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Home , Alex Wilkie, Berwick Prize, David George Kendall, De Morgan Medal, Graham Higman, Horace Lamb

THE MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER No. 387 December 2009

Society COUNCIL MEETING part of the meeting was then de- voted to staffing issues, reinforcing Meetings 14 October 2009 the importance of the staff of the and Events The Council meeting started with Society and the key role they play. a review of recent events and the One key decision was to appoint a 2009 current situation of the Society and new permanent full-time member 4–6 December its Council by the President John of staff, replacing two half-time Joint meeting Ball. It is fair to say that the last few vacancies that had arisen during with the Belgian months have been turbulent in the the year within the Society & Grants Mathematical Society, life of the Council and the Society, and the Council & Commit- Leuven with resignations of several Officers tees Group within the staffing at De of the Society and more recently Morgan House. The President also 2010 of the Executive Secretary, and the reported on the excellent progress  President and other Officers of the made by the Working Group set up Friday 26 February Society have been working hard to with the agreement of Council to return things to an even keel. John commence the process of finding Lecture, Durham reflected that his time as President a new Executive Secretary. It was [page 3] this second time around had not agreed to move rapidly to advertis- Monday 21 June been a pleasant experience and ing for a replacement, and there SW & South Wales urged a period of calm and stability was discussion of the most effec- Regional Meeting in the LMS over the coming months. tive recruitment routes and of the Cardiff He emphasised that the requirements for the role. of recent events have been difficult The President-Designate spoke Friday 2 July and stressful for staff at De Morgan briefly about plans for a Council Hardy Lecture House, and that we need to com- retreat in January, running from London municate clearly and urgently how Friday to Sunday. This will, in my Monday 13 September much Council appreciates their view, and judging by the previous Midlands Regional work and their input to develop- Council retreat I’ve attended, be a Meeting, Nottingham ing the policy and activities of the welcome extended opportunity to Society. I hope that we made some plan the future development of the Friday 19 November progress in the directions the Presi- Society, and to build strong work- Annual General dent indicated in the remainder of ing relationships. Meeting and Naylor the meeting. In a larger piece of business, Lecture, London Immediate actions of the meeting the Treasurer presented the draft were to propose and agree that annual accounts, and draft text Professor Garth Dales and Professor for the Trustees’ report, and up- Alex Wilkie take on the roles of Gen- dated us on the performance of eral Secretary and Vice-President, our investments (which reduced in respectively, until the November value by 16% over the 13 months elections, when the newly elected ending 31 August) and on a forth- people will take over. A significant coming meeting of the Investment

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NEWSLETTER

Subcommittee. The Treasurer’s recommendation The afternoon also featured a presentation was that, despite difficult times in the financial mar- from Professor Kenneth Falconer (see pages kets over the last year, there was no financial basis 7–8) reviewing the publishing work of the Society for any freeze in spending, given that our Yale mod- and of the Publications Committee (follow- el for drawing on investment income is designed ing earlier discussion in the morning of current for fluctuations and that our publishing activities plans for development). This is a large-scale and had performed very well financially this year. very effective part of the LMS, where the staff, In the afternoon we briefly discussed the draft Officers and members of the Society are very proposals for the Research Excellence Framework. active, and where there are many challenges, as- There was general approval of the proposal to sociated with new projects, with changes to the combine the mathematical sciences into a single publishing landscape and with external financial panel, but concern at how the proposed assess- pressures, which the large publishing team are ment of “impact” could work for . negotiating very effectively. Recent new projects Views expressed included that, for much of math- have included the Journal of Topology, launched ematics, the timescales for impact are far longer in January 2008, which is developing very suc- than indicated in the consultation document cessfully, and the journal Mathematika, which and that the suggested 25% weighting for im- the LMS will publish from 2010 on behalf of its pact is too high. The Society will feed a detailed owner University College London. Council ex-  response back to this consultation through the pressed its great appreciation to Kenneth for his Council for the Mathematical Sciences, and presentation and work as Publications Secretary, we agreed that Professors Ken Brown and David noting that this was his last Council meeting in Larman should be the LMS representatives lead- that role. ing this process. Simon Chandler-Wilde

LMS Newsletter General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, APPOINTMENT OF London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. Council is pleased to announce that Mr Ivor Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the Goddard, formerly Director-General of the first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. Royal Statistical Society, has been appointed News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, as interim Executive Secretary from 1 January although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter 2010. Ivor, who headed the administration of are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The the RSS from 1992 to 2008, will take up his LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed post following an overlap period with Peter do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. Cooper. A group appointed by Council is leading Charity registration number: 252660. the search for a permanent replacement and an advertisement will be placed shortly.

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The afternoon also featured a presentation from Professor Kenneth Falconer (see pages 7–8) reviewing the publishing work of the Society LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY and of the Publications Committee (follow- ing earlier discussion in the morning of current MARY CARTWRIGHT MEETING plans for development). This is a large-scale and very effective part of the LMS, where the staff, Officers and members of the Society are very Friday 26 February 2010 active, and where there are many challenges, as- Arthur Holmes Lecture Theatre, University of Durham sociated with new projects, with changes to the publishing landscape and with external financial pressures, which the large publishing team are 3.30 Opening of the Meeting negotiating very effectively. Recent new projects Ana Achúcarro (Leiden) have included the Journal of Topology, launched Title TBC in January 2008, which is developing very suc- cessfully, and the journal Mathematika, which 4.30 Tea the LMS will publish from 2010 on behalf of its owner University College London. Council ex- 5.00 Mary Cartwright Lecture pressed its great appreciation to Kenneth for his  presentation and work as Publications Secretary, Ruth Gregory (Durham) noting that this was his last Council meeting in Fun with extra dimensions that role. Simon Chandler-Wilde A dinner will be held after the meeting. Contact Isabelle Robinson ([email protected]) for further information. LMS Newsletter There are limited funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of members of the Society or research students to attend the meeting. General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) Contact Duncan Turton ([email protected]) for further information. Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, APPOINTMENT OF WOMEN IN MATHEMATICS London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) EXECUTIVE SECRETARY COMMITTEE Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. Council is pleased to announce that Mr Ivor It is well known that there is a steep decline Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the Goddard, formerly Director-General of the in the number of women in mathematics with first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. Royal Statistical Society, has been appointed increasing levels of seniority. Whilst this trend News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, as interim Executive Secretary from 1 January is not exclusive to mathematics, the London although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter 2010. Ivor, who headed the administration of Mathematical Society is concerned about the are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The the RSS from 1992 to 2008, will take up his loss of women from mathematics, particularly LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed post following an overlap period with Peter at the higher levels of research and teaching. At do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. Cooper. worst, this loss actively holds back the advance- A group appointed by Council is leading ment of mathematics. Charity registration number: 252660. the search for a permanent replacement and The Women in Mathematics Committee at an advertisement will be placed shortly. the LMS has identified several reasons for the

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drop-off in mathematics: Society will: invite both male and female speak- • Women are more likely to have had broken ers, or explain why this is not appropriate or career patterns or worked part time on possible; and give consideration to the provision account of child-rearing and family respon- of mechanisms to enable participation by peo- sibilities. ple with children or family responsibilities; • The fact that there are fewer women in the (f) collect data and thereby monitor trends in mathematics community means that they are the above. often overlooked when names are sought, To this end, the committees of the LMS are for speakers or for prizes, for instance. implementing the principles of the Statement • Those few women who reach the higher and are embedding them into their work. For levels are disproportionately called on to sit example, gender balance has, for some time, on committees etc., to the detriment of their been one of the factors that Nominating Com- own careers. mittee has taken into account when making its • Women are often called on to take part recommendations and, unlike many other sci- in ‘people-based’ activities rather than entific learned societies, the LMS currently has ‘research-based’ activities, to the detriment of a Council that includes a good proportion of their own careers. women amongst its members. • Compared with men, women tend not to More recently, the application forms for  press their case but to understate their skills. grants for conferences and meetings have been Whilst this list is indicative and not compre- changed to include a question about whether hensive, it provides an idea of the issues that both male and female speakers will be invited. need to be addressed. To this end, the Council The number of women speakers that have been of the LMS adopted, in March 2008, a statement invited in the past is much lower than would be on Women in Mathematics that recognised the expected; indeed a large proportion of meet- issues and explicitly sought to tackle the barriers ings had no invited women speakers. It is hoped identified. that the inclusion of this question will prompt The Statement commits the LMS to: organisers to consider whether there are suit- (a) be aware of and seek to ensure an able women that they have inadvertently over- appropriate gender balance on its committees looked. Including women speakers not only and working groups, and encourage the Nomi- helps those particular women to progress in nating Committee to give similar attention in its their careers, it also inspires other women in the proposals for election; audience. (b) keep under review the regulations gov- The Statement has also been fed into external erning its membership, prizes, awards and organisations such as the Athena Forum which grants to ensure that they do not inadvert- has strongly recommended this as a model for ently deter or fail to recognize people with other societies to follow. non-standard career patterns; It is hoped that the Council Statement will (c) actively encourage and facilitate the provide a spur to improve practice and so secure nomination of women for its prizes and awards, greater female participation in mathematics. Re- and ensure that it considers women when it cently, a significant step in this direction has been is proposing nominees for external prizes and taken with the introduction of a Good Practice positions; Award for university mathematics departments (d) actively seek to include women speak- – this was the subject of a separate article in the ers in its meetings and workshops; November edition of the Newsletter. (e) expect that the organisers of conferences Gwyneth Stallard and activities who are seeking grants from the Chair, Women in Mathematics Committee

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Society will: invite both male and female speak- ers, or explain why this is not appropriate or possible; and give consideration to the provision of mechanisms to enable participation by peo- ple with children or family responsibilities; (f) collect data and thereby monitor trends in the above. To this end, the committees of the LMS are implementing the principles of the Statement and are embedding them into their work. For example, gender balance has, for some time, been one of the factors that Nominating Com- mittee has taken into account when making its recommendations and, unlike many other sci- entific learned societies, the LMS currently has a Council that includes a good proportion of women amongst its members. More recently, the application forms for grants for conferences and meetings have been  changed to include a question about whether both male and female speakers will be invited. The number of women speakers that have been invited in the past is much lower than would be expected; indeed a large proportion of meet- ings had no invited women speakers. It is hoped that the inclusion of this question will prompt organisers to consider whether there are suit- able women that they have inadvertently over- looked. Including women speakers not only helps those particular women to progress in their careers, it also inspires other women in the audience. The Statement has also been fed into external organisations such as the Athena Forum which has strongly recommended this as a model for other societies to follow. It is hoped that the Council Statement will provide a spur to improve practice and so secure greater female participation in mathematics. Re- cently, a significant step in this direction has been taken with the introduction of a Good Practice Award for university mathematics departments – this was the subject of a separate article in the November edition of the Newsletter. Gwyneth Stallard Chair, Women in Mathematics Committee

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LMS PUBLISHING An Overview Many I talk to about LMS publications seem only to be aware of the three ‘core’ journals, that is the Bulletin, Journal and Proceedings, and perhaps the Lecture Notes Series. However, the LMS publications portfolio is much more extensive. It includes the Journal of Topology and our free electronic Journal of Computation and Mathematics, as well as Nonlinearity, which is joint with the Insti- tute of . Since 2004 we have published on behalf of the Dutch Compositio Foundation, and from next year we will be publishing Mathematika on behalf of UCL. The Society publishes the Eng- lish translations of four Russian journals, three  jointly with the Russian Academy of Sciences and Turpion, and one with the AMS. Then there are four book series: the Lecture Notes and Student Texts, both of which run to around 10 new books each year, the Monographs, and the History of Mathematics Series (joint with the AMS). Many people are involved in supporting the publishing operation. Central, of course, are the four publishing staff who work at De Morgan House, often beyond the call of duty. Then, taking all publications together, there are around 16 editors, 80 editorial advisers and 6 translation editors, to say nothing of 800 or so referees each year and, of course, numerous authors from all over the world. Coordination and communication between such a large number of people is inevitably a complex task. The Publications Secretary, in consultation with the Publications Committee, is respon- sible to Council for publications and we have addressed a wide range of issues and challenges during my period of office. Our publications surplus has risen steadily, and last year was £804k (after taking off publishing staff salaries and overheads). However, there is a tension here that I am keenly aware of. As a practising I want mathematical

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LMS PUBLISHING knowledge to be disseminated as widely and freely as possible. On the other hand, the LMS An Overview wants to make enough money from publish- Many mathematicians I talk to about LMS ing to fund its many worthwhile activities such publications seem only to be aware of the three as promoting mathematics and providing re- ‘core’ journals, that is the Bulletin, Journal and search grants. Two years ago Council agreed a Proceedings, and perhaps the Lecture Notes pricing policy, that “… the Society will continue Series. However, the LMS publications portfolio to seek to expand its activities in publishing but is much more extensive. It includes the Journal intends that the prices of its journals should not of Topology and our free electronic Journal rise in real terms (against inflation) except in of Computation and Mathematics, as well as far as there is added content or value.” This as Nonlinearity, which is joint with the Insti- has turned out to be a very useful guideline for tute of Physics. Since 2004 we have published Publications Committee when setting journal Compositio Mathematica on behalf of the prices, although recent variations in exchange Dutch Compositio Foundation, and from next rates make this a delicate balancing act given year we will be publishing Mathematika on that sterling, euro and dollar prices all have to behalf of UCL. The Society publishes the Eng- be agreed. lish translations of four Russian journals, three Of course, we need to ensure that institutions jointly with the Russian Academy of Sciences buy our journals and that we receive payment,  and Turpion, and one with the AMS. Then and this is harder to monitor now that many there are four book series: the Lecture Notes subscriptions are through consortia and bun- and Student Texts, both of which run to around dling agreements. We have not yet suffered 10 new books each year, the Monographs, and much from the effects of the recession, but we the History of Mathematics Series (joint with are aware that library cuts are an easy option the AMS). for institutions that have to save money. Many people are involved in supporting Of course it is crucial that we maintain the the publishing operation. Central, of course, academic standard and reputation of our publi- are the four publishing staff who work at De cations, which depends on their ability to attract Morgan House, often beyond the call of duty. excellent contributions and on their perception Then, taking all publications together, there in the international community. A major task of are around 16 editors, 80 editorial advisers and Publications Committee is to find suitable edi- 6 translation editors, to say nothing of 800 or tors and advisers, who must be highly regarded so referees each year and, of course, numerous academically but also reliable, and who in turn authors from all over the world. Coordination must be able to find appropriate referees; it is and communication between such a large certainly harder to find volunteers than in the number of people is inevitably a complex task. past given that they and their institutions get The Publications Secretary, in consultation little formal credit for taking on these essential with the Publications Committee, is respon- tasks. The important question of ensuring that sible to Council for publications matters and journal acceptance policy is as consistent as we have addressed a wide range of issues and possible is being reviewed at the moment, as challenges during my period of office. Our is the possibility of introducing a journal that publications surplus has risen steadily, and last would be ranked within the top ten world year was £804k (after taking off publishing wide. We also keep an eye on the ‘impact fac- staff salaries and overheads). However, there is tor’ of the journals; whilst this is not regarded a tension here that I am keenly aware of. As a as a very suitable measure in mathematics, it is a practising mathematician I want mathematical metric that is increasingly used across the world

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to compare journals, and indeed, subjects. have to be negotiated, which are scrutinised in combined with ideas from quantum mechanics, In an age of electronic communication, one detail by us and by lawyers. It takes several years is regarded as one of founding ideas of noncom- might question the need for journals, but it before a new journal will break even and for mutative geometry developed by Alain Connes is the ‘value added’ that they provide for pa- sales to reach a viable level. from 1980s. Among other foundational results is pers that matters, crucially by providing peer Looking to the future, there are several di- the Gelfand–Naimark–Segal construction, which review. Journals also increase paper visibility rections in which LMS publishing might go. is an indispensable tool in operator algebras. and provide long-term archiving, and increas- One possibility might be to set up an independ- In 1959 Gelfand remarked that the index of ingly include other ‘bells and whistles’ such as ent publishing house rather than to publish an elliptic differential operator is homotopy active links to citations or sophisticated search through a major publisher such as CUP or OUP. invariant and posed the index problem for such facilities. Whilst this would enable some savings and per- operators: find a general formula for the index The academic publishing environment is haps allow more flexibility in the projects that in terms of topological invariants. This problem changing faster than ever and we need to we undertake, marketing would be harder was solved by Atiyah and Singer in a series of keep abreast of developments, not only in without the advantage of the contacts and highly influential papers which shaped a large electronic publishing and communication, but consortia arrangements of the publishers. part of modern analysis and led to even strong- also on questions of copyright, the use of re- Finally, let me say that I have enjoyed my er interactions between operator algebras, positories and the arXiv (which seems generally three years as Publications Secretary – it has topology and geometry. Various generalisations beneficial to our journals); for example some certainly opened my eyes to the size and com- of the index problem are essential in Kasparov’s organisations now require papers to be made plexity of LMS publishing. It could not oper- approach to the Novikov conjecture, and in the  available on open access. ate without the support of many individuals, formulation of the Baum–Connes conjecture. It is important we handle papers efficiently, above all the LMS staff, and I am extremely Among Gelfand’s other mathematical achieve- with reasonable acceptance, rejection and pub- grateful to them all. ments one can list his contributions to the lication times, and staff, editors, advisers and Kenneth Falconer representation theory of complex classical Lie referees all have a role to play here. Our paper- handling database has served us well since its introduction some ten years ago, but this now ISRAEL MOISEEVICH needs upgrading, and we are currently investi- gating the best way forward. Once papers have GELFAND been accepted we have to see them through to Professor Israel Moiseevich Gelfand, who was publication, and monitoring typesetting, copy- elected an Honorary Member of the London editing and production is an important task. Mathematical Society on 18 May 1967, died on It was clear from the survey of authors and 5 October 2009, aged 96. referees a couple of years ago that most were Jacek Brodzki writes: Gelfand was one of the very satisfied with our service. However, part most influential mathematicians of the twenti- of my job as Publications Secretary has been eth century and one of the most prolific. Essen- to deal with the more awkward situations: tially self-taught, he began his doctoral studies complaints from authors, dilatory advisers and (without formal qualifications) at the Moscow occasionally plagiarism and simultaneous sub- State University at the age of 19, gaining his mission of papers to several journals, and this doctorate in 1935 and DSc in 1938. His early can be time consuming. work brought algebraic methods to analysis LMS Publications cannot stand still, and as well which laid foundations for modern analysis and as continually improving our existing undertak- which gave rise to the theory of Banach alge- ings, we are continually seeking new publishing bras. Among his many results in this area is the projects and typically investigate one or two ven- Gelfand–Naimark theorem, which is now stated tures each year. Those that get beyond the stage as the equivalence between the category of of informal discussion require careful analysis of commutative C*-algebras and the category of risk, both financial and academic, and contracts locally compact Hausdorff spaces. This insight,

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have to be negotiated, which are scrutinised in combined with ideas from quantum mechanics, groups, the theory of Verma modules, foliations detail by us and by lawyers. It takes several years is regarded as one of founding ideas of noncom- (the Gelfand–Fuks cohomology), topology, and before a new journal will break even and for mutative geometry developed by Alain Connes many others. sales to reach a viable level. from 1980s. Among other foundational results is His scientific interests reached far beyond Looking to the future, there are several di- the Gelfand–Naimark–Segal construction, which mathematics, and included mathematical biol- rections in which LMS publishing might go. is an indispensable tool in operator algebras. ogy, where his results in integral geometry found One possibility might be to set up an independ- In 1959 Gelfand remarked that the index of applications in tomography, one of the key ent publishing house rather than to publish an elliptic differential operator is homotopy diagnostic tools in medicine today. At Moscow through a major publisher such as CUP or OUP. invariant and posed the index problem for such University Gelfand held a weekly seminar, which Whilst this would enable some savings and per- operators: find a general formula for the index started in 1943, and which was attended by haps allow more flexibility in the projects that in terms of topological invariants. This problem about a hundred mathematicians, and which at- we undertake, marketing would be harder was solved by Atiyah and Singer in a series of tained a near legendary status for its improvised without the advantage of the contacts and highly influential papers which shaped a large talks and robust interruptions from the audi- consortia arrangements of the publishers. part of modern analysis and led to even strong- ence. In 2003 an interview with the New York Finally, let me say that I have enjoyed my er interactions between operator algebras, Times quoted him saying that he did not want three years as Publications Secretary – it has topology and geometry. Various generalisations his students to blindly follow him and his ideas, certainly opened my eyes to the size and com- of the index problem are essential in Kasparov’s so as soon as a topic became popular, he shifted plexity of LMS publishing. It could not oper- approach to the Novikov conjecture, and in the his attention to something new. In his approach ate without the support of many individuals, formulation of the Baum–Connes conjecture. to mathematics he was a theory-builder, driven  above all the LMS staff, and I am extremely Among Gelfand’s other mathematical achieve- by deep intellectual curiosity to develop ideas grateful to them all. ments one can list his contributions to the that would have a lasting influence on modern Kenneth Falconer representation theory of complex classical Lie mathematics.

ISRAEL MOISEEVICH GELFAND Professor Israel Moiseevich Gelfand, who was elected an Honorary Member of the London Mathematical Society on 18 May 1967, died on 5 October 2009, aged 96. Jacek Brodzki writes: Gelfand was one of the most influential mathematicians of the twenti- eth century and one of the most prolific. Essen- tially self-taught, he began his doctoral studies (without formal qualifications) at the Moscow State University at the age of 19, gaining his doctorate in 1935 and DSc in 1938. His early work brought algebraic methods to analysis which laid foundations for modern analysis and which gave rise to the theory of Banach alge- bras. Among his many results in this area is the Gelfand–Naimark theorem, which is now stated as the equivalence between the category of commutative C*-algebras and the category of locally compact Hausdorff spaces. This insight,

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MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP Redevelopment of the site is still progress- ing, but it will contain a full range of exciting National HE STEM Programme send back comments visit www.acme-uk.org/ and engaging articles showing the application The National Higher Education STEM Pro- downloaddoc.asp?id=175. of mathematics in many careers and contexts. gramme has appointed Michael Grove, cur- The work was funded by the Department for rently Network Manager of the HEA Maths, Boost for university mathematics places Children Schools and Families and the Higher Stats and OR Network, as Programme Director. The Scottish Government has pledged £8.6 mil- Education Funding Councils for and The three-year programme takes over from the lion to create 3,000 new university places in Wales. The site remains at www.mathscareers. Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Scotland. The announcement comes in response org.uk four projects to promote ‘vulnerable and im- to increased demand due to the recession and portant subjects’ (, Chemis- will predominantly be in STEM (science, tech- CMathTeach launch try for our Future, Stimulating Physics and the nology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. The IMA launched the new Chartered Math- London Engineering Project). See the website Also in November, the Government laid out ematics Teacher designation with the Nation- at www.stemprogramme.com and the more its vision for the future for universities in its al Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of detailed article on page 13. higher education blueprint, Higher Ambitions. Mathematics (NCETM) at its National Con- Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said that ference Engaging with Mathematics on 1 ACME report on mathematics post-16 extra places on degree courses should empha- December 2009 at the University of Notting- The Advisory Committee on Mathematics sise the STEM subjects as these “underwrite the ham. The first batch of designated teachers 10 Education (ACME) has published a discussion country’s competitive advantages”. The report was announced in November. CMathTeach paper suggesting that all post-16 learners also went on to say, “There will be a greater for the first time recognises the professional should study mathematics. Dame Julia Higgins, element of competition between universities training and experience of chair of ACME, wrote, “From many quarters, for funding, with the winners being those uni- mathematics teachers, ac- there is criticism of the mathematical capabili- versities who can best respond to these evolving knowledging their qualifi- ties of the population. Employers consistently economic challenges.” To read the full report cations both in mathematics rate the shortage of mathematical skills as one visit www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-ambitions. and in teaching practice. It of their major challenges. Universities are faced follows the Chartered Science with intakes of undergraduate students who Teacher (CSciTeach) designa- often fall short in the mathematics required to tion successfully launched adequately cope with many courses. And there by the Science Council and is a fear that the population at large is not the Association for Science equipped with even the basic toolkit of mathe- Education in 2006. It is hoped matics necessary for basic day-to-day survival. that the designation will Therefore, to help address these needs, ACME have significant impact on is floating a model in which there will be an Mathscareers.org.uk update the chronic shortage prob- expectation that mathematics will be studied At the beginning of December, the new lems in school mathematics up to the age of 18.” The model suggests three Maths Careers website was unveiled. The site teaching, making this a val- pathways: first, for those who are unlikely to was originally launched in 2004 by the Coun- ued and respected career, rec- follow a mathematical career, opportunities cil for the Mathematical Sciences. Updated ognised at the level of other to keep their mathematics alive and develop and re-branded, the site continues to offer chartered professions such as mathematically as citizens; second, for those school students, their teachers, parents and engineers, accountants and who will use mathematics and value its appli- careers advisers information about careers surveyors. Gaining the desig- cations in courses such as Use of Mathematics from mathematical sciences at all levels. The nation will enable teachers to A-level; and third, for those intending to study new site has seven new themes: I Love Maths, meet the TDA’s Post-Threshold for mathematically-rich subjects and are al- Environment, Health & Society, Business & Professional Standards for ready studying for Mathematics or Further Money, Entertainment, Science & Technology Teachers which will entitle Mathematics A-levels. To see the paper and and Sport as well as a new logo (see above). them to higher pay levels.

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MATHEMATICS POLICY ROUND-UP Redevelopment of the site is still progress- MEI report on maths A-level uptake ing, but it will contain a full range of exciting Roger Porkess and Stephen Lee of Mathe- send back comments visit www.acme-uk.org/ and engaging articles showing the application matics in Education and Industry published a downloaddoc.asp?id=175. of mathematics in many careers and contexts. report in October investigating the continuing The work was funded by the Department for rise in numbers of candidates sitting Mathe- Boost for university mathematics places Children Schools and Families and the Higher matics and Further Mathematics A-levels. This The Scottish Government has pledged £8.6 mil- Education Funding Councils for England and year, Mathematics A-level saw an increase of lion to create 3,000 new university places in Wales. The site remains at www.mathscareers. over 12% on 2008 numbers, which means that, Scotland. The announcement comes in response org.uk compared with 2003, over 43% more candi- to increased demand due to the recession and dates sat the examination. The report looks will predominantly be in STEM (science, tech- CMathTeach launch at four possible explanations: establishing nology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. The IMA launched the new Chartered Math- a favourable environment, the mathematics Also in November, the Government laid out ematics Teacher designation with the Nation- curriculum, in-house reputation and career its vision for the future for universities in its al Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of progression. Although it ultimately draws no higher education blueprint, Higher Ambitions. Mathematics (NCETM) at its National Con- specific conclusions, the report looks at how Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said that ference Engaging with Mathematics on 1 each of these explanations may have fed into extra places on degree courses should empha- December 2009 at the University of Notting- the increase. To read the report visit www. sise the STEM subjects as these “underwrite the ham. The first batch of designated teachers mei.org.uk/files/pdf/A_Level_uptake.pdf. country’s competitive advantages”. The report was announced in November. CMathTeach Caroline Davis 11 also went on to say, “There will be a greater for the first time recognises the professional Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer element of competition between universities training and experience of for funding, with the winners being those uni- mathematics teachers, ac- versities who can best respond to these evolving knowledging their qualifi- economic challenges.” To read the full report cations both in mathematics visit www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-ambitions. and in teaching practice. It follows the Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach) designa- tion successfully launched by the Science Council and the Association for Science Education in 2006. It is hoped that the designation will have significant impact on Mathscareers.org.uk update the chronic shortage prob- At the beginning of December, the new lems in school mathematics Maths Careers website was unveiled. The site teaching, making this a val- was originally launched in 2004 by the Coun- ued and respected career, rec- cil for the Mathematical Sciences. Updated ognised at the level of other and re-branded, the site continues to offer chartered professions such as school students, their teachers, parents and engineers, accountants and careers advisers information about careers surveyors. Gaining the desig- from mathematical sciences at all levels. The nation will enable teachers to new site has seven new themes: I Love Maths, meet the TDA’s Post-Threshold “My research covers two fields: the behaviour of under Environment, Health & Society, Business & Professional Standards for high pressure, and the behaviour of scientists under high pressure.” Money, Entertainment, Science & Technology Teachers which will entitle © Sidney Harris and Sport as well as a new logo (see above). them to higher pay levels.

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MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES IN THE NATIONAL HE STEM PROGRAMME In 2006 a group of mathematical organisations bid for and received a £3.3M grant from Hefce to look at ways of increasing uptake to mathemati- cal sciences in higher education (HE). The project was one of four initiated by Hefce to increase uptake into strategically important and vulner- able subjects, the others being in physics, chem- istry and engineering. The mathematical sciences project – the More Maths Grads Project (MMG) – has been working in areas of England and Wales, as well as looking at the implications for HE. Details of the Project and its outcomes are available at www.moremathsgrads.org.uk and its resources have been incorporated into www. mathscareers.org.uk. 12 The four projects will now be integrated into a National HE STEM Programme, a three-year initiative aiming to generate interest in STEM subjects (mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering) among young people, enhance higher-level skills in the workplace and increase accessibility of higher education courses in these subjects. Though focused around STEM, it will primarily support chemistry, engineering, mathematical sciences and physics, aimed at stimulating HE to attract more and wider entry and seek to build greater employer engage- ment and careers focus. The new Programme, coordinated by the University of Birmingham, engages both with subject groups through the professional organisations, and with universi- ties through a group of ‘spokes’ based in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Metropoli- tan, Southampton and Swansea universities (see www.stemprogramme.com). Building on the experience of the MMG project a group of societies and others in the math- ematical sciences have collaborated to oversee and direct the mathematical sciences input to the National HE STEM Programme. The bodies comprise: the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), the London Mathematical Society (LMS), the Royal Statistical Society (RSS),

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MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES IN THE NATIONAL HE STEM PROGRAMME In 2006 a group of mathematical organisations the Heads of Departments of Mathematical bid for and received a £3.3M grant from Hefce to Sciences (HoDoMS), SIGMA and the HEA MSOR look at ways of increasing uptake to mathemati- Network. The IMA will lead the consortium of cal sciences in higher education (HE). The project mathematical bodies, chairing the Mathemati- was one of four initiated by Hefce to increase cal Sciences HE STEM Programme Board. The uptake into strategically important and vulner- National Programme will involve the Royal Soci- able subjects, the others being in physics, chem- ety of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics and the istry and engineering. The mathematical sciences Royal Academy of Engineering in those organi- project – the More Maths Grads Project (MMG) sations’ subject areas. – has been working in areas of England and The mathematical sciences programme will Wales, as well as looking at the implications for address the following main themes: HE. Details of the Project and its outcomes are (a) Integration and diversity – drawing on available at www.moremathsgrads.org.uk and and extending the work of MMG and others to its resources have been incorporated into www. widen and enlarge entry to mathematical sci- mathscareers.org.uk. ences undergraduate courses, and embed these The four projects will now be integrated into into universities; 13 a National HE STEM Programme, a three-year (b) Employer engagement – looking at em- initiative aiming to generate interest in STEM ployer needs in basic and high-level mathematics subjects (mathematics, physics, chemistry and and and in the application of scientific engineering) among young people, enhance and mathematical knowledge in order to meet higher-level skills in the workplace and increase the Government’s wish to improve work-force accessibility of higher education courses in skills, and exploring implications for the HE these subjects. Though focused around STEM, curriculum; it will primarily support chemistry, engineering, (c) HE curriculum innovation – exploring cur- mathematical sciences and physics, aimed at rent learning, teaching and assessment practices stimulating HE to attract more and wider entry within mathematical sciences departments, and and seek to build greater employer engage- disseminating good practice; ment and careers focus. The new Programme, (d) Mathematical sciences support – establish- coordinated by the University of Birmingham, ing and extending a network for mathematical engages both with subject groups through the sciences support in universities, building on professional organisations, and with universi- SIGMA’s regional hub model, working together ties through a group of ‘spokes’ based in Bath, to share resources and experience. Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester Metropoli- The Mathematical Sciences Programme will tan, Southampton and Swansea universities be coordinated from a new unit, based in De (see www.stemprogramme.com). Morgan House, which will contain staff employed Building on the experience of the MMG project on the above activities, as well as a further staff a group of societies and others in the math- member based at the MSOR in Birmingham. The ematical sciences have collaborated to oversee three societies – the IMA, LMS and RSS – are con- and direct the mathematical sciences input to sidering how the unit might further be beneficial the National HE STEM Programme. The bodies in working collaboratively on other activities in comprise: the Institute of Mathematics and its outreach and careers awareness, including some Applications (IMA), the London Mathematical societies’ activities being run out of, or linking, to Society (LMS), the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), the work of the Unit.

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SOCIETY PRIZES DEADLINES example, it took several years to agree on that the inaugural medal went a precise design. Eventually it was decided to the man who was arguably Readers are reminded that the deadline for that one side of the medal should feature Britain’s finest pure mathe- receipt of nominations for the 2010 Society De Morgan’s ‘Zodiac of Syllogism’. This was matician of the time, Arthur Prizes is Friday 22 January 2010. Prizes avail- a drawing of which De Morgan had been Cayley. Subsequent medal- able in 2010 include the , especially proud, incorporating notation used lists included the algebraist Senior , Fröhlich Prize and up to in his work on symbolic logic with the initials , the four Whitehead Prizes. A nomination form ADM to form a symmetrical pattern, which he analyst G.H. Hardy, and can be downloaded from www.lms.ac.uk. For had used as his personal motif. For the med- the philosopher Bertrand full details of all these prizes please see the al’s reverse, it was agreed that a profile of De Russell. Society’s November Newsletter (No. 386, pp. Morgan would be appropriate, and this was Although it was origi- 4–5) or email [email protected]. taken from a posthumous bust sculpted by nally intended “that the the artist Thomas Woolner, which is housed Medal be open to Mathemati- A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE today in the Library. cians of any country,” the majority By 1882, subscriptions from LMS members of its 42 recipients have in fact been Brit- DE MORGAN MEDAL had raised sufficient funds to enable the ish. Despite the award of the fourth medal to Most mathematicians would recognise the Society to endow the award of a medal, worth the German , in the medal’s early name , if only through £10, at intervals of three years. (In 1942, this days it was more common for foreign nomi- 14 an acquaintance with ‘De Morgan’s Laws’ in initial endowment was augmented by a be- nees (who included Weierstrass, Hermite, logic and set theory. But to LMS members, the quest of £250 to the Society by the applied Poincaré and Veblen) to be unsuccessful. name has an extra significance because of the mathematician Sir .) The medal key role he played in the Society’s foundation. was to be made of 22-carat gold, but it would When the LMS held its inaugural meeting on appear from the Society’s records that this De Morgan Medallists 1884–2007 16 January 1865, he was its first President, and was not the only metal used. Minutes from was to remain an enthusiastic member during June 1920 reveal that the Council agreed that 1884 its formative years. Not long after his “the De Morgan Medallist in future 1887 James Joseph Sylvester death in 1871, a meeting was be given the choice either to re- 1890 Lord Rayleigh held to discuss an appropriate ceive the medal in bronze only, 1893 Felix Klein testimonial in his memory. or in gold only, or in both as 1896 Samuel Roberts One of the resolutions of hitherto usual.” Actual evi- 1899 the resulting ‘De Morgan dence of this practice came 1902 Alfred George Greenhill Memorial Committee’ was to light in the summer of 1905 Henry Frederick Baker the proposal “to establish 2002, when the Society ob- 1908 James Whitbread Lee Glaisher a De Morgan medal, to tained William Burnside’s 1911 be awarded annually by 1899 De Morgan Medal cast 1914 Joseph Larmor the [London] Mathematical in bronze. 1917 Young Society to the writer of the The first medal was award- 1920 Ernest William Hobson most original mathematical ed at the Society’s annual 1923 Percy Alexander MacMahon treatise”. general meeting on 13 November 1926 Augustus Edward Hough Love Although the decision to com- 1884. After much discussion, it had 1929 Godfrey Harold Hardy memorate De Morgan with the award of been agreed “that there should not be any 1932 an LMS medal had not been initiated by the special competition for the medal but that 1935 Edmund Taylor Whittaker Society itself, its members quickly endorsed it should be granted by the Council of the 1938 the idea. But the inauguration of the com- L. Math. Society for distinguished services in 1941 Louis Joel Mordell memorative medal was to take far longer the advancement of Math. Science.” Given 1944 Sidney Chapman than anticipated, for a variety of reasons. For this criterion, it is perhaps not surprising

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example, it took several years to agree on that the inaugural medal went More recently, those recipients a precise design. Eventually it was decided to the man who was arguably such as Mordell, Besicovitch, that one side of the medal should feature Britain’s finest pure mathe- Mahler and Roth, who were De Morgan’s ‘Zodiac of Syllogism’. This was matician of the time, Arthur born overseas, all spent the a drawing of which De Morgan had been Cayley. Subsequent medal- majority, if not all, of their especially proud, incorporating notation used lists included the algebraist careers in the United King- in his work on symbolic logic with the initials James Joseph Sylvester, the dom. But irrespective of ADM to form a symmetrical pattern, which he analyst G.H. Hardy, and nationality (at birth or had used as his personal motif. For the med- the philosopher Bertrand otherwise), it is the calibre al’s reverse, it was agreed that a profile of De Russell. of De Morgan medallists Morgan would be appropriate, and this was Although it was origi- over the past 125 years that taken from a posthumous bust sculpted by nally intended “that the has resulted in its becoming the artist Thomas Woolner, which is housed Medal be open to Mathemati- arguably the highest honour today in the University of London Library. cians of any country,” the majority available to mathematicians in By 1882, subscriptions from LMS members of its 42 recipients have in fact been Brit- Britain, whether they be British or not. had raised sufficient funds to enable the ish. Despite the award of the fourth medal to The current regulations can be found at Society to endow the award of a medal, worth the German Felix Klein, in the medal’s early www.lms.ac.uk/activities/prizes_com/prizes. £10, at intervals of three years. (In 1942, this days it was more common for foreign nomi- html. initial endowment was augmented by a be- nees (who included Weierstrass, Hermite, Adrian Rice 15 quest of £250 to the Society by the applied Poincaré and Veblen) to be unsuccessful. Randolph-Macon College, Virginia, USA mathematician Sir Joseph Larmor.) The medal was to be made of 22-carat gold, but it would appear from the Society’s records that this De Morgan Medallists 1884–2007 was not the only metal used. Minutes from June 1920 reveal that the Council agreed that 1884 Arthur Cayley 1947 George Neville Watson “the De Morgan Medallist in future 1887 James Joseph Sylvester 1950 Abram Samoilovitch Besicovitch be given the choice either to re- 1890 Lord Rayleigh 1953 Edward Charles Titchmarsh ceive the medal in bronze only, 1893 Felix Klein 1956 Geoffrey Ingram Taylor or in gold only, or in both as 1896 Samuel Roberts 1959 William Vallance Douglas Hodge hitherto usual.” Actual evi- 1899 William Burnside 1962 Maxwell Herman Alexander Newman dence of this practice came 1902 Alfred George Greenhill 1965 to light in the summer of 1905 Henry Frederick Baker 1968 Mary Cartwright 2002, when the Society ob- 1908 James Whitbread Lee Glaisher 1971 tained William Burnside’s 1911 Horace Lamb 1974 1899 De Morgan Medal cast 1914 Joseph Larmor 1977 Claude Ambrose Rogers in bronze. 1917 1980 Michael Francis Atiyah The first medal was award- 1920 Ernest William Hobson 1983 Klaus Friedrich Roth ed at the Society’s annual 1923 Percy Alexander MacMahon 1986 John William Scott Cassels general meeting on 13 November 1926 Augustus Edward Hough Love 1989 1884. After much discussion, it had 1929 Godfrey Harold Hardy 1992 Albert Fröhlich been agreed “that there should not be any 1932 Bertrand Russell 1995 special competition for the medal but that 1935 Edmund Taylor Whittaker 1998 Robert Rankin it should be granted by the Council of the 1938 John Edensor Littlewood 2001 J. A. (Sandy) Green L. Math. Society for distinguished services in 1941 Louis Joel Mordell 2004 the advancement of Math. Science.” Given 1944 Sidney Chapman 2007 Bryan Birch this criterion, it is perhaps not surprising

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NEWSLETTER

16

18TH LUCASIAN PROFESSOR Michael Green has been elected 18th Luca- sian Professor at the University of , succeeding , who stepped down as Lucasian Professor on 30 September. Michael and Stephen are both prize winners of the LMS Naylor Prize and Lectureship in Applied Mathematics.

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Cecil King Travel Scholarship

The London Mathematical Society annually awards a £5000 Cecil King Travel Scholarship in Mathematics to a young mathematician of outstanding promise. The Scholarship is awarded to support a period of study or research abroad, typically for a period of three months.

The award is competitive and based on a written proposal describing the intended programme of study or research abroad and the benefits to be gained from such a visit. A shortlist of applicants will be selected for interview.

Applicants should normally be nationals of the UK or Republic of , either registered for or having recently completed a doctoral degree at a 17 UK University.

Applications should be made using the form available on the Society’s website (www.lms.ac.uk/activities/cecil_king/index.html) or by contacting [email protected]. The closing date for applications is Friday 19 February 2010. It is expected that interviews will take place in London in late April or early May.

The Cecil King Travel Scholarship was established in 2001 by the Cecil King Memorial Fund. The award is made by the Council of the London Mathematical Society on the recommendation of the Cecil King Prize Committee, nominated by the Society’s Education Committee.

18TH LUCASIAN CECIL KING TRAVEL PROFESSOR SCHOLARSHIP Michael Green has been elected 18th Luca- Report sian Professor at the , succeeding Stephen Hawking, who stepped During my PhD I have worked on a vari- down as Lucasian Professor on 30 September. ety of topics related to two-dimensional Michael and Stephen are both prize winners arithmetic geometry, including the theo- of the LMS Naylor Prize and Lectureship in ries of integration and zeta integrals on Applied Mathematics. two-dimensional local fields and related

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representation theory and . Encouraged by a presentation on a related VISIT OF PROFESSOR The Cecil King Travel Scholarship allowed me topic by one of these students, I wrote the to explore further the relationship between bulk of my most recent paper, on explicit S. NABOKO and to gain new perspectives on these areas, Grothendieck duality for arithmetic surfaces. Professor Sergey Naboko (St Petersburg State by giving me the opportunity for both quiet The travel scholarship allowed me to im- University) will be visiting the UK from 1 to 22 research and talking to interested eminent merse myself in three world-renowned December. His interests lie in spectral theory mathematicians. institutes, which was not only useful mathe- and the application of functional analysis to I began my travelling with a one-month matically, but also for the sake of deciding non-selfadjoint problems from mathematical visit to the IHÉS in November, which pro- where I might wish to settle later in my physics. Professor Naboko will give talks at: vided the ideal environment in which to career. It gave me many ideas, which I intend • University College London, Room 706, complete an article I had been writing, en- to pursue over the next year, and I remain in Thursday 3 December at 3 pm Mobility titled Euler characteristics, Fubini’s theorem, contact with several other young researchers edges for Hermitian Jacobi operators and and the Riemann–Hurwitz formula. I took I met. I am deeply grateful to the Cecil King the generalized eigenvectors decay the RER in Paris once or twice a week to the Memorial Foundation and London Mathe- • University of Kent, Canterbury, Cornwallis Pierre and Marie Curie University, where matical Society for the opportunity I was Building, Friday 4 December at 3 pm Spectral the mathematical logic group was holding given, and strongly recommend it to others! properties of some classes of Jacobi matrices a series of meetings on E. Hrushovski’s and Matthew Morrow • Cardiff, School of Mathematics, Senghen- D. Kazhdan’s 115-page monumental work University of Nottingham nydd Road, Room M/2.06, Thursday 17 18 Integration on valued fields, which I had December at 3.15 pm Unbounded Jacobi been struggling to understand since the matrices with a few gaps in the absolutely beginning of my PhD. As I realised that even SET STUDENT OF THE YEAR continuous spectrum: constructive examples the Paris logicians found this work difficult, For further information contact Ian Wood I regained the confidence to begin seriously The winners of the 2009 Science, Engineer- thinking about this area of my work again. ing & Technology Student of the Year Awards I presented a seminar on this research and were announced at a ceremony in London’s found the audience both interested in my InterContinental Hotel on 25 September. work and forgiving of my French. Record numbers of entries were received Secondly, I spent two weeks during early from every major university in the United January at the Hebrew University of Jerusa- Kingdom and Ireland and judges paid tribute lem, with the single purpose of talking to to the exceptional quality of this year’s work. Professors Hrushovski and Kazhdan. Over In all 45 students were shortlisted in fifteen two weeks, they kindly guided me through different categories. their paper, explaining the main ideas and The Laing O’Rourke award for the best the right direction from which to approach mathematics student of the year was given to it. I began to understand how powerful their Melissa Turcotte of results truly were, and how only slight modi- for her project on the Wave Solution to the fication was required for applications to KdV Equation. Melissa’s project obtained two-dimensional integration. a solution of the KdV equation in which a Finally, I spent six weeks during the Spring solitary wave propagates on the back of a at Harvard University where I enjoyed con- periodic wave train. The LMS and IMA pro- versations with Professor Gaitsgory on the vided judges for the award, commenting many faces of the Langlands programmes. that Melissa will make an excellent ambas- I was warmly welcomed by my fellow PhD sador for mathematics, having demonstrated students, who were impressively well-versed great commitment in acquiring the necessary in many areas and allowed me to give a mathematical background to undertake her couple of talks at their informal seminar. project.

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Encouraged by a presentation on a related VISIT OF PROFESSOR ([email protected]). This visit is supported topic by one of these students, I wrote the by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. bulk of my most recent paper, on explicit S. NABOKO Grothendieck duality for arithmetic surfaces. Professor Sergey Naboko (St Petersburg State VISIT OF DR H. LE PHAM The travel scholarship allowed me to im- University) will be visiting the UK from 1 to 22 merse myself in three world-renowned December. His interests lie in spectral theory Dr Hung Le Pham (Victoria University, Wel- institutes, which was not only useful mathe- and the application of functional analysis to lington, New Zealand) will be visiting the UK matically, but also for the sake of deciding non-selfadjoint problems from mathematical from December 2009 to February 2010. Dr Le where I might wish to settle later in my physics. Professor Naboko will give talks at: Pham works in abstract functional analysis, career. It gave me many ideas, which I intend • University College London, Room 706, with an emphasis on Banach spaces and to pursue over the next year, and I remain in Thursday 3 December at 3 pm Mobility Banach algebras. He will give seminars at: contact with several other young researchers edges for Hermitian Jacobi operators and • Nottingham, 2 December; contact I met. I am deeply grateful to the Cecil King the generalized eigenvectors decay J. Feinstein ([email protected]) Memorial Foundation and London Mathe- • University of Kent, Canterbury, Cornwallis • Glasgow, 26 January; contact N. Bez matical Society for the opportunity I was Building, Friday 4 December at 3 pm Spectral ([email protected]) given, and strongly recommend it to others! properties of some classes of Jacobi matrices • Lancaster, 29 January; contact N. Laustsen Matthew Morrow • Cardiff, School of Mathematics, Senghen- ([email protected]) University of Nottingham nydd Road, Room M/2.06, Thursday 17 • Leeds, 23 February; contact M. Daws December at 3.15 pm Unbounded Jacobi ([email protected]) 19 matrices with a few gaps in the absolutely He will be based at Leeds during the rest SET STUDENT OF THE YEAR continuous spectrum: constructive examples of his stay, hosted by Dr M. Daws. This visit is For further information contact Ian Wood supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. The winners of the 2009 Science, Engineer- ing & Technology Student of the Year Awards were announced at a ceremony in London’s InterContinental Hotel on 25 September. Record numbers of entries were received from every major university in the and Ireland and judges paid tribute to the exceptional quality of this year’s work. In all 45 students were shortlisted in fifteen different categories. The Laing O’Rourke award for the best mathematics student of the year was given to Melissa Turcotte of Imperial College London for her project on the Wave Solution to the KdV Equation. Melissa’s project obtained a solution of the KdV equation in which a solitary wave propagates on the back of a periodic wave train. The LMS and IMA pro- vided judges for the award, commenting that Melissa will make an excellent ambas- sador for mathematics, having demonstrated great commitment in acquiring the necessary mathematical background to undertake her project.

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VISIT OF DR L. CIOBANU THE HOLGATE LECTURES away, I declined, but settled on two visits, at the start and at the end of term. Another Dr Laura Ciobanu (University of Fribourg, The LMS Holgate Lecture scheme was set up school was very specific: they wanted me to Switzerland) will visit the UK from 25 Janu- in memory of Philip Holgate. A number of give an interesting talk. (No extra charge, I ary to 7 February 2010. Dr Ciobanu’s research academics agree to make five visits a year told them.) One email invitation was so non- area is combinatorial, computational and to schools to give talks. The scheme is ad- specific that it contained not a single clue as geometric . In particular, she is vertised on the websites of LMS and others, to which school was inviting me, nor where interested in equations, decision problems, such as NCETM. it was. of algorithms and fixed subgroups The importance of the scheme cannot be Advice to new Holgate Lecturers. Ask in free groups, as well as group actions on overstated. If you become a Holgate Lec- about the mathematical capabilities of your trees and generalizations of trees. turer (and the scheme could do with a few audience, well in advance. The ideal talk is She will give seminars at: more volunteers) you will almost inevitably highly adaptable, and can still be delivered • Newcastle, 28 January; contact Sarah Rees spend a fair proportion of your time visiting if the 50 minutes you have been promised ([email protected]) schools where you are not really needed, turns out to be 35, or if you find at the last • Southampton, 29 January; contact Armando where the mathematical education provided minute that they want you to fill 90. Make Martino ([email protected]) is way above the national average. You can sure you can survive a laptop crash or a sulk- • Warwick, 2 February; contact Derek Holt nonetheless do some good here, of course, ing projector. Personally, I don’t see the point ([email protected]) and you will certainly enjoy your visit. But of talking about mathematics and not doing 20 Dr Ciobanu will be based at Newcastle dur- you can have a much greater effect if you any, so I always include some proofs, how- ing her visit, hosted by Sarah Rees. For further get an invitation to the sort of school, possi- ever short, and I always toss in a few prob- details consult seminar web pages. This visit is bly high in the league tables, whose teachers lems, including some too hard to answer on supported by an LMS Scheme 2 grant. would be regarded as excellent by OFSTED, the spot – but I give them my email address. but where the mathematical diet is confined (I find it is safe to do this, as the response ICM 2010 strictly to the syllabus for GCSE or A level. is regrettably tiny.) Most importantly, make Here you will find not a single mathemati- your enthusiasm for mathematics plain for The International Mathematical Union is cur- cal textbook other than those provided by all to see, and enjoy yourself: after all, there rently accepting applications for financial the examination board. (The desperately sad is no setting or marking of examinations in- support to attend the International Congress of raison d’�tre of such books seems to be that volved here! Mathematicians 2010, to be held in Hyderabad, they promise not to waste your time telling John Silvester India. The eligibility criteria are as follows: you things you won’t be asked in the exami- King’s College London • financial support is for mathematicians nation. This is what the government means from developing countries, except India when it says teachers are more professional ROYAL SOCIETY • applicants must either have a PhD in these days.) Here you have a meagre hour mathematics or at least post-doctoral level in which to open their eyes to the existence 2010 ANNIVERSARY research experience in mathematics of a mathematical world beyond their sylla- PROFESSORSHIPS • the permanent workplace of the mathe- bus, and I have had teachers thank me for matician must be one of the developing reminding them of something they said they The Royal Society 2010 Anniversary Research countries listed in the ICM website had forgotten, namely, why they decided Professorships were recently awarded, in cel- The deadline for applications is 1 January they wanted to teach mathematics. ebration of the Society’s 350th anniversary. 2010. For the list of developing countries and I am now in my fifth year as a Holgate Amongst the six awards were two mathema- further information visit the website at www. Lecturer, habitually ignoring the limit and ticians, both LMS members: icm2010.org.in/financial-support/international- giving about a dozen talks a year. One does participants. receive some strange requests. One school Professor , FRS, University of Rajat Tandon said they were starting a Maths Club next Cambridge. Professor Gowers’ work focuses Secretary, Executive Organizing Committee term, and would I like to visit every Mon- on – the study of discrete, and ICM 2010 day? Since they were a five-hour journey usually finite, objects. In 1998 he received

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THE HOLGATE LECTURES away, I declined, but settled on two visits, the Fields Medal for research on functional at the start and at the end of term. Another analysis and combinatorics. In addition to The LMS Holgate Lecture scheme was set up school was very specific: they wanted me to scholarly papers on mathematics, he is also in memory of Philip Holgate. A number of give an interesting talk. (No extra charge, I the author of Mathematics: A Very Short academics agree to make five visits a year told them.) One email invitation was so non- Introduction and other works popularizing to schools to give talks. The scheme is ad- specific that it contained not a single clue as mathematics. vertised on the websites of LMS and others, to which school was inviting me, nor where such as NCETM. it was. Sir , KBE, FRS, Princeton Univer- The importance of the scheme cannot be Advice to new Holgate Lecturers. Ask sity. He is most famous for proving Fermat’s overstated. If you become a Holgate Lec- about the mathematical capabilities of your Last Theorem. He aims to develop arithmetic turer (and the scheme could do with a few audience, well in advance. The ideal talk is techniques that will help to resolve some of more volunteers) you will almost inevitably highly adaptable, and can still be delivered the fundamental questions in his field. spend a fair proportion of your time visiting if the 50 minutes you have been promised schools where you are not really needed, turns out to be 35, or if you find at the last ROSALIND FRANKLIN AWARD where the mathematical education provided minute that they want you to fill 90. Make is way above the national average. You can sure you can survive a laptop crash or a sulk- 2010 nonetheless do some good here, of course, ing projector. Personally, I don’t see the point Invitation to nominate and you will certainly enjoy your visit. But of talking about mathematics and not doing you can have a much greater effect if you any, so I always include some proofs, how- The Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award 21 get an invitation to the sort of school, possi- ever short, and I always toss in a few prob- is designed to promote , bly high in the league tables, whose teachers lems, including some too hard to answer on Technology, Engineering and Mathematics would be regarded as excellent by OFSTED, the spot – but I give them my email address. (STEM) and is funded by the Department for but where the mathematical diet is confined (I find it is safe to do this, as the response Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). strictly to the syllabus for GCSE or A level. is regrettably tiny.) Most importantly, make The award, consisting of a medal and Here you will find not a single mathemati- your enthusiasm for mathematics plain for £30,000, is made annually to an individual cal textbook other than those provided by all to see, and enjoy yourself: after all, there for an outstanding contribution to any area the examination board. (The desperately sad is no setting or marking of examinations in- of STEM. As part of the nomination proc- raison d’�tre of such books seems to be that volved here! ess, nominees are asked to put forward they promise not to waste your time telling John Silvester a proposal for a project that would raise you things you won’t be asked in the exami- King’s College London the profile of women in STEM in their host nation. This is what the government means institution and/or field of expertise in the when it says teachers are more professional ROYAL SOCIETY UK. The recipient of the award will be ex- these days.) Here you have a meagre hour pected to spend a proportion of the £30,000 in which to open their eyes to the existence 2010 ANNIVERSARY award fund on implementing their project. of a mathematical world beyond their sylla- PROFESSORSHIPS There are no restrictions on the age of nomi- bus, and I have had teachers thank me for nees, but it is anticipated that the award will reminding them of something they said they The Royal Society 2010 Anniversary Research be made to someone in their mid-career and had forgotten, namely, why they decided Professorships were recently awarded, in cel- actively involved in scientific research. Nomi- they wanted to teach mathematics. ebration of the Society’s 350th anniversary. nations are welcomed for both women and I am now in my fifth year as a Holgate Amongst the six awards were two mathema- men. Lecturer, habitually ignoring the limit and ticians, both LMS members: For full details of the Award and guide- giving about a dozen talks a year. One does lines for nomination, including the on- receive some strange requests. One school Professor Timothy Gowers, FRS, University of line nomination forms, visit the website at said they were starting a Maths Club next Cambridge. Professor Gowers’ work focuses royalsociety.org/franklin or email awards@ term, and would I like to visit every Mon- on combinatorics – the study of discrete, and royalsociety.org. Closing date for nomina- day? Since they were a five-hour journey usually finite, objects. In 1998 he received tions is Monday 25 January 2010.

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NEWSLETTER

ROYAL COMMISSION FOR DIVERSE FACES OF STOCHASTICS, CONTROL THE EXHIBITION OF 1851 ARITHMETIC AND FINANCE Research Fellowships A conference on the Diverse Faces of Arith- A workshop on Stochastics, Control and Fi- metic will be held at the University of East nance in honour of Professor Mark H.A. Davis The scheme of 1851 Research Fellowships is Anglia from 14 to 16 December 2009, on the on the occasion of his 65th birthday will take intended to give a few PhD-level scientists occasion of Graham Everest’s retirement. place at Imperial College London from 12 to or engineers of outstanding promise the The conference will cover the remarkable 14 April 2010. The speakers are: opportunity for conducting research for a interactions of with Logic, • Peter Bank (Technical University of Berlin) further period. Awarded for three years, they Dynamical and Mathematical • Tomas Björk (Stockholm School of Economics) provide an exceptional opportunity for PhD Physics: for example, novel approaches to • Martin Clark (Imperial College) graduates to pursue further research at the Hilbert’s Tenth Problem, and connections • Mark Davis (Imperial College) highest level. Approximately eight awards between elliptic divisibility sequences and • Michael Dempster (University of Cambridge) are made each year. integrable systems. One of the purposes of • Paul Embrechts (ETH Zürich) The Fellowships are open to candidates in the conference is to bring together research- • Eduardo Epperlein (Citigroup) any of the physical or biological sciences, in ers in quite diverse fields, the common point • Jim Gatheral (Bank of America Merrill Lynch) mathematics, in applied science, or in any being an interaction with Number Theory, • Vicky Henderson (University of ) branch of engineering. Candidates in science particularly concerning the arithmetic of • Andrew Heunis (University of Waterloo) 22 subjects should normally have recently ob- recurrence sequences. The invited speakers • David Hobson () tained their PhD degree, or be in the final are: • Lane Hughston (Imperial College) stages of their PhD studies. Those offering • (ETH Zürich) • Ioannis Karatzas (Columbia University) engineering do not have to be in posses- • Kirsten Eisenträger (Penn State) • Ralf Korn (University of Kaiserslautern) sion of a PhD, but must be of at least PhD • Graham Everest (UEA) • Alexander Lipton (Bank of America Merrill standard. • Győry Kálmán (Debrecen) Lynch) The Research Fellowship stipend payable in • Andy Hone (Kent) • Vladimir Lucic (Barclays Capital) 2010 is £28,500 for the first year, and£ 30,000 • Valéry Mahé (Franche-Comté, Besançon) • Terry Lyons () for the second and third years. In addition • Alexandra Shlapentokh (East Carolina) • Jan Oblój (University of Oxford) a London (Overseas) Weighting of £2,500 • Igor Shparlinski (Macquarie, Sydney) • Bernt �ksendal (University of Oslo) per annum is payable in appropriate cases. • Chris Smyth (Edinburgh) • Eckhard Platen (University of Technology Stipends are reviewed annually. • Nelson Stephens (Bristol) Sydney) A candidate must be a citizen of the United • Franco Vivaldi (Queen Mary, London) • Chris Rogers (University of Cambridge) Kingdom or the Commonwealth, or of the There will also be an introductory lecture • Walter Schachermayer (University of Vienna) Republics of Ireland or Pakistan. He or she each day, aimed particularly at graduate • Martin Schweizer (ETH Zürich) should either have spent at least two out of students. • Nizar Touzi (École Polytechnique) the past three years at a UK Institution, or For further information visit the website at • Michel Vellekoop (University of Amsterdam) be intending to hold the Fellowship at a UK www.uea.ac.uk/mth/mtheventsnews/Conference • Richard Vinter (Imperial College) Institution, or both. or contact the organisers: Anish Ghosh (UEA), • Thaleia Zariphopoulou (University of Oxford) Applications are made online via the web- Shaun Stevens (UEA), Sanju Velani (York) and • Xunyu Zhou (University of Oxford) site www.royalcommission1851.org and must Tom Ward (UEA) at [email protected]. For registration and further information visit include two references, plus certification ac.uk. the website at www3.imperial.ac.uk/mathfin/ from the institution at which the Fellowship The conference is supported by an LMS events or contact the Workshop Administrator, is to be held. Applications must be received Conference grant, and by the Number Doris Abeysekera, tel: +44 (0)20 7594 8547; fax: by 5 pm Thursday 25 February 2010. Appoint- Theory Foundation. In particular, there are +44 (0)20 7594 1191; email: d.abeysekera@impe- ments to the Fellowship will be made during funds from the LMS towards the participa- rial.ac.uk. June 2010. Fellowships commence at the tion of UK-based PhD students – contact the The workshop is receiving financial support beginning of October in the year of award. organisers for more information. from the European Science Foundation (Advanced

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DIVERSE FACES OF STOCHASTICS, CONTROL Mathematical Methods in Finance programme), the London Mathematical Society and Imperial ARITHMETIC AND FINANCE College (Department of Electrical and Electronic A conference on the Diverse Faces of Arith- A workshop on Stochastics, Control and Fi- Engineering and Department of Mathematics). metic will be held at the University of East nance in honour of Professor Mark H.A. Davis Anglia from 14 to 16 December 2009, on the on the occasion of his 65th birthday will take AERODYNAMIC occasion of Graham Everest’s retirement. place at Imperial College London from 12 to The conference will cover the remarkable 14 April 2010. The speakers are: BOUNDARY LAYERS interactions of Number Theory with Logic, • Peter Bank (Technical University of Berlin) There will be a two-day meeting on Aerodynamic Dynamical Systems and Mathematical • Tomas Björk (Stockholm School of Economics) Boundary Layers at the University of East Anglia, Physics: for example, novel approaches to • Martin Clark (Imperial College) Norwich from 10 to 11 December 2009 in honour Hilbert’s Tenth Problem, and connections • Mark Davis (Imperial College) of the 75th birthday of Professor Norman Riley. between elliptic divisibility sequences and • Michael Dempster (University of Cambridge) The purpose of the meeting is to review the cur- integrable systems. One of the purposes of • Paul Embrechts (ETH Zürich) rent state of the art in the application of bound- the conference is to bring together research- • Eduardo Epperlein (Citigroup) ary-layer theory to aerodynamics, and to present ers in quite diverse fields, the common point • Jim Gatheral (Bank of America Merrill Lynch) surveys of the subject area. Important issues which being an interaction with Number Theory, • Vicky Henderson (University of Oxford) are still not fully understood include boundary- particularly concerning the arithmetic of • Andrew Heunis (University of Waterloo) layer transition, aerodynamic noise, separation recurrence sequences. The invited speakers • David Hobson (University of Warwick) and unsteady phenomena in boundary layers. 23 are: • Lane Hughston (Imperial College) The invited speakers will cover almost all of these • Manfred Einsiedler (ETH Zürich) • Ioannis Karatzas (Columbia University) important topics. The invited speakers are: • Kirsten Eisenträger (Penn State) • Ralf Korn (University of Kaiserslautern) • J. Ackroyd (Manchester) • Graham Everest (UEA) • Alexander Lipton (Bank of America Merrill • S. J. Cowley (Cambridge) • Győry Kálmán (Debrecen) Lynch) • P.W. Duck (Manchester) • Andy Hone (Kent) • Vladimir Lucic (Barclays Capital) • P.W. Hammerton (UEA) • Valéry Mahé (Franche-Comté, Besançon) • Terry Lyons (University of Oxford) • J.J. Healey (Keele) • Alexandra Shlapentokh (East Carolina) • Jan Oblój (University of Oxford) • I.P. Jones (ANSYS UK) • Igor Shparlinski (Macquarie, Sydney) • Bernt �ksendal (University of Oslo) • I. Poll (Cranfield) • Chris Smyth (Edinburgh) • Eckhard Platen (University of Technology • A.I. Ruban (Manchester) • Nelson Stephens (Bristol) Sydney) • N. Sandham (Southampton) • Franco Vivaldi (Queen Mary, London) • Chris Rogers (University of Cambridge) • F.T. Smith (UCL) There will also be an introductory lecture • Walter Schachermayer (University of Vienna) • S.N. Timoshin (UCL) each day, aimed particularly at graduate • Martin Schweizer (ETH Zürich) • A.E.P. Veldman (Groningen) students. • Nizar Touzi (École Polytechnique) • X. Wu (Imperial College) For further information visit the website at • Michel Vellekoop (University of Amsterdam) The conference will last for two days, starting at www.uea.ac.uk/mth/mtheventsnews/Conference • Richard Vinter (Imperial College) 12 noon on Thursday 10 December, and continu- or contact the organisers: Anish Ghosh (UEA), • Thaleia Zariphopoulou (University of Oxford) ing until late afternoon on Friday 11 December. Shaun Stevens (UEA), Sanju Velani (York) and • Xunyu Zhou (University of Oxford) A conference dinner will be held on the Thursday Tom Ward (UEA) at [email protected]. For registration and further information visit evening. For updated information visit the web- ac.uk. the website at www3.imperial.ac.uk/mathfin/ site at www.mth.uea.ac.uk. The conference is supported by an LMS events or contact the Workshop Administrator, If you would like to attend, contact the organis- Conference grant, and by the Number Doris Abeysekera, tel: +44 (0)20 7594 8547; fax: ers at [email protected] by 20 November 2009. Theory Foundation. In particular, there are +44 (0)20 7594 1191; email: d.abeysekera@impe- The organisers are Mark Blyth and Alexander funds from the LMS towards the participa- rial.ac.uk. Korobkin. The meeting is supported by an LMS tion of UK-based PhD students – contact the The workshop is receiving financial support Conference grant and the School of Mathematics organisers for more information. from the European Science Foundation (Advanced at UEA.

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NEWSLETTER

TOMORROW’S be free to students, so we would ask that LMS POPULAR LECTURE Universities make a financial contribution MATHEMATICIANS TODAY Report of £10/person up to a maximum of £100 to The University of Greenwich Department help us cover our costs. On 15 September 2009, the Birming- of Mathematical Sciences, in conjunction For further information visit the web- ham University Lecture theatre was full with the Institute of Mathematics and site at http://mathsoc.cms.gre.ac.uk/tmt or of budding mathematicians, scientists its Applications (IMA), is very pleased to contact Noel-Ann Bradshaw (N.Bradshaw@ and generally interested parties. The announce the inaugural Undergradu- gre.ac.uk), Tony Mann (A.Mann@gre. evening’s events consisted of two lec- ate Mathematics Conference in London ac.uk) or Peter Rowlett (Peter.Rowlett@ tures – Hollywood’s Hippest Mathematics: which will be held on Saturday 6 February ima.org.uk). Random Matrices and Riemann Zeros by 2010. The keynote speaker will be Profes- Dr of the University of Bris- sor Ian Stewart, who earlier this year was YORKSHIRE AND DURHAM tol and The Scale of Things by Dr Mark the first recipient of the Christopher Zee- Midownik of King’s College London. man Medal, awarded jointly by the LMS GEOMETRY DAY Dr Snaith introduced us to the Rie- and the IMA for his work on promoting There will be a Yorkshire and Durham Ge- mann zeta-function and its importance mathematics. ometry Day on Friday 11 December 2009 in describing prime numbers. This was This will be a fascinating day which from 11.00 am to 5.15 pm in the Depart- used to outline the will give participants the opportunity to ment of Mathematical Sciences, Durham and through graphical representation of 24 learn about a wide range of mathemat- University. Tea and coffee will be avail- the complex zeros of the Riemann-zeta ics which has excited their peers. The aim able from 10.30 am. The programme is as function she illustrated the ‘organised of the conference is to enable final-year follows: ’ of prime numbers. She dem- (and other) undergraduates to give pres- • Andy Hayden (Durham) Hyperbolic billiards onstrated the mathematical awareness entations on mathematical topics of their in Teichmüller space of the creators of the American TV series choice. Mathematics students will ben- • Ian McIntosh (York) Taking stock of spectral Numb3rs in which the Riemann hypothesis efit enormously from this in a number of curve methods in surface theory is mentioned, before giving us an over- ways. Those going into research will gain • Benjamin Thorpe (Durham) Long-time view of the work she was involved in re- experience of the process of conference existence for spacelike mean curvature flow garding the hypothesis. By plotting every submission, while those going into the • Neshan Wickramasekera (Cambridge) thirty Riemann zeros on the circumference workplace will gain valuable experience New developments in regularity theory for of a circle and by direct comparison with to enhance their CVs and career pros- stable minimal hypersurfaces randomly generated patterns it was clear pects. All delegates will gain insights into • John C. Wood (Leeds) Explicit constructions that there was some underlying order to a wide range of mathematics of potential of harmonic maps in classical Lie groups the Riemann zeros. However, it wasn’t value in their future careers. It should be and symmetric spaces until a freak meeting at the Institute for a wonderfully enjoyable day of inspiring All interested are welcome to attend, Advanced Study at , mathematics. although the organisers would appreci- that a researcher in Random Theory The organisers hope that the conference ate your letting them know if you plan recognised the pattern as that produced will also attract employers, presenting a to come. For further information, please by the eigenvalues of random matrices. useful opportunity for participants to gain email John Bolton (john.bolton@ durham. Further work followed and resulted in the information about career possibilities. ac.uk) or Wilhelm Klingenberg (wilhelm. team being able to calculate a sequence Abstracts of proposed presentations [email protected]), or visit the of numbers describing how fast the Rie- should be submitted to [email protected] website at www.maths.dur.ac.uk/~dma0jb/ mann zeta function grows. by 18 December 2009. Authors will be in- ydgd.html. Dr Midownik introduced the scale of formed of the outcome by the beginning The organisers of the Yorkshire and things with examples of objects of in- of January 2010. Durham Geometry Days are pleased to creasingly small size from both natural In order to encourage students to at- acknowledge the financial support of the and man-made sources, enabling the au- tend it is important that this conference LMS for this series of meetings. dience to better grasp the scale at which

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be free to students, so we would ask that LMS POPULAR LECTURE engineering and science is now capable of Universities make a financial contribution working. He then told the audience that Report of £10/person up to a maximum of £100 to if they dropped their pet hamsters off help us cover our costs. On 15 September 2009, the Birming- multi-storey buildings, the animals would For further information visit the web- ham University Lecture theatre was full probably survive. After a quick tutorial site at http://mathsoc.cms.gre.ac.uk/tmt or of budding mathematicians, scientists on how to model your pet hamster as a contact Noel-Ann Bradshaw (N.Bradshaw@ and generally interested parties. The sphere, Dr Midownik showed us exam- gre.ac.uk), Tony Mann (A.Mann@gre. evening’s events consisted of two lec- ples of the many surprising correlations ac.uk) or Peter Rowlett (Peter.Rowlett@ tures – Hollywood’s Hippest Mathematics: that arise throughout nature involving ima.org.uk). Random Matrices and Riemann Zeros by scale. Most notable examples involved Dr Nina Snaith of the University of Bris- body mass, heart rate and life expect- YORKSHIRE AND DURHAM tol and The Scale of Things by Dr Mark ancy. A log graph of body mass against Midownik of King’s College London. heart rate for mammals produced a strik- GEOMETRY DAY Dr Snaith introduced us to the Rie- ing straight line. Whereas a mouse has a There will be a Yorkshire and Durham Ge- mann zeta-function and its importance very high heart rate, an elephant, with a ometry Day on Friday 11 December 2009 in describing prime numbers. This was much smaller surface area to volume ra- from 11.00 am to 5.15 pm in the Depart- used to outline the Riemann hypothesis tio and so smaller rate of heat loss, has a ment of Mathematical Sciences, Durham and through graphical representation of very low heart rate. In contrast, the log University. Tea and coffee will be avail- the complex zeros of the Riemann-zeta graph of body mass against average life 25 able from 10.30 am. The programme is as function she illustrated the ‘organised expectancy had a negative gradient of follows: randomness’ of prime numbers. She dem- the same magnitude. It has since been • Andy Hayden (Durham) Hyperbolic billiards onstrated the mathematical awareness shown that all mammals have on average in Teichmüller space of the creators of the American TV series the same number of heart beats in their • Ian McIntosh (York) Taking stock of spectral Numb3rs in which the Riemann hypothesis life time. It was also startling that certain curve methods in surface theory is mentioned, before giving us an over- gradients such as � and � cropped up re- • Benjamin Thorpe (Durham) Long-time view of the work she was involved in re- peatedly in many natural correlations. Dr existence for spacelike mean curvature flow garding the hypothesis. By plotting every Midownik then showed how many surpris- • Neshan Wickramasekera (Cambridge) thirty Riemann zeros on the circumference ing things can be found in our immediate New developments in regularity theory for of a circle and by direct comparison with vicinity and with the help of a microscope stable minimal hypersurfaces randomly generated patterns it was clear demonstrated the fine structures that we • John C. Wood (Leeds) Explicit constructions that there was some underlying order to rely on so much, from Velcro to woollen of harmonic maps in classical Lie groups the Riemann zeros. However, it wasn’t jumpers to bricks. He then explained to us and symmetric spaces until a freak meeting at the Institute for that it was due to a hamster’s relatively All interested are welcome to attend, Advanced Study at Princeton University, large surface area to volume ratio and the although the organisers would appreci- that a researcher in Random Matrix Theory large cross sectional area of its paws with ate your letting them know if you plan recognised the pattern as that produced respect to its weight that a hamster is not to come. For further information, please by the eigenvalues of random matrices. as easy to kill as you may think. email John Bolton (john.bolton@ durham. Further work followed and resulted in the In conclusion, the evening’s lectures ac.uk) or Wilhelm Klingenberg (wilhelm. team being able to calculate a sequence were both highly entertaining and edu- [email protected]), or visit the of numbers describing how fast the Rie- cational, introducing the students to the website at www.maths.dur.ac.uk/~dma0jb/ mann zeta function grows. beauty and complexity of mathematics ydgd.html. Dr Midownik introduced the scale of beyond rigid curricula. Thank you to the The organisers of the Yorkshire and things with examples of objects of in- hosts, Birmingham University and the Durham Geometry Days are pleased to creasingly small size from both natural speakers, Dr Snaith and Dr Midownik. acknowledge the financial support of the and man-made sources, enabling the au- Students of King Edward’s School, LMS for this series of meetings. dience to better grasp the scale at which Birmingham

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NEWSLETTER

Tillmann (University of Oxford) and was enti- tled From configuration to moduli spaces. The RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS motivation lies in the problem of classifying manifolds and Riemann surfaces, and the talk AT MEETINGS discussed cobordism categories and their clas- sifying spaces, explaining the connections with REGIONAL ORDINARY MEETING topological and quantum field theories in both topology and algebra. Her talk complemented held on 16 September 2009 at the . Around 60 members and the other two talks well, providing us with a visitors were present for all or part of the meeting. day of accessible and interesting talks, which gave new insight into the connections between The meeting began at 2.00 pm, with the Vice-President, Professor D.G. LARMAN, in several areas of mathematics. the Chair. After the meeting, a dinner was held in a local Four members signed the book and were admitted to the Society. restaurant, which was enjoyed by all. Professor N.J. SNASHALL introduced a lecture given by Professor Jean-Louis Loday on Nicole Snashall and Teimuraz Pirashvili Koszul duality. Department of Mathematics University of Leicester After tea, Professor Snashall introduced a lecture given by Professor Idun Reiten on Coxeter groups and associated rings and categories. 26 DERIVED CATEGORIES IN Professor Snashall then introduced a lecture given by Professor Ulrike Tillmann ALGEBRA, TOPOLOGY entitled From configuration to moduli spaces. The Chair expressed the thanks of the Society to the local organisers and the AND GEOMETRY speakers for putting on such an excellent meeting. Report After the meeting a dinner was held at a local restaurant. Following on from the LMS Midlands Regional Meeting was a three-day workshop on Derived Categories in Algebra, Topology and Geometry at the Department of Mathematics, University of LMS MIDLANDS REGIONAL MEETING Leicester, from 17 to 19 September 2009. It was supported by the London Mathematical Society. 6 September 2009 Derived and triangulated categories play an The London Mathematical Society Midlands connections to symmetric groups and Schur important role in algebra, topology, geometry Regional Meeting took place in the afternoon functors, and explains, among other things, why and physics, and thus this is a subject where sev- of Wednesday 16 September 2009 at the Univer- the Koszul dual of a commutative algebra is a Lie eral areas of mathematics are confluent. Many sity of Leicester and was attended by about 60 algebra and vice versa. important conjectures in algebra, topology and members and visitors. The Meeting was chaired The second talk on Coxeter groups and geometry can only be formulated, or explained, by LMS Vice-President Professor David Larman associated rings and categories was given in terms of derived categories. For example, the and began after formal business. by Professor Idun Reiten (NTNU, Trondheim, theory of derived categories is central to the The first talk was given by Professor Jean- Norway). Her aim was to associate a ring or homological mirror symmetry of Kontsevich in Louis Loday (CNRS, Strasbourg) on Koszul dual- category with an element of the Coxeter mathematical physics, the abelian defect group ity. Beginning with an excellent introduction to group and relate this to the cluster algebras of conjecture of Broué in the representation theory Koszul duality and the standard Koszul complex Fomin and Zelevinsky. These elegant results are of finite groups, and the Bondal–Orlov conjec- for a quadratic associative algebra, he went on connected with 2-Calabi–Yau categories with ture on Calabi–Yau varieties. The conference to give a more general setting for Koszul dual- cluster-tilting object, and unify other recent achieved its aim of bringing together a group of ity theory. This provides a framework between work on cluster categories. top experts from algebra, topology and geom- algebraic operads and types of algebras, with The final talk was given by Professor Ulrike etry who are working on derived categories to

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Tillmann (University of Oxford) and was enti- present new directions and ideas in the subject. tled From configuration to moduli spaces. The The speakers at the workshop were Hideto RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS motivation lies in the problem of classifying Asashiba (Shizuoka), Roland Berger (St Etienne), manifolds and Riemann surfaces, and the talk John Greenlees (Sheffield), Thorsten Holm AT MEETINGS discussed cobordism categories and their clas- (Hannover), Peter J�rgensen (Newcastle), sifying spaces, explaining the connections with Dominic Joyce (Oxford), Bernhard Keller (Paris REGIONAL ORDINARY MEETING topological and quantum field theories in both VII), Henning Krause (Paderborn), Fernando topology and algebra. Her talk complemented Muro (Seville), Konstanze Rietsch (King’s College, held on 16 September 2009 at the University of Leicester. Around 60 members and the other two talks well, providing us with a London), Claus Ringel (Bielefeld) and Stefan visitors were present for all or part of the meeting. day of accessible and interesting talks, which Schwede (Bonn). An additional 35 people also gave new insight into the connections between participated in the workshop, including many The meeting began at 2.00 pm, with the Vice-President, Professor D.G. LARMAN, in several areas of mathematics. PhD students and early-career researchers. The the Chair. After the meeting, a dinner was held in a local programme was arranged so as to encourage di- Four members signed the book and were admitted to the Society. restaurant, which was enjoyed by all. alogue and interaction between the participants Professor N.J. SNASHALL introduced a lecture given by Professor Jean-Louis Loday on Nicole Snashall and Teimuraz Pirashvili on different aspects and applications of derived Koszul duality. Department of Mathematics categories. This interesting and exciting meeting University of Leicester made a timely contribution to this topic, and we After tea, Professor Snashall introduced a lecture given by Professor Idun Reiten on thank the LMS for their support. Coxeter groups and associated rings and categories. DERIVED CATEGORIES IN Nicole Snashall and Teimuraz Pirashvili 27 Professor Snashall then introduced a lecture given by Professor Ulrike Tillmann ALGEBRA, TOPOLOGY Department of Mathematics entitled From configuration to moduli spaces. University of Leicester The Chair expressed the thanks of the Society to the local organisers and the AND GEOMETRY speakers for putting on such an excellent meeting. Report FEYNMAN PATH INTEGRALS After the meeting a dinner was held at a local restaurant. Following on from the LMS Midlands Regional AND THEIR APPLICATIONS Meeting was a three-day workshop on Derived A meeting on the rigorous theory of Feynman Categories in Algebra, Topology and Geometry path integrals and their applications will take at the Department of Mathematics, University of place at the Department of Mathematics, LMS MIDLANDS REGIONAL MEETING Leicester, from 17 to 19 September 2009. It was Swansea University, from 18 to 19 January 2010. supported by the London Mathematical Society. The meeting is being organised under the aus- Derived and triangulated categories play an pices of the Wales Institute of Mathematical and connections to symmetric groups and Schur important role in algebra, topology, geometry Computational Sciences (WIMCS, www.wimcs. functors, and explains, among other things, why and physics, and thus this is a subject where sev- ac.uk). Speakers will include: the Koszul dual of a commutative algebra is a Lie eral areas of mathematics are confluent. Many • Laura Cattaneo (Imperial) algebra and vice versa. important conjectures in algebra, topology and • John Gough (Aberystwyth) The second talk on Coxeter groups and geometry can only be formulated, or explained, • Naoto Kumano-Go (Kogakuin) associated rings and categories was given in terms of derived categories. For example, the • Sonia Mazzucchi (Trento) by Professor Idun Reiten (NTNU, Trondheim, theory of derived categories is central to the • Oleg Smolyanov (Moscow State) Norway). Her aim was to associate a ring or homological mirror symmetry of Kontsevich in The meeting will begin with lunch at 12 pm category with an element of the Coxeter mathematical physics, the abelian defect group on Monday 18 January. For further details visit group and relate this to the cluster algebras of conjecture of Broué in the representation theory the department website at www-maths.swan. Fomin and Zelevinsky. These elegant results are of finite groups, and the Bondal–Orlov conjec- ac.uk. There are limited funds to support gradu- connected with 2-Calabi–Yau categories with ture on Calabi–Yau varieties. The conference ate students attending the meeting. For further cluster-tilting object, and unify other recent achieved its aim of bringing together a group of information contact the organisers Andrew work on cluster categories. top experts from algebra, topology and geom- Neate ([email protected]) or Aubrey The final talk was given by Professor Ulrike etry who are working on derived categories to Truman ([email protected]).

December09-NL.indd 27 20/11/2009 16:45:02 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

BRAINMODES 2009 REVIEWS a non-Abelian version of Hodge theory for Kähler BrainModes is an annual meeting whose Mathematicians: An outer view of the inner manifolds”. focus is to bring researchers from different world by Mariana Cook, Princeton University All the featured mathe- backgrounds in the neurosciences together Press, 2009, 208 pp, £24.95, $35.00, ISBN 978- maticians are winners of to understand the role of neural oscillations. 0-691-13951-7. major awards and honours, The theme of this year’s meeting is Neural This book features ninety-two leading although no attempt has Oscillations and Clinical Disorders, with four mathematicians. For each mathematician a been made to list precisely main themes: Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, photograph is given on the right-hand page the ‘top’ mathematicians of Neuroendocrine Disorders and Neurodegen- and an autobiographical account appears today. Although these ninety- erative Disease. The meeting will take place on the left-hand page. The black-and-white two mathematicians come from 10 to12 December 2009 at the Univer- photographs are by Mariana Cook who has from many different coun- sity of Bristol. a high reputation for books of photographic tries and a wide variety of The workshop will be structured as follows: portraits. Cook superbly captures the charac- backgrounds, all but one of The first day will be a ‘training day’ where ter of these mathematicians in this stunning them is based in one of four leading experts will give overviews of par- collection of photographs. They are works of countries, the United States, ticular topics and techniques. The second and art. The autobiographical texts vary greatly in Britain, France or . In fact over 80% third days will be devoted to half-day sessions nature. Some mathematicians give details of are based in the United States. It is clear that 28 on each of the main themes. The meeting will their career while others concentrate on how the choice has been somewhat biased by ease be structured to maximise the opportunities they became interested in the subject and of obtaining the portraits, yet clearly a very for interactions between participants. why they are so passionate about it. high proportion of the ‘top’ mathematicians Though registration has closed, it may be The different approaches taken by each are based in the United States. Let me ask the possible to accept registrations, although it mathematician not only gives us insight into reader to ponder: does this matter? cannot be guaranteed. If you are interested the person but also make for a more inter- This large-format, coffee-table book, is a in attending the conference contact the or- esting book. Many draw parallels between joy to dip into. It will certainly help everyone ganisers immediately. mathematics and composing music or writing who reads it glimpse into the world of mathe- Registration is £100, covering the cost of poetry. We read comments such as “In a way, matics and begin to understand the passion attendance at the meeting, lunches on each doing mathematics feels like writing a novel that drives its creators. day and the conference dinner on the Friday where your problem evolves like a live char- Edmund Robertson evening. Accommodation must be arranged acter” and “Sitting in a good mathematics separately by the participant. There will be lecture is like sitting in a good opera.” We an opportunity to present posters at the learn about the interaction between mathe- Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by A. meeting. maticians, about their joys and disappoint- Doxiadis, C.H. Papadimitriou, A. Papadatos, The London Mathematical Society has gen- ments, and most of all their deep feelings A. Di Donna, Bloomsbury, 2009, 352 pp, erously made a donation to the meeting to towards their subject. £16.99, ISBN 978-0-747-59720-9. enable five bursaries for PhD students. These The book is aimed at the general public Logicomix is a full-colour ‘graphic nov- will consist of a full registration waiver and so the mathematicians try to avoid technical el’ on the life of Bertrand Russell and the £100 towards travel and subsistence. PhD stu- descriptions of their work. This produces foundations of mathematics. Although 347 dents are eligible if studying in the UK for a some beautiful comments such as: “Should I pages long, the format means that the book mathematics PhD. To be considered for one of explain what a lemma is? A mountain climber can be comfortably, and enjoyably, read in these bursaries contact J.R. Terry (J.R.Terry@ needs holds to get from one level to the next an afternoon. The story takes the form of bristol.ac.uk). one. Lemmas are the holds of mathemati- Bertrand Russell giving a talk on the story For further details about the meeting, in- cians.” There are, however, a few statements his own life and his search for mathemati- cluding the schedule and latest list of partici- which will have little meaning to the general cal certainty. This use of self-reference is just pants, visit the meeting web page at www. reader such as one mathematician speaking one of a number of clever techniques the enm.bris.ac.uk/anm/bm09. about “Carlos Simpson’s development of authors and artists use throughout the book.

December09-NL.indd 28 20/11/2009 16:45:02 No. 387 December 2009

REVIEWS a non-Abelian version of Hodge theory for Kähler Mathematicians: An outer view of the inner manifolds”. world by Mariana Cook, Princeton University All the featured mathe- Press, 2009, 208 pp, £24.95, $35.00, ISBN 978- maticians are winners of 0-691-13951-7. major awards and honours, This book features ninety-two leading although no attempt has mathematicians. For each mathematician a been made to list precisely photograph is given on the right-hand page the ‘top’ mathematicians of and an autobiographical account appears today. Although these ninety- on the left-hand page. The black-and-white two mathematicians come photographs are by Mariana Cook who has from many different coun- a high reputation for books of photographic tries and a wide variety of portraits. Cook superbly captures the charac- backgrounds, all but one of ter of these mathematicians in this stunning them is based in one of four collection of photographs. They are works of countries, the United States, art. The autobiographical texts vary greatly in Britain, France or Germany. In fact over 80% Another is that on a number of occasions the nature. Some mathematicians give details of are based in the United States. It is clear that narrative is interrupted by sections where the their career while others concentrate on how the choice has been somewhat biased by ease authors and artists argue over the nature 29 they became interested in the subject and of obtaining the portraits, yet clearly a very of the story, and how well it is being told. why they are so passionate about it. high proportion of the ‘top’ mathematicians Visually the book is very pleasing, and the The different approaches taken by each are based in the United States. Let me ask the narrative moves along well with good cov- mathematician not only gives us insight into reader to ponder: does this matter? erage of the major characters (such as the person but also make for a more inter- This large-format, coffee-table book, is a Whitehead, Wittgenstein, Gödel and Hilbert) esting book. Many draw parallels between joy to dip into. It will certainly help everyone and, given the genre of the book, appro- mathematics and composing music or writing who reads it glimpse into the world of mathe- priate explanations of mathematical ideas poetry. We read comments such as “In a way, matics and begin to understand the passion such as Hilbert’s Hotel, Russell’s paradox and doing mathematics feels like writing a novel that drives its creators. Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem. where your problem evolves like a live char- Edmund Robertson It must be noted however that this is a acter” and “Sitting in a good mathematics University of St Andrews graphic, historical, novel. Thus it does take lecture is like sitting in a good opera.” We liberties with the truth. Into the story the learn about the interaction between mathe- Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by A. authors weave meetings which never took maticians, about their joys and disappoint- Doxiadis, C.H. Papadimitriou, A. Papadatos, place (such as Russell meeting Cantor), or ments, and most of all their deep feelings A. Di Donna, Bloomsbury, 2009, 352 pp, events which Russell did not attend (such as towards their subject. £16.99, ISBN 978-0-747-59720-9. a lecture by Gödel). The authors are explicit The book is aimed at the general public Logicomix is a full-colour ‘graphic nov- about this, and in a section at the end of the so the mathematicians try to avoid technical el’ on the life of Bertrand Russell and the book entitled Logicomix and reality freely descriptions of their work. This produces foundations of mathematics. Although 347 confess that they have simplified facts, - in some beautiful comments such as: “Should I pages long, the format means that the book vented events and deviated from history, and explain what a lemma is? A mountain climber can be comfortably, and enjoyably, read in after giving some examples of where they had needs holds to get from one level to the next an afternoon. The story takes the form of done so remark that “Historically keen read- one. Lemmas are the holds of mathemati- Bertrand Russell giving a talk on the story ers can have fun locating many more such cians.” There are, however, a few statements his own life and his search for mathemati- deviations from fact” (p. 345). I have to admit which will have little meaning to the general cal certainty. This use of self-reference is just to initially being both irritated and suspicious reader such as one mathematician speaking one of a number of clever techniques the of a book that played ‘fast and loose’ with his- about “Carlos Simpson’s development of authors and artists use throughout the book. tory. However I quickly accepted the book on

December09-NL.indd 29 20/11/2009 16:45:06 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

its own terms, admitted that it was not aimed arrived at after considerable fine-tuning of the CALENDAR OF EVENTS at a middle-aged academic such as myself, parameters and colours, and are chosen for and got on with enjoying the broad sweep their aesthetic qualities, in many cases bearing This calendar lists Society meetings and of the narrative. I consider this an excellent startling resemblances to natural objects such other events publicised in the Newsletter. book. The format is eye-catching and novel, as flowers or snowflakes or to human artefacts Further information can be obtained from the and the material is pitched at a level which like floor tiles or stained glass windows. This appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number will engage and enthuse a teenage reader. I juxtaposition of visual art and mathematical is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings hope that it will find its way into many school images is purposeful, vividly making the point and events is given on the Society’s website libraries and Christmas stockings. that the mathematical processes can them- (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). Mark McCartney selves be powerful artistic tools. Not only have University of Ulster some of these images been adopted by others DECEMBER 2009 for decorative or symbolic use (for example the 1 Forward with Hoare, Joint LMS/BCS–FACS Symmetry in Chaos (2nd edition) by Michael IMA, Minneapolis, uses one for its logo) but the Evening Seminar, London (386) Field and Martin Golubitsky, SIAM, 2009, 199 authors have contributed to multidisciplinary 4 Paris–London Analysis Seminar, IHÉS, pp, $59.00, ISBN 978-0-898716-72-6. conferences such as Bridges (see Newsletter Paris (386) This beautiful book is 350) and Michael Field has 4-6 LMS–Belgian Mathematical Society an updated version of the taught courses on symmetry joint meeting, Leuven original 1992 publication. to art students. 8-9 Brian Davies 65th Birthday Conference, In addition to a general en- The authors aim to make 30 London (386) hancement of quality and the ideas in this book acces- 8-12 Operators and Operator Algebras colouring in the computer- sible to as wide an audience Conference, Edinburgh (382) generated images this edi- as possible, and therefore in 10 London Analysis Seminar, London (386) tion includes new material the text they introduce the 10-11 Aerodynamic Boundary Layers Meeting, on patterns on average and very basic concepts of sym- East Anglia (387) some additional diagrams metry and iteration as well 10-12 BrainModes 2009, Bristol (387) explaining the mathematics, as planar geometry using 11 Yorkshire and Durham Geometry Day, while the original appendix complex numbers. It is diffi- Durham (387) on now-outdated Basic pro- cult to imagine that a reader 12 Visual Representations in the grams has been removed. quite unfamiliar with mathe- Mathematical Sciences in the Early Modern The book shows three matics would be able to Period, BSHM Lecture, London (386) types of pattern generated by suitably follow the exposition all the way through 12 Just Infinite Profinite Branch Groups chosen dynamical systems in the plane with to contraction maps on a space of subsets of Meeting, Royal Holloway (386) symmetry: the icons arising from polygo- the plane (with symmetry thrown in), but the 14-16 Diverse Faces of Arithmetic, East nal symmetry, the quilts with planar lattice effort to provide a friendly introduction to Anglia (387) symmetry and the obtained from sym- these topics, motivated by the fascination of 14-18 Non-Abelian Fundamental Groups in metric iterated function systems. The strange the pictures, is laudable if not heroic. For a Arithmetic Geometry: Final Workshop, INI, forms of that can arise in planar mathematics student interested in the tech- Cambridge (386) dynamical systems have been studied since niques of symmetric chaos this exposition of the 1970s when computing power became the key ideas would be very helpful. readily available, and polygonal and planar Whether you understand the mathematics January 2010 symmetries have a long mathematical pedi- or not, however, the pictures are wonderful 4-8 Stochastic Partial Differential Equations gree – but when the two are combined, and repay much contemplation: an excellent Workshop, INI, Cambridge (383) together with careful colour-coding of - Christmas present for the more discerning 11-15 New Topics at the Interface Between densities, the results are more than the sum relative. Probability and Communications Workshop, of the parts and quite spectacular. David Chillingworth INI, Cambridge (383) The images chosen for the book have been University of Southampton

December09-NL.indd 30 20/11/2009 16:45:07 No. 387 December 2009

arrived at after considerable fine-tuning of the CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12 Code Breaking in Everyday Life, Gresham parameters and colours, and are chosen for College Public Lecture, Museum of London their aesthetic qualities, in many cases bearing This calendar lists Society meetings and (384) startling resemblances to natural objects such other events publicised in the Newsletter. 18-19 Feynman Path Integrals and their as flowers or snowflakes or to human artefacts Further information can be obtained from the Applications Meeting, Swansea (387) like floor tiles or stained glass windows. This appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number juxtaposition of visual art and mathematical is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings images is purposeful, vividly making the point and events is given on the Society’s website FEBRUARY 2010 that the mathematical processes can them- (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). 6 Undergraduate Mathematics Conference, selves be powerful artistic tools. Not only have London (387) some of these images been adopted by others DECEMBER 2009 9 Trains and Boats and Planes, Gresham for decorative or symbolic use (for example the 1 Forward with Hoare, Joint LMS/BCS–FACS College Public Lecture, Museum of London IMA, Minneapolis, uses one for its logo) but the Evening Seminar, London (386) (384) authors have contributed to multidisciplinary 4 Paris–London Analysis Seminar, IHÉS, 25-28 EUROMATH 2010 Student Conference, conferences such as Bridges (see Newsletter Paris (386) Bad Goisern, Austria (386) 350) and Michael Field has 4-6 LMS–Belgian Mathematical Society 26 LMS Mary Cartwright Lecture, Durham taught courses on symmetry joint meeting, Leuven (387) to art students. 8-9 Brian Davies 65th Birthday Conference, The authors aim to make London (386) 31 the ideas in this book acces- MARCH 2010 8-12 Operators and Operator Algebras sible to as wide an audience 3-5 Mixture Estimation and Applications Conference, Edinburgh (382) as possible, and therefore in 10 London Analysis Seminar, London (386) ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh (386) the text they introduce the 10-11 Aerodynamic Boundary Layers Meeting, 9 Maths and Sport, Gresham College Public very basic concepts of sym- East Anglia (387) Lecture, Museum of London (384) metry and iteration as well 10-12 BrainModes 2009, Bristol (387) 22-26 Stochastic Networks Workshop, INI, as planar geometry using 11 Yorkshire and Durham Geometry Day, Cambridge (386) complex numbers. It is diffi- Durham (387) cult to imagine that a reader 12 Visual Representations in the quite unfamiliar with mathe- APRIL 2010 Mathematical Sciences in the Early Modern matics would be able to 6-9 BMC/BAMC 2010, Edinburgh (387) Period, BSHM Lecture, London (386) follow the exposition all the way through 12 Just Infinite Profinite Branch Groups 6-9 BCME7, Manchester (385) to contraction maps on a space of subsets of Meeting, Royal Holloway (386) 6-9 Spatial Network Models for Wireless the plane (with symmetry thrown in), but the 14-16 Diverse Faces of Arithmetic, East Communications, INI, Cambridge (386) effort to provide a friendly introduction to Anglia (387) 12-14 Stochastics, Control and Finance these topics, motivated by the fascination of 14-18 Non-Abelian Fundamental Groups in Workshop, Imperial College London (387) the pictures, is laudable if not heroic. For a Arithmetic Geometry: Final Workshop, INI, 19-21 Mathematical Neuroscience Conference, mathematics student interested in the tech- Cambridge (386) ICMS, Edinburgh (386) niques of symmetric chaos this exposition of the key ideas would be very helpful. Whether you understand the mathematics January 2010 MAY 2010 or not, however, the pictures are wonderful 4-8 Stochastic Partial Differential Equations 10-14 Numerical Solution of the Painlevé and repay much contemplation: an excellent Workshop, INI, Cambridge (383) Equations ICMS Workshop, Edinburgh Christmas present for the more discerning 11-15 New Topics at the Interface Between (386) relative. Probability and Communications Workshop, 24-28 Uncertainty Quantification ICMS David Chillingworth INI, Cambridge (383) Workshop, Edinburgh (386) University of Southampton

December09-NL.indd 31 20/11/2009 16:45:07 G.B. MATHEWS LMS member 1887–1899 John Wickens, Upper Bangor, N. Wales John Wickens, Upper Bangor,

George Ballard Mathews, FRS LMS Council member 1897 , St John’s College, Cambridge, 1883 Fellow of St John’s College Specialised in number theory

December09-NL.indd 32 20/11/2009 16:45:08