IMS, and ber states of the United Nations). There are IMU and to be published afterwards. many countries, not yet IMU members, with ICIAM, IMS, and IMU have formulated an aspi- substantial mathematical activities, whose rational charge to help set direction rather than participation in the IMU would be mutually prescribe the final outcome of the committee’s beneficial. Others have written in previous work; see the IMU website www.mathunion.org. issues of this Newsletter about IMU programs to strengthen mathematics and mathematics The Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences has education in the developing world. been awarded on 12 June 2007. The Shaw In order to encourage more developing Prize goes in equal shares to Professor Robert countries to become IMU members, the IMU Langlands (Institute for Advanced Study, General Assembly, meeting in Santiago de Princeton) and Professor Richard Taylor 14 Compostela in August 2006, voted to estab- (Harvard University) for initiating and 15 lish a new category of membership, that of developing a grand unifying vision of Associate Member. An organization of math- mathematics that connects prime numbers ematicians in a developing country that has with symmetry. More details on the website not been an IMU member may apply for www.shawprize.org. Associate Membership for a period of up to eight years without paying dues. An ICMI Awards The International Commission on Associate Member country may participate in Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) has created two many IMU activities, including sending a del- awards in mathematics education research: the egate to the General Assembly. More impor- Hans Freudenthal Award, for a major pro- tantly, mathematicians from an Associate gramme of research on mathematics education, Member country will have the opportunity to and the Felix Klein Award, for lifelong achieve- interact with other mathematicians around ment in mathematics education research. the world and increase the visibility of their An ICMI Awards Committee has been country in the mathematical community. appointed under Professor Mogens Niss (Denmark) and the Committee welcomes sug- Committee on Quantitative Assessment of gestions coming from the mathematics educa- Research The International Council of tion community. Nominations must be accom- Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM), panied by summaries presenting the persons the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics nominated and the reasons for the nomination (IMS), and the International Mathematical as well as the names and coordinates of two or Union (IMU) have formed a Committee of three persons whom the committee may con- Quantitative Assessment of Research that tact for further information. All proposals must will investigate various aspects of the quanti- be sent by e-mail to Mogens Niss ([email protected]) tative assessment of research in mathematics. no later than by 15 November 2007. The Committee will, in particular, look into The above items are taken from the 24th issue of the IMU impact factors and similar ways to measure electronic newsletter IMU Net (see www.mathunion.org/ research output. Publications/Newsletter). THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
A DISAPPEARING NUMBER Translators, who will assist in establishing the projects, building the relationships A play A Disappearing Number about and exploiting follow-on opportunities. Ramanujan and Hardy will be performed Please find further details on Industrial TUTORIAL WORKSHOP ON MATHEMATICAL at the Barbican from 5 September to Mathematics Internships on the KTN 6 October. Further information is available website at www.industrialmath.net/content/ FOUNDATIONS FOR THE INTERNET at: www.barbican.org.uk. internships.html. Monday 17 September 2007 Industrial Mathematics Internships will be launched at the Institute of Engineering and The London Mathematical Society INDUSTRIAL MATHEMATICS Technology (IET), Savoy Place, London, on the This event forms part of an LMS initiative of activities at the interface between evening of 18 September 2007. The launch INTERNSHIPS LAUNCH Mathematics and Computer Science. The event will showcase a range of mathe- will be attended by industrialists, academics, matical topics that are helping to build our understanding of how the Internet The Industrial Mathematics Knowledge and representatives from government and behaves and how the protocols that it uses can be designed to perform better. Transfer Network (KTN) is delighted to the public sector. If you wish to join us for the The LMS especially welcomes participation by research students from both the introduce an exciting new initiative connect- launch of this exciting initiative, please Computer Science and Mathematics communities. ing business with the mathematical skills register your intention by emailing Gillian base in the UK’s universities: Industrial Hoyle ([email protected]) at the Mathematics Internships. Smith Institute. SPEAKERS (timings to be confirmed) 16 Industrial Mathematics Internships involve Dr Ayalvadi Ganesh (Microsoft Research, Cambridge) 17 a doctoral research student in a university MATHEMATICAL THINKING Random Graphs and Computer Networks department taking time out from their exist- Professor Doug Leith (Hamilton Institute, National University of Ireland Maynooth) ing research to work within a company. An interdisciplinary workshop will be held Positive Matrices and the Internet: TCP Dynamics, Fairness and Efficiency Industrial Mathematics Internships are a new from 21–22 November at the University of opportunity with a threefold advantage: for Nottingham. The aim is to bring together Professor Michel Mandjes (Korteweg-de Vries Institute, University of Amsterdam) companies, university departments and the educators, mathematicians, philosophers and Large Deviations for Gaussian Queues Interns themselves. psychologists who are interested in under- Dr Damon Wischik (Computer Science, University College London) As an industrialist, you will explore new standing mathematical thinking better. The Queueing in Switched Networks horizons or improve existing operations by main goal is to share the findings and ideas Full abstracts can be found at: bringing mathematical expertise and cutting- from our various disciplines, and to identify www.lms.ac.uk/activities/comp_sci_com/cs_day07.html. edge techniques into your company. As a uni- whether there are areas where we would versity faculty member, you will use benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. Internships as a seed for growing new indus- Keynote speakers are: REGISTRATION: required with limited availability; please contact Isabelle trial collaborations and relationships. • Alexandre Borovik (School of Mathematics, Robinson ([email protected]) to register to attend As an Intern, you will use your expertise University of Manchester) COST: free subject to registration to address industrial challenges, and gain • Peter Bryant (Department of Psychology, TRAVEL GRANTS: limited funds are available to help with the travel costs first-hand experience of the business Oxford Brookes University) of students attending the event; contact Isabelle Robinson environment. • Marcus Giaquinto (Department of (details above) for information We believe that Industrial Mathematics Philosophy & Institute of Cognitive ORGANISERS: Dr Richard Gibbens (Computer Laboratory, Cambridge University) Internships will develop into a major engine Neuroscience, University College London) Dr Peter Key (Microsoft Research, Cambridge) for innovation. A pilot phase of the initiative • Terezinha Nunes (Department of will run between September 2007 and Educational Studies, University of Oxford) LOCATION: The London Mathematical Society August 2008, assisted by the support of the • David Tall (Institute of Education, De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square Engineering and Physical Sciences Research University of Warwick) London WC1B 4HS Council (EPSRC). Each Internship will last For full details of how to register and between 3 and 6 months and will be sup- opportunities for participation visit: ported by one of the KTN’s Technology www.lsri.nottingham.ac.uk/mtw. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
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18 19 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS MATHEMATICS AT THE or coming from industry or from outside the and other participants. The speakers are a UK. In the past, attendance has been recog- mixture of established and potential future The conference on Numerical Analysis: BRITISH ASSOCIATION nised as contributing towards some introduc- leaders of numerical analysis and computa- Multiscale Methods, Adaptivity and FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE 2007 tory institutional programmes in learning tional mathematics, and there are significant Complexity will be held at the Bath Institute and teaching for new staff (certificated or overlaps in the themes of the programme for Complex Systems, University of Bath from The BA Festival of Science is the largest such otherwise and depending on institution). with applied analysis and PDEs. The invited 4–7 September. The themes of this confer- event in Europe and celebrates science, tech- The course will start with lunch and an speakers are: ence will be: Numerical analysis for multiscale nology engineering and mathematics and afternoon session on 13 September and • Mike Baines (Reading) problems, Stochastic and high-dimensional their impact on society. This year’s BA Festival finish at lunchtime on 14 September. Topics • Gabriel Barrenechea (Strathclyde) problems, Adaptive methods, Inverse prob- is being held in York from 9–15 September will include: • Catherine Powell (Manchester) lems and applications, Numerical methods and will see sessions being held at venues • Teaching and supporting learning • Jason Reese (Strathclyde) for wave propagation problems. Invited around the City and the university. The • Design and planning of learning activities • Holger Wendland (Sussex) speakers include: Mathematics Section has organised three • Assessment and feedback Anyone interested is welcome. The meet- • H. Ammari (Ecole Polytechnique, Paris) events: • Systems to support learning ing is supported by the London Mathematical • D. Bird (Bath) • 11 September, 5:30pm–8.00pm Microworld • The computer environment Society, and funding is available for travel • M. Burger (Münster) Adventures: A Symmetry-Approach to • Sharing experience for UK-based PhD students (apply as soon • S.N. Chandler-Wilde (Reading) Viruses (lecture by the University of York's The course will take place in the School of as possible please). Registration, student • M. Cullen (UK Met Office) Dr Reidun Twarock followed by a reception Mathematics in the University of Birmingham funding and other details can found at 20 • W. Dahmen (Aachen) sponsored by the more maths grads project) with accommodation within easy walking www.ma.hw.ac.uk/scms or by contacting 21 • C.M. Elliott (Sussex) • 12 September, 6.00pm–8.00pm How distance. The full residential rate is £90 – John Mackenzie ([email protected]). • T.-Y. Hou (Caltech) Mathematics Changed my Life! (various including accommodation, evening meal The organisers are John Mackenzie and • W. Huang (Kansas) speakers on how mathematics is applied in (13th) and lunch on both days. For further Dugald Duncan. • P.K. Jimack (Leeds) the real world and careers in mathematics) details please see: http://mathstore.ac.uk/ • I.G. Kevrekidis (Princeton) • 13 September, 2.00pm–4.00pm Leonhard workshops/induction2007/index.shtml or TECHNICAL PUBLISHING • M. Kirkilionis (Warwick) Euler: the Legacy! (celebration of the contact: [email protected]. • C. Mitchell (Bath) 300th anniversary of Euler’s birth, intro- IN NEW AND OLD MEDIA • R. Potthast (Reading) duced by Euler himself with help from his SCOTTISH COMPUTATIONAL From TeX notation to MathML • C. Reisinger (Oxford) friend Professor Robin Wilson of the Open A meeting on Technical publishing in new • C. Schwab (ETH, Zürich) University, plus Professor Keith Moffat of MATHEMATICS SYMPOSIUM and old media – from TeX notation to • V.P. Smyshlyaev (Bath) the University of Cambridge and Professor The 16th Scottish Computational MathML will be held on Monday 22 October • I.H. Sloan (New South Wales) Chris Budd of the University of Bath) Mathematics Symposium (SCMS) will be held from 10.30am to 5pm at the Open University. • E. Suli (Oxford) In addition, on Friday 14 September, on Tuesday 11 September at the University of The speakers are: • R. Tempone (Florida State) Professor Chris Budd is leading a session Eat, Strathclyde, Glasgow. The object of the SCMS • Kaveh Barzargan of River Valley As well as the invited talks the conference drink and be merry with mathematics as part is to bring together mathematicians and oth- Technologies will feature a limited number of contributed of the Young People’s programme. ers who develop, analyse and use computer • Tim Lowe of the Mathematics Online talks. The conference will not have any paral- algorithms to solve mathematical problems Project at The Open University lel sessions. The registration fee is set at £30 INDUCTION COURSE that arise in the modelling of practical prob- • Jonathan Fine of MathTran and the Open plus the cost of accommodation and meals lems. Participants will hear keynote lectures University during the meeting. For further information An induction course for Lecturers New to on various aspects of computational mathe- • Mike Pearce of the Millennium visit the website www.bath.ac.uk/math- Teaching Mathematics & Statistics in UK HE matics including stochastic PDEs, the use of Mathematics Project sci/BICS/nammac/. For scientific enquiries con- will be held on Thursday 13 to Friday 14 scattered data techniques, the computation • a speaker from the publishers of Geometry tact I.G. Graham ([email protected]) or September at the University of Birmingham. of hypersonic and micro-scale gas flows, and and Topology. R. Scheichl ([email protected]), and for This induction course is aimed at people who adaptive finite element methods. The meet- If you wish to attend (registration is administrative enquiries contact Mrs Ann have started teaching mathematics in UK ing will be structured such that attendees will required) email [email protected] or visit Linfield ([email protected]). The meet- higher education institutions within the last have time between talks and during coffee http://uk.tug.org. The one-day meeting is ing is supported by an LMS conference grant. three years, whether they are new graduates breaks to discuss the topics with the speakers organised by the UK TeX Users Group. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
FIFTH EUROPEAN • László Lovász (Eötvös Loránd University, • Mathematical Finance (Hans Schumacher, EUROMECH FLUID Budapest) Peter Spreij) CONGRESS OF • Matilde Marcolli (Max Planck Institut • Mathematics of Cryptology (Ronald Cramer) MECHANICS MATHEMATICS Bonn) • Representation Theoretical Methods and The 7th EUROMECH Fluid Mechanics • Felix Otto (Universität Bonn) Quantization (Stefaan Caenepeel, Jürgen Conference will be held at the University of The Fifth European Congress of Mathematics • Nicolai Reshetikhin (UC, Berkeley) Fuchs, Alexander Stolin, Christoph Manchester, organised by the School of (5ECM) will be organized in Amsterdam, • Richard Taylor (Harvard University) Schweigert, Freddy van Oystaeyen) Mathematics/Manchester Institute of from 14–18 July, 2008, under the auspices of • Rough Path Theory (Peter K. Friz) Mathematical Sciences, University of the European Mathematical Society. This con- and the three Science lectures by • Singular Structures in Variational PDEs Manchester, 14–18 September 2008. gress is the next in a series of successful four- • Ignacio Cirac (Max-Planck-Institut für (Matthias Roeger, Mark Peletier) The conference aims to provide an inter- yearly European congresses that cover the Quantenoptik, Garching, Germany) • Spectral Problems and Hilbert Spaces of national forum for exchange of informa- whole range of the mathematical sciences, Quantum Information Theory Entire Functions (Joaquim Bruna, Hakan tion of all aspects of fluid mechanics, from pure to applied. The series started in • Tim Palmer (ECMWF Reading, UK) Climate Hedenmalm, Kristian Seip, Mikhail Sodin) including instability and transition, turbu- Paris in 1992, followed by meetings in Change • Spectral Theory (E.B. Davies, T. Weidl, lence, multiphase and non-Newtonian Budapest (1996), Barcelona (2000) and • Jonathan Sherrat (Heriot-Watt University, F. Klopp, T. Hoffmann-Ostenhof) flows, bio-fluid mechanics, reacting and Stockholm (2004). The ECM congresses alter- Edinburgh, UK) Mathematical Biology • Weak Approximations of Stochastic compressible flows, numerical and experi- nate with the IMU international congresses, Differential Equations (Dan Crisan) mental methods, as well as applications. organized every (2 mod 4) year. The topics and the organizers of the Special activities, organized by the KWG, A number of prominent scientists will give 22 Next year’s ECM will be organized under the Minisymposia are: are the Brouwer medal ceremony (an event keynote lectures in their respective fields 23 special patronage of the Koninklijk Wiskundig • Advances in Variational Evolution organized every three years in memory of of expertise: Genootschap (Royal Dutch Mathematical (Alexander Mielke, Ulisse Stefanelli) the Dutch mathematician L.E.J. Brouwer, Society, KWG), and will include the yearly meet- • Algebra in Optimization (Jan Draisma, consisting of a laudatio, a lecture and a • A. Dowling (UK) Aeroacoustics ing of the members of KWG. The 5ECM Local Monique Laurent) medal presentation, followed by a recep- • J. Eggers (UK) The role of singularities in Organizing Committee consists of André Ran • Applications of Noncommutative Geometry tion), a historical lecture on Brouwer’s life hydrodynamics (Free University Amsterdam, chairman), Herman (Gunther Cornelissen, Klaas Landsman) and work (by Dirk van Dalen), and the so- • E. Guazzelli (France) Particulate flows te Riele (CWI Amsterdam, secretary), and Jan • Applied Algebraic Topology (Michael Farber) called Beeger lecture (an event organized • D. Henningson (Sweden) Flow control Wiegerinck (University of Amsterdam, treasurer). • Combinatorics of Hard Problems (Josep every two years in memory of the Dutch applied to transitional flows An outstanding Scientific Committee with Diaz, Oriol Serra, Jaroslav Nesetril) high-school teacher and mathematician • P. Hosoi (USA) Low Reynolds number loco- representatives from all over Europe, chaired • Coupled Cell Networks (Peter Ashwin, Ana N.G.W.H. Beeger, with a talk on algorithmic motion by Lex Schrijver (CWI and University of Dias, Jeroen Lamb) and/or computational number theory). The • A. Thess (Germany) Electromagnetic flow Amsterdam), has composed an interesting • Discrete Structures in Geometry and names of the Brouwer and Beeger lecturers measurement scientific program consisting of ten Plenary Topology (Dmitry Feichtner-Kozlov) will be announced later. • R. Verzicco (Italy) Numerical simulations of lectures, three (also plenary) Science lectures, • Galois Theory and Explicit Methods (Bart For more information on the conference, high Rayleigh number thermal convection about thirty (parallel) invited lectures, and de Smit) such as grants, up-to-date information on the twenty-one (parallel) Minisymposia. In addi- • Global Attractors in Hyperbolic program, and for registration, please visit our Furthermore, four mini-symposia are tion, ten Prize lectures will be presented by Hamiltonian Systems (Andrew Comech, website at www.5ecm.nl. scheduled to provide training to early stage outstanding young European mathemati- Alexander Komech) The organizers are proud that the EMS has researchers in the following topics: Subcrit- cians, selected by a Prize Committee chaired • Graphs and Matroids (Bert Gerards, Hein selected Amsterdam to be the host city for its ical flow instability, Internal bio-fluids, by Rob Tijdeman (Leiden University). van der Holst, Rudi Pendavingh) fifth congress, and we look forward to meet- Granular flows and Nature-inspired fluid The ten Plenary lectures will be presented by • Hypoellipticity, Analysis on Groups and ing you all next year in Amsterdam. Do not mechanics. • Luigi Ambrosio (Scuola Normale Superiore Functional Inequalities (W. Hebisch, miss this opportunity to learn about the lat- Abstract submission deadline: 14 February di Pisa) B. Zegarlinski) est developments in mathematics, to meet 2008. For enquiries (and to be added to the • Christine Bernardi (Université Paris VI) • Mathematical Challenges in Cellular old friends, and make new acquaintances, mailing list) contact Peter Duck (chairman) • Jean Bourgain (IAS Princeton) Systems (Frank Bruggeman, Mark Peletier) while enjoying a charming city with many or Richard Hewitt (secretary) at: efmc@ • Jean-François Le Gall (ENS & Paris VI) • Mathematical Logic (Peter Koepke, ‘do-not-miss-this’ sights! ma.man.ac.uk. For further information visit • François Loeser (ENS Paris) Benedikt Löwe, Jaap van Oosten) The 5ECM Local Organizing Committee www.mims.manchester.ac.uk/EFMC. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
GROUPS AND SYMMETRIES GRESHAM COLLEGE Further information about the conference their degree programmes (such as bioscience, and registration details can be found at: chemistry, computer science, economics, A conference in celebration of Rob Curtis’ LECTURES 2007/08 www.isg.rhul.ac.uk/~sdg/cirencester.html. engineering, nursing, physics, psychology, 60th birthday will be held at the University of Gresham College, founded by Sir Thomas social work, etc.). Birmingham from 20–22 September. The Gresham in 1597, is an independently CETL-MSOR CONFERENCE The conference will explore not only the speakers will be: funded educational institution based in issues at the transition to university, but any • John Bray (Queen Mary) Barnard’s Inn, Holborn, in the centre of The Continuing Excellence in the Teaching & issues throughout the entire student learning • Arjeh Cohen (Eindhoven) London. It provides free public lectures by Learning of Maths, Stats & OR conference experience – from foundation year through • Paul Flavell (Birmingham) its eight professors and holds other 2007 (CETL-MSOR) will take place at the to post-graduate level. This will be achieved • Sasha Ivanov (Imperial) events. The current Gresham Professor of University of Birmingham from Monday 10 – by a combination of keynote speeches, ple- • Wilhelm Plesken (Aachen) Geometry is Robin Wilson, who is giving the Tuesday 11 September. nary sessions, hands-on demonstrations, • Johannes Siemons (UEA) following lectures: The aim of this conference is to promote, workshops, poster sessions and discipline- • Chiara Tamburini (Brescia) • 4000 years of geometry explore and disseminate emerging good specific discussion sessions. • Richard Weiss (Tufts) 3 October 2007, 1 pm and 6 pm practice and research findings in Full residential rate (includes all confer- • Rob Wilson (Queen Mary) • 4000 years of algebra Mathematics and Statistics support, teaching, ence fees, B&B, lunches and refreshments • Francois Zara (Amiens) 17 October 2007, 1 pm and 6 pm learning and assessment. The conference will throughout the two days and the conference The conference is supported by the LMS • 4000 years of numbers appeal to all those teaching Mathematics, dinner) £129. Non-residential rate on and there are funds available to support par- 7 November 2007, 1 pm and 6 pm Statistics or Numeracy, whether this is to spe- application. For further details please see 24 ticipation of UK-based research students. • Squaring the circle and other impossibilities cialist mathematics students or students http://mathstore.ac.uk/conference2007/index 25 Further information can be found on the 16 January 2008, 1 pm and 6 pm studying components of mathematics within .shtml or contact: [email protected]. conference web page at http://web.mat. • A millennium of mathematical puzzles bham.ac.uk/S.M.Goodwin/curtisconference. 6 February 2008, 1 pm and 6 pm Contact Rebecca Waldecker (R.Waldecker@ • From Hilbert’s problems to the future bham.ac.uk) if you would like to attend. The 27 February 2008, 1 pm and 6 pm organisers are: Simon Goodwin, Corneliu • 400 years of geometry at Gresham College Hoffman, Chris Parker and Rebecca Waldecker. (Special Geometry Lecture) 4 May 2008, 1 pm and 6 pm. APPLICABLE FLUID For information see www.gresham.ac.uk. DYNAMICS CRYPTOGRAPHY A meeting on the fundamentals and tech- niques in applicable fluid dynamics will be AND CODING held at the School of Mathematics, University The 11th IMA international conference on of Leeds, on 21 September. The meeting is Cryptography and Coding will take place being held to mark the retirement of from 18–20 December at the Royal Professor Derek Ingham. The speakers are: Agricultural College in Cirencester. The con- • T. Pedley, FRS (University of Cambridge) ference concerns the mathematical theory • F.T.Smith, FRS (University College, London) and practice of cryptography and coding the- • B. Spalding, FRS (Imperial College, London) ory. The invited speakers are • A. Williams (University of Leeds) • Whit Diffie (Sun Microsystems) tba • G. Wilks (University of Keele) • Jonathan Katz (University of Maryland) • N. Mera (Evolutionary Technologies LLP, Efficient cryptographic protocols based London) on the hardness of learning parity For further information contact John Mertin with noise ([email protected]). The meeting is • Patrick Solé (École Polytech Nice-Sophia) supported by an LMS conference grant. Galois rings and pseudo-random sequences THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
UK-JAPAN WINTER Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Acturial Mathematics, Information Technology for SCHOOL 2008 Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics. Key The UK-Japan Winter Schools have been held note speakers are: since 1999. Ever year the focus is on a special • Aleksander Malnic (Slovenia) LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY topic. For the next Winter School the topic • Ari Laptev (Imperial College, London) will be Algebraic and Symplectic Geometry. • Bernd Wegner (Germany) POPULAR LECTURES 2007 The aim of the School is to bring together • Dato Rosihan M. Ali (USM, Malaysia) Japanese and UK scientists, in particular • Dorin Popescu (University of Bucharest, University of Birmingham – Tuesday 18 September young researchers and students from mathe- Romania) matics and mathematical physics, in a relax- • Edy Tri Baskoro (Institute Teknologi ing and stimulating atmosphere. It will be Bandung, Indonesia) held 7–11 January 2008 at the Mathematics • Esmail Babolain (Teacher Training Dr Hinke Osinga Research Centre, University of Warwick. For University, Iran) further information please visit the website • Genghua Fan (Fuzhou University, China) Chaos and Crochet http://euclid.ucc.ie/pages/staff/berndt/ • Jin Ho Kwak (Pohang U. of Sci. & Tech, ‘Maths predicts things – so why is the weather conferences/UK-Japan08/ws2008home.html. Republic of Korea) forecast often wrong? The intricacies of chaos • Juergen Herzog (University of Essen, theory can be explained with a surface that 26 MATHEMATICS AND Germany) you can make by crochet.’ 27 • Michel Marie Deza (Ecole Normale ITS APPLICATIONS IN Supérieure, France) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • Peter Wild (University of London, UK) • Ulrich Knauer (Carl von Ossietzky Dr Stephen Huggett The Second LUMS international conference University, Germany) Knots on Mathematics and its Applications in Invited speakers include: Carlos Martins da Information Technology will be held in col- Fonseca (University of Coimbra, Portugal), ‘The mathematical theory of knots is a weird laboration with SMS, Lahore at the LUMS Christian Mauduit (Université de la and wonderful world. It is easy to enter, but campus from 9-12 March 2008. It will be Méditerranée, France), Eraldo Giuli surprisingly difficult to answer some of its attended by various world leaders in mathe- (University of L’Aquila, Italy), Faiz Ahmad most obvious questions!’ matics and by postgraduate students. This (King Abdulaziz U., Saudi Arabia), Jafar conference will provide a forum for Baizar (Guilan University, Rasht, Iran), Matt researchers and educators from around the Davison (University of Western Ontario, world to present their results and exchange Canada), M. Akram Javaid (U. of Eng. and ideas and information in the latest develop- Tech, Taxila, Pakistan), Ng Wee Leng (NTU, Commences at 6.30 pm, refreshments at 7.30 pm, ends at 9 pm. Admission ments in all areas of Mathematics. The con- Singapore), Sang-Gu-Lee (Sungkyunkwan is free. Enquiries to Dr Simon Goodwin, School of Mathematics, University ference features 45 minute talks by keynote University, Korea), Sheng Bau (China), S.M. of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT ([email protected]). speakers, 30-minute talks by invited speakers Aqil Burney (U. of Karachi, Pakistan), Sohaib and 20-minute talks by paper presenters. A. Khan (LUMS, Pakistan), Tasawar Hayat The lectures are intended to be suitable for a general audience and no Faculty members are encouraged to suggest (Quaid-i-Azam U., Islamabad, Pakistan). specific mathematical knowledge will be assumed. Although the talks to their PhD students that the LUMS For further details contact Faqir M. Bhatti, are not primarily intended for professional mathematicians, everyone is Conference on Mathematics is an appropri- Convener, LICM08, Lahore University of welcome and some members may wish to apply for tickets for friends ate place to present their research papers. Management Sciences, DHA, Cantt Lahore – and relatives. The conference will cover a broad range of 54792, Pakistan (tel: +92 -42 5722670 – 79, topics in Mathematical research. The topics Ext. 2121 or 2123; email: fmbhatti@ include, but are not limited to: Applied lums.edu.pk) or see http://web.lums.edu. Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Industrial pk/licm08. THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER No. 362 September 2007
LMS MEETING comes later in the story, but in any case one Friday 22 June now had sufficiently many tools to solve RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS Artin’s problem on the zeros of forms in Both speakers chose their topics from within many variables over p-adic fields (which had AT MEETINGS their own specialities in mathematical logic been the motivation for the earlier Ax- with the aim of clarifying the great debt that Kochen and Ersov work) and for seeing how ORDINARY MEETING this subject owes to Paul J. Cohen, who died the first-order theory of each p-adic field unexpectedly on 23 March 2007. His obituary, could be obtained from those of the value held on Friday 22 June 2007 at University College London. About 30 members written by Professor Macintyre, appeared in group and the residue field. and visitors were present for all or part of the meeting. the June Newsletter. The attendance of Professor Macintyre then went on to dis- about 30 members and visitors was disap- cuss more recent developments, beginning The meeting began at 3.30pm, with the President, Professor J.F. TOLAND, pointingly small considering the quality of with his own elimination result from 1976. FRS, FRSE, in the Chair. On a recommendation from Council it was agreed to the speakers and, especially in Professor Now for Tarski’s theorem (also known as the elect Professor A.R. Camina and Professor P.T. Saunders as scrutineers in the Woodin's case, the effort they had made to Tarski-Seidenberg algorithm) one only has to forthcoming Council elections. get there on time. add a predicate for the squares, i.e. the non- The President, on Council’s behalf, proposed that Professor Ingrid Daubechies Professor Macintyre devoted the first half negative real numbers, to carry out the elim- of Princeton University and Professor Dusa McDuff, FRS, of SUNY New York be of his lecture to a beautiful and clear account ination procedure. This allows one, for exam- elected to Honorary Membership of the Society. The President read a short of the content and context of Cohen’s 1969 ple, to distinguish algebraically the two sides 28 version of the citations, to be published in full in the Bulletin. paper on p-adic model theory. Although the of a planar curve. In a remarkable piece of 29 results contained in it were already known in ‘p-adic geometric’ intuition, Professor The President then announced the awards of the prizes for 2007: qualitative form since the work of Ax-Kochen Macintyre observed that for planar curves and Ersov in 1964, Professor Macintyre point- over the p-adics, the ‘sides’ are distinguished De Morgan Medal Professor Bryan Birch (University of Oxford) ed out that it was Cohen’s ‘hands on’, con- by multiplicative residues modulo n’th pow- Senior Whitehead Prize Professor Béla Bollobás (University of Cambridge) structive methods that were so innovative. ers (for each n>1) and then showed that Naylor Prize and Lectureship Professor Michael Green (University of Cambridge) Indeed, the change of perspective, from syn- Cohen’s ideas could be adapted for a lan- in Applied Mathematics tactic logical niceties and the effective axiom- guage where one just adjoins a predicate for Whitehead Prizes Dr Nikolay Nikolov (University of Oxford and atization of theories in strict logical form to the n’th powers (for each n>1). It is this elim- Imperial College London) the understanding of geometric, analytic and ination result that has been used and applied Dr Oliver Riordan (University of Cambridge) topological properties of definable sets, can in the subject ever since. Dr Ivan Smith (University of Cambridge) be traced back to Cohen’s work, and this has The talk concluded with brief look at sev- Dr Catharina Stroppel (University of Glasgow) remained the emphasis in the model theory eral such applications, including Denef’s The President read short versions of the citations, to be published in full in of fields to the present day. proof of Serre’s conjecture on the rationality the Bulletin. In particular, Cohen stressed explicit proce- of Poincaré series and more general theo- dures for isolating roots of polynomials (over rems on the evaluation of p-adic analytic Two people were elected to Ordinary Membership: M.L. Langer, S.L. Lauritzen; both the real and p-adic fields), and for say- integrals, where the question of uniformity and four were elected to Associate Membership: S.J. Elliott, S.C. Perera, S.E. Rose, ing significant things about them in terms of in the prime p was also discussed. None of D. Szotten. the coefficients, and thereby established the this, Professor Macintyre stressed, would The President introduced a lecture given by Professor Angus Macintyre on elimination procedure so crucial for the have been possible without the original Current p-adic model theory and its debt to Paul Cohen. understanding of definable sets. Of course, insights of Paul Cohen. Tarski achieved this for the real field many After a break for tea, Professor Toland After tea, the President then introduced a lecture given by Professor Hugh years earlier, but such a constructive analysis introduced Professor Hugh Woodin Woodin on Current set theory and its debt to Paul Cohen. was missing for the p-adics until Cohen’s (Berkeley) who had arrived only just in time After the meeting, a reception was held at De Morgan House, followed by paper, and from it flows the constructive for the meeting owing to a 24-hour delay in a dinner at Il Fornello Restaurant. elimination procedure for each particular his flight. p-adic field. Whether or not there is such a Paul Cohen was awarded the Fields Medal procedure that is uniform in the prime p in 1966 for his proof of the independence of
cont’d THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
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the generalised continuum hypothesis from axiomatization has been found. It is the the guests left. Intrigued? So you should be. them is unique. All in all I would recommend the generally accepted axioms for set theory axiom of projective determinacy (PD) and is Crimes and Mathdemeanors is the brain- this book to any youngster enjoying studying (ZFC) and Professor Woodin began his talk by formulated using certain games related to child of an American high school student, Leith mathematics at A-level or above, as well as all noting that Cohen’s technique, known as the logically definable sets of second order Hathout. Leith has very cleverly put together a those involved in maths education. forcing, had become ubiquitous in set theory number theory. Professor Woodin gave con- selection of fourteen short stories each Noel-Ann Bradshaw over the last 40 years and had completely vincing arguments showing that PD plays the recounting a different crime or mystery to University of Greenwich transcended its original applications. It chal- same role for second order number theory as solve; the first case is described above. The sce- lenges the possibility of any meaningful con- PA does for first order number theory. narios are all seemingly obscure and difficult to Equations from God: Pure Mathematics and ception of the universe of sets and it was Further, PD is known to follow from a strong unravel until Ravi reveals the mathematics Victorian Faith, Daniel J. Cohen, 2007, 256 Professor Woodin’s aim in this talk to present axiom of infinity (precisely, the existence of behind his reasoning and then instantly all pp. Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of a conjecture – the Omega conjecture – that, infinitely many Woodin cardinals). becomes clear and obvious. Each chapter con- Mathematics. History and Philosophy of he would argue, identifies the mathematical Unfortunately, the Omega conjecture tains a brief description of the basic facts of the Mathematics, $50.00, ISBN-13:978-0-8018- essence of this challenge. At any rate, the implies that there is no generalization of PD crime, the analysis containing Ravi’s clever 8553-2 issue of the Omega conjecture will have to be for third order number theory. However the mathematical reasoning as to how the case is The two opening chapters of this book resolved if we are to understand the nature investigation of the conjecture has revealed solved and then the solution which elaborates describe the well-known way in which the of set-theoretical truth, and its resolution will strong evidence that there is a notion of truth on this in more detail. Most chapters also early Victorians in Britain and the United have a profound effect on the mathematical that is guided by a considerably more rigid include an extension which either consists of a States connected the discoveries of mathe- conception of infinity. principle than mere consistency. In particular, relevant proof in a simple form or another matics with the wonders of religion. The dis- 30 The precise statement of the Omega con- the continuum hypothesis would be settled application of the mathematics in question. covery of Neptune, for example, elicited rap- 31 jecture is highly technical, but Professor one way or the other. Whatever the outcome, This is an excellent book for the able sixth tures about the divine quality of mathemat- Woodin made it accessible to the audience by Professor Woodin concluded, Cohen’s method form student studying mathematics. ics, the purity of its reasoning and the pro- explaining it in terms of a completeness the- of forcing will play a central role. However, the description, of the mathematics fundity of its insights. The scientist William orem for a certain logic – Omega logic – Alex Wilkie involved can be lengthy and more in-depth Whewell in Cambridge (England) and the whose formulas are geared to express state- University of Oxford than required. It will probably appeal more mathematician Benjamin Peirce in ments of higher order number theories and to those students who are well on their way Cambridge (Mass.) placed mathematics whose rules incorporate a certain invariance REVIEWS to becoming mathematicians rather than where they did in the high enterprise of edu- under Cohen’s forcing constructions. Now those who might need some persuading. cation on grounds that overlapped with their the continuum hypothesis is a statement of Crimes and Mathdemeanors by Leith This book could also be used as an excel- theological beliefs. Daniel Cohen therefore third order number theory (one needs to Hathout, Massachusetts: A K Peters Ltd, pp lent resource for the secondary school math- investigates the religious roots of Victorian quantify over sets of sets of natural numbers 196, paperback 2007, £7.55, ISBN 978-1- ematics teacher. Either for in order to express it) and Professor Woodin 56881-260-1; those odd, end of term, ‘fun’ first spent some time reviewing the situation Dr Rosmoyne, a consultant obstetrician, lessons or for a novel way of for first and second order number theory. In has been found dead in Dr Arden’s study presenting possible applica- the first order case, where one is only after a Sunday afternoon barbecue. Killed tions of aspects of the A-level allowed to quantify over natural numbers, it with a single shot to the head, his body was syllabus. is generally accepted that the Peano Axioms discovered lying next to a telephone receiver Among the mathematical (PA) provide the correct and, at least for most left dangling from its cord. No one claims to concepts used to solve the ‘natural’ mathematical statements, complete have seen anything suspicious and neither crimes are probability, combi- axiomatization. The second order case (quan- Dr or Mrs Arden nor any of the other four natorics, proof, geometry, co- tification over both numbers and sets of guests seem to have a motive. A classic case ordinate geometry, mechanics numbers allowed) is much more problematic, of whodunit for any would-be M. Poirot or and integration along with but by accepting Gödel’s philosophy that the Miss Marple but with no obvious motive or plenty of logic and algebra most natural and uncontroversial way to suspect the local police are baffled. Enter thrown in for good measure. extend ZFC is by adding stronger and Ravi, a fourteen year old mathematician, The crux of the problems will stronger axioms of infinity (and this is now who solves the crime instantly based on how be familiar to any mathemati- universally accepted by set theorists), an many hands were shaken by each person as cian but the treatment of THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
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work on symbolic logic, and proposes that lacks the trenchant force of Joan Richards’ publisher that has previously brought us although the standard Whig history of the belief that mathematics fell behind at Crilly’s book on Cayley and Parshall’s on subject is wrong to proclaim a secularising Oxford, by comparison with Cambridge, Sylvester, which, as good biographies must, intent from the start it is nonetheless true because of the intensity of the theological do provide that context. Cohen’s short, that as the Victorian era wore on mathemat- movement in Oxford. readable book is a study in the history of ics and logic were recast as earthly creations. Cohen’s narrative begins to fall apart in ideas, and can be welcomed as pointing the Two chapters follow, on the contrasting the final chapter of the book. The later way to important new directions in the his- figures of Boole and de Morgan. Cohen doc- Victorian period was dominated by Cayley, tory of mathematics. uments the religious controversies they were who said little about his faith, Sylvester, Jeremy Gray drawn into, Boole in Cork and de Morgan at who as a Jew kept away from specifically The Open University the (in principle) ecumenical University Christian debates, and Clifford, a polemicist College London. Boole saw a path from logic who died young. None of these figures help References to the divine and, as the numerous religious the author to spell out his thesis about the Tony Crilly, Arthur Cayley: Mathematician arguments in his Laws of Thought of 1854 growing secularisation of mathematics, cor- Laureate of the Victorian Age, Johns Hopkins indicate, hoped for a more tolerant and uni- rect though it is, and important theologians University Press, 2006 (reviewed in April 2007 versal Christianity than he found around him are missing. Some mathematicians one Newsletter, issue no. 358) in Cork. De Morgan drifted away from organ- might expect to find are also not here. After Karen Hunger Parshall, James Joseph ised religion, became unduly convinced by a chapter on Benjamin Peirce it is strange to Sylvester: Jewish Mathematician in a 32 the fraudulent claims of spiritualists, and find nothing on his son, the brilliant logi- Victorian World, Johns Hopkins University 33 wound up advocating a modest philosophy cian Charles Sanders Peirce. Equally, the Press, 2006 (reviewed in December 2006 © Sidney Harris of mathematics that separated mathematics absence of scientists begins to imperil the Newsletter, issue no. 354) and theology. analysis. If we are to have Whewell at the The final chapter traces the way later start (no fan of mathematics for its own Victorians distanced themselves to varying sake) then we should surely have Lord extents from theology and the practice of Kelvin at the end, another utilitarian about religion as they professionalised their sub- mathematics but one with no problems ject, excluded cranks and circle-squarers from finding the benign hand of the deity in this their midst and imposed upon themselves a or that scientific discovery. The book should self-denying ordinance: no more glib identifi- also be read with the blanket observations cations of the truths and methods of mathe- that it applies securely only to Britain and matics and religion. America and not to the far more mathemat- It should be clear that the book is about ically active domain of Continental Europe, the religious or spiritual lives of Boole and de and in particular generalities about mathe- Morgan in particular, and of some other matics in this book are to be understood as mathematicians and scientists as well. It is not applying only to mathematical or mathema- primarily about their mathematics, and it tised logic as practised in Britain and does not make any claims that their religion America. influenced their mathematics. It does claim But if we do not get a rich and deep story that theology influenced the kinds of claims we do get many interesting details, and in that were made about mathematics, from its particular we get a book sensitive to a much value for society to the nature of its knowl- larger piece of the intellectual contexts in edge, and that these claims gradually deflat- which mathematics was done and mathe- ed as the decades passed. However, this maticians lived than is generally the case in deflation is not much analysed, and it is hard the history of mathematics. The book is part to see that Cohen says much more than it was of a series of studies in the history of math- a prudent retreat from controversy. His book ematics produced by Johns Hopkins, the THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS 17 Mathematical Foundations for the Internet Tutorial Workshop, DMH, LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY This calendar lists Society meetings and London (362) other events publicised in the Newsletter. 17-21 Solving Polynomial Equations Further information can be obtained from the and Structured Matrix Methods for SPITALFIELDS DAY appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number is Approximate GCD Computations, in association with the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings and Summer School, Oxford (360) Sciences programme entitled Strong Fields, Integrability and Strings events is given on the Society’s website 17-27 Gauge Fields and Strings INI (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). Workshop, Cambridge (358) Gauge Theory, String Theory and Unification 18 LMS Popular Lectures, Birmingham (362) SEPTEMBER 2007 18 Industrial Mathematics Internships Monday 8 October 2007, Isaac Newton Institute, Cambridge 2-7 Hydrodynamic Stability Theory Programme, London (362) LMS-EPSRC Short Course, Keele (361) 19-21 Dynamics and Stability of Thin Liquid 13:30–14:30 Professor Nick Evans (University of Southampton) 3-7 Current Challenges and Problems Films and Slender Jets Workshop, Imperial LHC – The greatest experiment on earth and the in Phylogenetics INI Workshop, College London (360) search for the origin of mass Cambridge (357) 20-21 Mathematical Models in Evolution 3-7 The Riemann-Hilbert Problem and and Ecology Conference, Sussex (359) 14:30–15:30 Professor Mikhail Shifman (University of Minnesota) Toeplitz Operators ICMS Workshop, 20-22 Groups and Symmetries Conference, 34 Supersymmetry and how it helps us to understand our world Edinburgh (358) Birmingham (362) 35 15:30–16:00 Tea 3-7 Theory and Applications of the 21 Fundamentals and Techniques in Hyperbolic Metric Workshop, Bristol (360) Applicable Fluid Dynamics, Leeds (362) 16:00–17:00 Professor Alexander Gorsky (ITEP, Moscow) 4-7 Numerical Analysis Conference, 21-22 Heilbronn Institute Annual The different faces of integrability in Gauge theories Bath (362) Conference, Bristol (361) 17:00–18:00 Professor David Gross (KITP, Santa Barbara) 6 European Women in Mathematics 25-26 PDEs Workshop, Cardiff (361) Meeting, Cambridge (354) The coming revolutions in fundamental physics 6-8 British Logic Colloquium, London (360) OCTOBER 2007 18:00–18:45 Wine and beer reception 7-12 Mathematics Education in a Global 3 4000 Years of Geometry, Gresham Community Conference, North Carolina, College Lectures, London (362) The talks are aimed at final year undergraduate/beginning postgraduate USA (352) 7-11 Pacific Rim Conference, students in particle physics or mathematics, and will review prospects for 9-14 Asymptotic Methods in Infinite Group Hong Kong (353) learning more about fundamental physics at the smallest scales, via both Theory LMS-EPSRC Short Course, Oxford (361) 8 Gauge Theory, String Theory and collider experiments at LHC, and recent dramatic progress in gauge field 9-15 BA Festival of Science, York (362) Unification, LMS Spitalfields Day, theory and string theory which promises to unify our understanding of 10-11 CETL-MSOR Conference, INI Cambridge (362) particle physics and gravity. Birmingham (362) 17 4000 Years of Algebra, Gresham 10-12 British Topology Meeting, College Lectures, London (362) Anyone interested is welcome to attend; talks will be aimed at a general Sheffield (360) 22 Technical Publishing in New and Old mathematical audience. Please let Tracey Andrew at the Institute know by 13-14 Induction Course, Birmingham (362) Media, Open University (362) Friday 28 September if you intend to come: telephone (01223) 760992; 11 Scottish Computational Mathematics 24 LMS Northern Regional Meeting, fax: (01223) 330508; email: [email protected]. Symposium, Strathclyde University (362) Sheffield (362) There are limited funds available to assist research students to attend, 11-14 Vortex Dynamics from Quantum to please apply by Friday 28 September to Tracey Andrew by email Geophysical Scales EUROMECH NOVEMBER 2007 ([email protected]) or post at the Newton Institute, Colloquium, Exeter (358) 1-5 Recent Advances in Functional and 20 Clarkson Road, Cambridge CB3 0EH. Scientific enquiries may 13-14 Homotopy Theory and Lie Groups Delay Differential Equations Workshop, be addressed to Simon Hands ([email protected]). Meeting, Aberdeen (360) Halifax, Canada (361) 16-20 Numerical Analysis and Applied 7 4000 Years of Numbers, Gresham Mathematics, Corfu, Crete (357) College Lectures, London (362) J. CASEY LMS member 1875-1890 © Tucker Collection © Tucker
John Casey, LLD, FRS, Vice-President, RIA Fellow of the Royal University of Ireland Professor of Higher Mathematics and Mathematical Physics at the Catholic University, Ireland