THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER No. 376 December 2008

Society COUNCIL DIARY being new expenditure by the Programme Committee on grant Meetings 10 October 2008 support, including new funding and Events In another turbulent week in the for a scheme for supporting Post- financial markets, financial mat- graduate Research Conferences. 2008 ters dominated the first part of The next item, on policy relat- 12–13 December this Council meeting. Our first ing to Grant Criteria, on the face Joint Meeting with substantive business was approv- of it a minor matter, produced the Edinburgh ing the LMS accounts for 2007/08, lively and extended discussion. Mathematical Society the auditors pleasingly giving us The issue was one of a clash of Edinburgh [page 5] a clean bill of health while con- policies from two different areas. tinuing to flag that the current On the one hand the Programme 2009 position whereby the cost of Committee ‘does not normally  membership benefits exceeds the make grants to cover room hire’, Wednesday 14 January value of subscriptions needs grad- but on the other, a significant LMS Northern Regional ually to be addressed to bring the income stream is provided by hire Meeting, Manchester LMS in line with the Charities Act of De Morgan House conference [page 15] 2006. Our Treasurer reported on facilities. The proposal, passed Friday 27 February the state of our investments in eventually after a vote, was to Mary Cartwright the current climate, with real- change the rules to allow grant Lecture, London time updates through a FTSE 100 funding to be given if the room [page 19] feed to his laptop. The upshot of hire related to De Morgan House. his report and the discussion was Opposition included that of re- 31 March – 4 April that: (a) of course our assets have gional members who saw this as LMS Invited Lectures diminished in the current climate; a London bias (of course the LMS, Edinburgh (b) that we are legally obliged to despite its name, is a national so- Friday 3 July continue to take professional fi- ciety), and that of members who London nancial advice on our investment saw it as inconsistent to allow Wednesday 15 July decisions, and we will continue to funding for room hire at the LMS SW & South Wales receive that from Morgan Stanley; but not elsewhere. Lively discus- Regional Meeting (c) that the impact of diminish- sion followed also on a proposal Southampton ing assets is strongly filtered by to create a new Research Com- the ‘Yale model’ we use to draw mittee, and it was agreed to keep Wednesday down investment income, and in the current arrangements where- 16 September particular we saw no reason to re- by the LMS operates a Research Midlands Regional duce planned expenditure in the Policy Committee, but to look Meeting, Leicester 08/09 budget. We turned next to at ways of assisting and improv- discussing that budget, approving ing the operation of the existing additional expenditure suggested committee in carrying out its role by the Finance & General Purpos- of influencing national policy. es Committee, the largest item The meeting finished with

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NEWSLETTER

impressive presentations by two committee Don’t let a non-vote to preserve the very positive aspects of both chairs, Gwyneth Stallard of the Women in existing bodies – as the two Councils are. It was Mathematics Committee, and June Barrow- become a No vote! gratifying to see how many colleagues had read Green our Librarian, on the work of their com- October and November were hectic months for the NUMS document in detail. They asked in- mittees. Gwyneth started her presentation the Presidents and Executive Secretaries of LMS teresting and very important questions about with depressing statistics about female repre- and IMA. In all, we visited 21 universities, plus both the rationale for and structure of a New sentation in mathematics careers: while 40% one research establishment, to advertise and dis- Mathematical Society. A number of queries of undergraduates are women, and numbers cuss the proposal for a New Unified Mathemati- have been crystallised into a set of FAQs that at PhD level are strong, only 4% of UK profes- cal Society (NUMS). We were joined on various are available on our NUMS website (http://www. sors are women. One action being taken by her legs of our journey by a most able set of sup- newmathsoc.org.uk). This site, available by click- committee is the forthcoming introduction, porters, including Charles Evans, Charles Goldie, ing the link on the home page of either Society, via Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sci- Chris Linton, Peter Rowlett and Nigel Steele. Our also contains other useful information for mem- ences (HoDoMS), of a version, for mathematics sincere thanks go out to them, to the IMA and bers including relevant reports, documents and departments, of the Institute of Physics Juno LMS secretariats who organised everything so articles, a forum for discussing your views with Code of Practice. This will work to encourage efficiently and effectively, and to all the depart- others, and contact details for sending queries best practice in the recruitment and treat- ments for their hospitality and for the time and to us directly. ment of female students and staff, through trouble taken over our visits. It was incumbent on us, on behalf of our the adoption and monitoring of appropriate The purpose of our ‘roadshow’ was to explain Councils, to attempt to speak in person to as  departmental procedures and structures. June the reasoning that led both Councils to commend many members as possible on such an important described the many aspects of the work of the proposal to their respective memberships. matter. Nevertheless, despite our best efforts in the Library Committee in maintaining library Each meeting consisted of a short presentation putting together our NUMS tour, we will prob- and archive collections at De Morgan House followed by an interesting, and often lively, ably only have managed to meet some 5% of and University College London. The Council debate. Naturally, opinions ranged widely. We the combined membership. Therefore, we have is grateful to both committees for their very observed that many members of the audiences placed a recording of a typical presentation effective efforts. could see the merits of a larger and more effective (broken into a sequence of short videos) on the Simon Chandler-Wilde society, and that they were naturally concerned NUMS website. If you feel that you need more in- formation on the reasoning behind the proposal for a NUMS then we urge you to view these pres- LMS Newsletter entations. We would also welcome feedback on General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) any of the points raised in the videos, and indeed on the NUMS document itself. Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) We Presidents discovered many things on our Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) sojourns: that late summer sunshine can quickly Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) degenerate into squally gales and even snow; Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, that the quality of hotel accommodation in the London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) British Isles is not what it could be (yet the beer Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. in general is surprisingly good); that student numbers at our sample selection of universities Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. are buoyant; that trains are expensive and over- crowded but now pretty reliable. We also discov- News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, ered that we have quite distinct views on the time although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The of day appropriate for drinking tea and coffee, LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed and the level of spice required in Eastern food; do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. however, our views on the necessity for our com- Charity registration number: 252660. munity to unite within a single New Society have not wavered throughout the duration of our

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Don’t let a non-vote to preserve the very positive aspects of both ‘roadshow’. Why do we, and a substantial ma- existing bodies – as the two Councils are. It was jority of those who have sat on the respective become a No vote! gratifying to see how many colleagues had read Councils of LMS and IMA over the past few years, October and November were hectic months for the NUMS document in detail. They asked in- feel this so strongly? Primarily, it is the view that the Presidents and Executive Secretaries of LMS teresting and very important questions about mathematics is a single subject, a continuum and IMA. In all, we visited 21 universities, plus both the rationale for and structure of a New ranging from the very pure to the applied, and one research establishment, to advertise and dis- Mathematical Society. A number of queries that our community is a single entity that is best cuss the proposal for a New Unified Mathemati- have been crystallised into a set of FAQs that served by a single strong and effective Math- cal Society (NUMS). We were joined on various are available on our NUMS website (http://www. ematical Society. A few figures show that we are legs of our journey by a most able set of sup- newmathsoc.org.uk). This site, available by click- not attracting many potential colleagues inside porters, including Charles Evans, Charles Goldie, ing the link on the home page of either Society, and outside academe – nationally, the UK takes Chris Linton, Peter Rowlett and Nigel Steele. Our also contains other useful information for mem- in some 4,500 students each year to study math- sincere thanks go out to them, to the IMA and bers including relevant reports, documents and ematical sciences degrees, yet the combined LMS secretariats who organised everything so articles, a forum for discussing your views with membership of IMA and LMS is under 8,000. In efficiently and effectively, and to all the depart- others, and contact details for sending queries comparison, the subject disciplines of physics and 2 ments for their hospitality and for the time and to us directly. chemistry each take in some /3 of the number trouble taken over our visits. It was incumbent on us, on behalf of our of students each year that we do in mathemat- The purpose of our ‘roadshow’ was to explain Councils, to attempt to speak in person to as ics, yet their representative societies, namely the reasoning that led both Councils to commend many members as possible on such an important the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of  the proposal to their respective memberships. matter. Nevertheless, despite our best efforts in Chemistry, have membership numbers exceeding Each meeting consisted of a short presentation putting together our NUMS tour, we will prob- 30,000. We could and should do much better. followed by an interesting, and often lively, ably only have managed to meet some 5% of Similarly, the USA has five times the popula- debate. Naturally, opinions ranged widely. We the combined membership. Therefore, we have tion of the UK, but the American Mathematical observed that many members of the audiences placed a recording of a typical presentation Society is over 12 times the size of the LMS! On could see the merits of a larger and more effective (broken into a sequence of short videos) on the this last point, during our ‘roadshow’ we were society, and that they were naturally concerned NUMS website. If you feel that you need more in- often asked why we needed to merge when formation on the reasoning behind the proposal AMS and SIAM happily coexist. It should be for a NUMS then we urge you to view these pres- pointed out that both societies have a much LMS Newsletter entations. We would also welcome feedback on broader membership base than LMS currently General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) any of the points raised in the videos, and indeed has and that the boundary between them is sub- on the NUMS document itself. stantially different from that between the LMS Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) We Presidents discovered many things on our and IMA. AMS provides support for core research Reviews Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) sojourns: that late summer sunshine can quickly activities, spanning pure through applied math- Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) degenerate into squally gales and even snow; ematics and including mathematical history and Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, that the quality of hotel accommodation in the education, but also devotes much of its efforts on London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655; e: [email protected], w: www.lms.ac.uk) British Isles is not what it could be (yet the beer public engagement and outreach activities, ad- Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. in general is surprisingly good); that student vocacy, and education. Both IMA and LMS have numbers at our sample selection of universities had to apply increasing resource over the last Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. are buoyant; that trains are expensive and over- 15 or more years to these latter roles too, as the crowded but now pretty reliable. We also discov- external pressures on our subject have increased. News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, ered that we have quite distinct views on the time This has necessarily led the two societies to work although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author for the rights to reproduce. The of day appropriate for drinking tea and coffee, ever more closely in order to stave off the many LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed and the level of spice required in Eastern food; threats to the health and vitality of our discipline do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. however, our views on the necessity for our com- – for example, from the closures of mathemat- Charity registration number: 252660. munity to unite within a single New Society have ics departments nationally, from the reduction not wavered throughout the duration of our in core mathematical skills of school students,

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NEWSLETTER

and from changes in funding mechanisms from can be a difficult and sensitive exercise. It was both EPSRC and the Higher Education Funding decided that, as the future of the two societies Councils. In a world where short-termism is the should be driven by considerations of the best in- order of the day, and all disciplines must justify terests for mathematics rather than preferences continued support (nationally and at university on names, this should be the subject of a sepa- level) through their impact and exploitability, we rate ballot of members. This ballot, offering two have to work collectively to ensure the long-term options for the New Society’s name, will be held survival of the core elements of our subject! We only if the result of the first is in favour of the cre- do not believe that it is too strong to say that ation of a New Society. Currently, suggestions for the very survival of non-applications orientated the two names are ‘Royal Society for Mathemat- research (i.e. traditional pure mathematical re- ics’ and ‘British Mathematical Society’. Members search) depends on our convincing government should feel free to send us alternative names that of its continuing need. A New Mathematical they would prefer to see on the ballot paper. Society has better prospects of doing this be- David Abrahams, President of IMA cause it will have the organisation and scale to Brian Davies, President of LMS set the mathematical agenda rather than always being reactive to threats. It will be able to offer DAVID CRIGHTON MEDAL practising mathematicians in academe, industry 2009  and commerce, schools and FE colleges, under- graduates and postgraduates a more relevant The David Crighton Medal was established by organisation that can better provide support for the Councils of the IMA and LMS in 2002 in order and between its constituent groups. In the latter to pay tribute to the memory of Professor David regard, we expect the New Society to have a more George Crighton, FRS. active regional/branch structure for members, as The silver-gilt medal will be awarded to an well as encouraging special interest groups. eminent mathematician for services both to In order to determine whether a New Math- mathematics and to the mathematical com- ematical Society should be formed, all members munity, who is normally resident in the math- of LMS and IMA will be balloted separately by ematical community represented by the two post early in the New Year. Each Society requires organisations on 1 January of the year of the a majority vote in favour of such a motion in or- award. The award is considered triennially by der for it to be carried, but this will be followed the Councils of the Societies. The medal-winner by (different) procedures requiring formal Gen- is presented with the award at a joint meeting eral Meetings. However, if either majority vote is of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applica- based on ballot numbers that represent a small tions and the London Mathematical Society, and percentage of the membership then that may be will be invited to give a lecture. insufficient to persuade the relevant government The first Medal was awarded to Sir John Ball, bodies to permit the IMA and LMS to form the FRS, and the second to Sir Christopher Zeeman, New Society and transfer their assets to it. That FRS. is, unreturned ballot papers may well have the Nominations are invited. These should be same effect, intentionally or unintentionally, as made on a nomination form available on either No votes! Hence, we urge all members to express Society’s website or from Lynn.Webster@ima. their views on this most important matter by re- org.uk. Nominations must be received by 28 turning their ballot papers; we are most keen to February 2009. receive a clear decision from both LMS and IMA The David Crighton Medal Committee will be memberships. established in 2009, chaired by the Presidents of Finally, we are aware that naming a New Society the two Societies.

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can be a difficult and sensitive exercise. It was decided that, as the future of the two societies should be driven by considerations of the best in- EDINBURGH MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY terests for mathematics rather than preferences on names, this should be the subject of a sepa- LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY rate ballot of members. This ballot, offering two options for the New Society’s name, will be held JOINT MEETING only if the result of the first is in favour of the cre- ation of a New Society. Currently, suggestions for Group Theory the two names are ‘Royal Society for Mathemat- ics’ and ‘British Mathematical Society’. Members Edinburgh should feel free to send us alternative names that they would prefer to see on the ballot paper. Friday and Saturday 12–13 December 2008 David Abrahams, President of IMA Brian Davies, President of LMS A joint meeting of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society and the London Mathematical Society will take place on 12–13 December 2008. The meeting will be held in Lecture DAVID CRIGHTON MEDAL Theatre C, School of Mathematics, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King’s Buildings, 2009 University of Edinburgh. The topic of the meeting is Group Theory.  The David Crighton Medal was established by Friday the Councils of the IMA and LMS in 2002 in order to pay tribute to the memory of Professor David 2.45 pm EMS/LMS business George Crighton, FRS. 3.00 pm (Neuchâtel) The silver-gilt medal will be awarded to an Alain Valette eminent mathematician for services both to The Haagerup property and its stability properties mathematics and to the mathematical com- 4.00 pm Tea munity, who is normally resident in the math- ematical community represented by the two 4.30 pm Efim Zelmanov (San Diego) organisations on 1 January of the year of the Asymptotic properties of finite groups and finite-dimensional award. The award is considered triennially by algebras the Councils of the Societies. The medal-winner is presented with the award at a joint meeting Saturday of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applica- tions and the London Mathematical Society, and 10.00 am Laurent Bartholdi (Göttingen) will be invited to give a lecture. Automatically presented groups The first Medal was awarded to Sir John Ball, 11.00 am Coffee FRS, and the second to Sir Christopher Zeeman, FRS. 11.30 pm Martin Bridson (Oxford) Nominations are invited. These should be Dimension, rigidity and fixed point theorems made on a nomination form available on either Society’s website or from Lynn.Webster@ima. There will be a dinner on the Friday evening. org.uk. Nominations must be received by 28 February 2009. For more information, and to register and book for the dinner, either visit the website The David Crighton Medal Committee will be www-groups.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~colva/edconf.html or contact Tom Lenagan (tom@maths. established in 2009, chaired by the Presidents of ed.ac.uk). the two Societies.

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NEWSLETTER

ROYAL COMMISSION FOR be received by 5 pm Thursday 19 February 2009. Appointments to the Fellowship will THE EXHIBITION OF 1851 be made during June 2009. Fellowships Research Fellowships commence at the beginning of October in the year of award. The scheme of 1851 Research Fellowships is intended to give a few PhD-level scien- tists or engineers of outstanding promise SPITALFIELDS DAYS the opportunity for conducting research for a further period. Previously for two In 1987, the London Mathematical Society years, these fellowships from 2009 will instituted a series of occasional meet- be awarded for three years, providing an ings called Spitalfields Days. The name exceptional opportunity for PhD gradu- honours our predecessor, the Spitalfields ates to pursue further research at the Mathematical Society, which flourished highest level. Approximately eight awards from 1717 to 1845. are made each year. A Spitalfields Day is usually associated The Fellowships are open to candidates with a long-term symposium on some spe- in any of the physical or biological sciences, cialist topic at a UK university. One of the  in mathematics, in applied science, or in symposium organizers is asked to arrange any branch of engineering. Candidates in a one-day meeting at which selected par- science subjects should normally have re- ticipants, often distinguished experts from cently obtained their PhD degree, or be overseas, will give survey lectures on topics in the final stages of their PhD studies. in the field of the symposium or other types Those offering engineering do not have of lecture accessible to a general mathe- to be in possession of a PhD, but must be matical audience. These meetings are pub- of at least PhD standard. licized in the Newsletter and all members The Research Fellowship stipend pay- are invited to attend. able in 2009 is £28,500 for the first year, The standard grant for a Spitalfields and £30,000 for the second and third Day is £500 and is intended to meet actual years. In addition a London (Overseas) supplementary costs associated with the Weighting of £2,500 per annum is pay- event (for example, cost of a subsidy for a able in appropriate cases. Stipends are lunch for participants and administrative reviewed annually. costs). We also encourage grant holders A candidate must be a citizen of the to make some of it available in the form United Kingdom or the Commonwealth, of small (£50) travel grants to enable LMS or of the Republics of Ireland or Pakistan. members and research students to attend He or she should either have spent at the event. least two out of the past three years Anyone involved in running a symposium at a UK Institution, or be intending to who would be interested in organizing hold the Fellowship at a UK Institution, a Spitalfields Day is invited to write to or both. Dr S.A. Huggett, Programme Secretary at Applications are made online via the the Society ([email protected]). The format website www.royalcommission1851.org need not be precisely as described, but and must include two references, plus cer- should be in a similar spirit. For examples tification from the institution at which the of previous Spitalfields Days visit www. Fellowship is to be held. Applications must lms.ac.uk/meetings/spitalfields.html.

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be received by 5 pm Thursday 19 February 2009. Appointments to the Fellowship will be made during June 2009. Fellowships commence at the beginning of October in the year of award.

SPITALFIELDS DAYS

In 1987, the London Mathematical Society instituted a series of occasional meet- ings called Spitalfields Days. The name honours our predecessor, the Spitalfields Mathematical Society, which flourished from 1717 to 1845. A Spitalfields Day is usually associated with a long-term symposium on some spe- cialist topic at a UK university. One of the symposium organizers is asked to arrange  a one-day meeting at which selected par- ticipants, often distinguished experts from overseas, will give survey lectures on topics in the field of the symposium or other types of lecture accessible to a general mathe- matical audience. These meetings are pub- licized in the Newsletter and all members are invited to attend. The standard grant for a Spitalfields Day is £500 and is intended to meet actual supplementary costs associated with the event (for example, cost of a subsidy for a lunch for participants and administrative costs). We also encourage grant holders to make some of it available in the form of small (£50) travel grants to enable LMS members and research students to attend the event. Anyone involved in running a symposium who would be interested in organizing a Spitalfields Day is invited to write to Dr S.A. Huggett, Programme Secretary at the Society ([email protected]). The format need not be precisely as described, but should be in a similar spirit. For examples of previous Spitalfields Days visit www. lms.ac.uk/meetings/spitalfields.html.

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NEWSLETTER

LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY PRIZES 2009 The Whitehead Prizes are awarded for work in and influence on mathematics – Council has In 2009, Council expects to award the Pólya The Pólya Prize is awarded in those years, not emphasised that this includes all aspects of math- Prize, the Senior Whitehead Prize, the Berwick numbered by a multiple of three, in which the ematics, applied mathematics, mathematical Prize, up to four Whitehead Prizes and the Naylor De Morgan Medal is not available for award, physics and mathematical aspects of computer Prize and Lectureship in Applied Mathematics. in recognition of outstanding creativity in, science. Candidates for the 2009 prizes must, on Nominations should be made by completing imaginative exposition of, or distinguished 1 January 2009, (i) be either normally resident in the designated form, which is available to down- contribution to, mathematics within the United the United Kingdom or members of the Society load from the LMS website (www.lms.ac.uk) or Kingdom. The Prize may not be awarded to mainly educated in the United Kingdom, (ii) not can be obtained by contacting the Secretary to any person who has previously received the De be Fellows of the Royal Society, and (iii) either the Prizes Committee at the Society (tel: 020 Morgan Medal. The Prize is awarded in mem- have fewer than 15 years (full-time equivalent) 7927 0801, email: [email protected]). Nomina- ory of Professor G. Pólya, who was a Member of involvement in mathematics at postdoctoral tions should be received no later than Friday (and later Honorary Member) of the Society for level, allowing for breaks in continuity, or, in 23 January 2009. about 60 years. the opinion of the Prizes Committee, be at an The Prizes Committee is keen to increase the The Senior Whitehead Prize is awarded in equivalent stage in their career. A Whitehead number of nominations it receives, and would odd-numbered years; the grounds for the Prize may not be awarded to anyone who has like to draw attention to the disproportionably award may include work in, influence on or won any of the Society’s other Prizes. low numbers of women nominated for prizes service to mathematics, or recognition of lec- The Naylor Prize and Lectureship in Applied  each year. The prize regulations were recently turing gifts in the field of mathematics. The Mathematics is awarded in odd-numbered amended to replace age restrictions with the Senior Whitehead Prize for 2009 can only be years; the grounds for the award may include concept of ‘academic age’ in order to take ac- awarded to a mathematician who is normally work in, and influence on, and contributions count more fully of broken career patterns. Also, resident in the United Kingdom on 1 January to applied mathematics and/or the applications in order to encourage proposals for candidates, 2009 and may not be awarded to any person of mathematics, and lecturing gifts. The Naylor nominations need not describe in detail the can- who has previously received the De Morgan Prize for 2009 can only be awarded to a math- didate’s work, as detailed references for those Medal, Pólya Prize, Senior Berwick Prize or the ematician who is normally resident in the Unit- shortlisted will be sought; what is important is Naylor Prize. The prize is in memory of Professor ed Kingdom on 1 January 2009 and who has that the ‘Case for Award’ section of the nomina- J.H.C. Whitehead, a former President of the not previously received the De Morgan Medal, tion form should be completed in approximately Society. the Pólya Prize, the Senior Berwick Prize or the 500 words. Council has emphasised that the The Berwick Prize is awarded in odd-numbered Senior Whitehead Prize. The winner of the scope of the Society’s Prizes includes all aspects years in recognition of an outstanding piece of Naylor Prize for year 2009 is normally invited of mathematics, and that this includes applied mathematical research actually published by to give the Naylor Lecture at a Society meeting mathematics, mathematical physics and math- the Society during the eight years ending on in the year 2010. The prize is in memory of ematical aspects of computer science. 31 December 2008. The Berwick Prize for 2009 Dr V.D. Naylor. Brief descriptions of the criteria for each Prize can only be awarded to a mathematician who, are given below. Council reserves the right not on 1 January 2009, is a member of the Society, STAFF AND OFFICES AT to make an award of any particular Prize in the is not already a Fellow of the Royal Society, and event that no candidate of sufficient merit is has fewer than 15 years (full-time equivalent) DE MORGAN HOUSE recommended by the Prizes Committee. Nomi- of involvement in mathematics at postdoctoral In the last issue of the Newsletter we reported that nators should note that, in each case, current level, allowing for breaks in continuity, or who Susan Oakes would be retiring at the end of the Members of Council or the Prizes Committee in the opinion of the Prizes Committee is at year; plans to recognise her long service and con- may not be considered for the prize, and that an equivalent stage in their career. It may not tributions to the Society are in hand. 2008 saw the no-one may be awarded the same prize more be awarded to any person who has previous- 10th anniversary of several staff who joined Susan than once. A list of previous winners appears in ly received the De Morgan Medal, the Senior and Sylvia Daly soon after we acquired De Mor- the Handbook and on the LMS website. The full Berwick Prize, the Senior Whitehead Prize, the gan House: Susan Hezlet, Publisher; Ephrem Belay, regulations for each prize can be obtained from Naylor Prize or a Whitehead Prize. The prize is Accounts Officer; and Lee-Anne Parker, Recep- the Society (contact details as above). named after Professor W.E.H. Berwick. tionist. We thank them all for their commitment

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LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY PRIZES 2009 The Whitehead Prizes are awarded for work and dedication to the Society and its work. in and influence on mathematics – Council has A new staff member, Antony Bastiani, has joined The Pólya Prize is awarded in those years, not emphasised that this includes all aspects of math- the Society in September for a one-year period, numbered by a multiple of three, in which the ematics, applied mathematics, mathematical working on research policy, education, prizes and De Morgan Medal is not available for award, physics and mathematical aspects of computer the Library. He is supporting David Larman and the in recognition of outstanding creativity in, science. Candidates for the 2009 prizes must, on Research Policy Committee to enhance the Society’s imaginative exposition of, or distinguished 1 January 2009, (i) be either normally resident in policy work, its input to CMS and its effectiveness in contribution to, mathematics within the United the United Kingdom or members of the Society national debate. He is also providing the secretariat Kingdom. The Prize may not be awarded to mainly educated in the United Kingdom, (ii) not to the Education, Prizes and Library Committees. any person who has previously received the De be Fellows of the Royal Society, and (iii) either After 10 years in De Morgan House, with the Morgan Medal. The Prize is awarded in mem- have fewer than 15 years (full-time equivalent) changes in staffing and in the range of activities, ory of Professor G. Pólya, who was a Member of involvement in mathematics at postdoctoral it was decided to review the use of rooms, to use (and later Honorary Member) of the Society for level, allowing for breaks in continuity, or, in them more effectively and to get a better group- about 60 years. the opinion of the Prizes Committee, be at an ing of staff. As a result, most staff members have The Senior Whitehead Prize is awarded in equivalent stage in their career. A Whitehead moved their offices – if you are visiting De Mor- odd-numbered years; the grounds for the Prize may not be awarded to anyone who has gan House and wish to see a staff member, then award may include work in, influence on or won any of the Society’s other Prizes. please ask at Reception to be directed to the staff service to mathematics, or recognition of lec- The Naylor Prize and Lectureship in Applied member’s new office. turing gifts in the field of mathematics. The Mathematics is awarded in odd-numbered As a result of the room moves, the Verblunsky  Senior Whitehead Prize for 2009 can only be years; the grounds for the award may include Room, with facilities for members including email ter- awarded to a mathematician who is normally work in, and influence on, and contributions minals, has moved to Room 23 on the Second Floor. resident in the United Kingdom on 1 January to applied mathematics and/or the applications Room 12 on the First Floor (directly accessible from 2009 and may not be awarded to any person of mathematics, and lecturing gifts. The Naylor the main staircase) has now become the Cartwright who has previously received the De Morgan Prize for 2009 can only be awarded to a math- Room, used mainly for LMS committee meetings. Medal, Pólya Prize, Senior Berwick Prize or the ematician who is normally resident in the Unit- Naylor Prize. The prize is in memory of Professor ed Kingdom on 1 January 2009 and who has COMBINATORICS J.H.C. Whitehead, a former President of the not previously received the De Morgan Medal, Society. the Pólya Prize, the Senior Berwick Prize or the The 2009 Open University Winter Combina- The Berwick Prize is awarded in odd-numbered Senior Whitehead Prize. The winner of the torics Meeting (the tenth in the series) will be years in recognition of an outstanding piece of Naylor Prize for year 2009 is normally invited held on Wednesday 28 January 2009 in the mathematical research actually published by to give the Naylor Lecture at a Society meeting Christodoulou Meeting Room 11 (CMR 11) on the Society during the eight years ending on in the year 2010. The prize is in memory of the Open University campus in Milton Keynes. 31 December 2008. The Berwick Prize for 2009 Dr V.D. Naylor. All are welcome and coffee will be available can only be awarded to a mathematician who, from 10.00 am. The speakers are: on 1 January 2009, is a member of the Society, STAFF AND OFFICES AT • Peter Cameron (Queen Mary, London) is not already a Fellow of the Royal Society, and • Fedor Fomin (Bergen) has fewer than 15 years (full-time equivalent) DE MORGAN HOUSE • Tim Gowers (Cambridge) of involvement in mathematics at postdoctoral In the last issue of the Newsletter we reported that • Jan van den Heuvel (LSE) level, allowing for breaks in continuity, or who Susan Oakes would be retiring at the end of the • Gareth Jones (Southampton) in the opinion of the Prizes Committee is at year; plans to recognise her long service and con- • Edita Máèajová (Comenius, Bratislava) an equivalent stage in their career. It may not tributions to the Society are in hand. 2008 saw the For further information visit http://wcm. be awarded to any person who has previous- 10th anniversary of several staff who joined Susan open.ac.uk, or contact Terry Griggs (t.s.griggs@ ly received the De Morgan Medal, the Senior and Sylvia Daly soon after we acquired De Mor- open.ac.uk) or Kathleen Quinn (k.a.s.quinn@ Berwick Prize, the Senior Whitehead Prize, the gan House: Susan Hezlet, Publisher; Ephrem Belay, open.ac.uk). The organisers gratefully ac- Naylor Prize or a Whitehead Prize. The prize is Accounts Officer; and Lee-Anne Parker, Recep- knowledge the support of the British Combi- named after Professor W.E.H. Berwick. tionist. We thank them all for their commitment natorial Committee.

December08-NL.indd 9 25/11/2008 15:21:11 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Mark Ware, a publishing consultant and is needed for LMS journals to flour- a former director of the Institute of Phys- ish in this environment and the groups STRATEGIC AWAYDAY ics Publishing, acted as Facilitator for the came up with many overlapping ideas. Everyone involved in academic writing Awayday. Discussions started with a re- Effective peer review is undoubtedly of or publishing knows that the publishing view of the current position of LMS jour- paramount importance. A panel of inter- environment is changing rapidly, with a nals, for which a great deal of statistical nationally renowned editors is needed variety of models for electronic journals, and factual data had been collected. The to attract top quality papers but more open access arrangements, the arXiv, fact that publications provide two thirds editorial advisers might be needed to etc. of LMS income is crucial, and with 90% support a broad coverage. It is important Although the LMS Publications Com- of that from overseas the needs of the that the LMS content be easily discover- mittee meets regularly, its meetings tend international community are important. able with good cross-reference linking. to fill with routine matters such as edi- It was noted that there is a high (70%) The wastefulness of rejecting good pa- torial appointments and pricing, leaving rejection rate for papers, with many pa- pers should be avoided, with the crite- little time to take a strategic overview of pers that are highly recommended by rion for acceptance based on quality publishing directions. Thus it was decid- referees and advisers rejected owing to rather than on page numbers. ed to hold an Awayday in early October the fixed page numbers, something that The groups came up with remarkably to allow time to consider the future of is wasteful and frustrating and some- similar models that might be adopted to LMS publications. For this, the Commit- times seen as arbitrary; if a paper is to be achieve this. The major conclusion was 10 tee was joined at Devonport House in rejected this should be done as quickly that there should be one journal devoted Greenwich by several other editors and as possible. Although the formal ‘impact to papers of the highest quality by world editorial advisers and two outside spe- factors’ of the journals are low, the online standards with world leaders as editors. cialists in academic publishing. usage is very high. The number of papers Other very good papers would be pub- The meeting began with a fascinating with preprint versions on the arXiv has lished in a second journal with the cri- presentation by Rhonda Oliver, Manag- increased to about 50% and this seems terion purely one of quality and with a ing Director of Portland Press, describing beneficial in the visibility of the papers her involvement in relaunching the Bio- that are published. The importance of chemical Journal in a ‘21st century’ on- an efficient and effective editorial and line format. The main journal is split into paper management system was noted. seven ‘Knowledge Environments’ which The discussions moved to the many might be regarded as separate subject external drivers that are likely to affect area journals. Papers appear on the day the future of mathematics journals. The of acceptance and are linked to anima- more obvious ones include the declin- tions, interactive structures, data, etc. ing role of paper versions, that many There is easy navigation between cita- papers are easily accessible in preprint tions and references both within the pa- form, open access pressures and the im- per and to webpages of cited articles. portance of publishing in peer-review There is a comprehensive search facil- journals for getting jobs or promotion. ity and a number of devices are used to The effects of interdisciplinary funding, ensure that the journal has a very high ‘atomisation’ (that a reader will under- internet visibility. Financially this ven- stand a very small subset of papers), the ture has been very successful. Whilst demand for easy searching, the increas- not all these features may be appropri- ing difficulty in finding referees and the ate for mathematics, the presentation cost of the refereeing and editing proc- showed how a modern journal can add ess, and the use of metrics for research considerable value to the basic text of assessment are all also significant. its papers. Small group sessions considered what Awayday participants

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Mark Ware, a publishing consultant and is needed for LMS journals to flour- separate editorial board. Of course the a former director of the Institute of Phys- ish in this environment and the groups journals should make the most of the fa- ics Publishing, acted as Facilitator for the came up with many overlapping ideas. cilities available with modern electronic Awayday. Discussions started with a re- Effective peer review is undoubtedly of publishing to provide ‘added value’ to view of the current position of LMS jour- paramount importance. A panel of inter- the individual manuscripts. nals, for which a great deal of statistical nationally renowned editors is needed These are certainly interesting times and factual data had been collected. The to attract top quality papers but more for publications and I found the Away- fact that publications provide two thirds editorial advisers might be needed to day quite an eye-opener - the above of LMS income is crucial, and with 90% support a broad coverage. It is important summary mentions only a very few of of that from overseas the needs of the that the LMS content be easily discover- the varied ideas and possibilities raised. international community are important. able with good cross-reference linking. A working group comprising Jim Ander- It was noted that there is a high (70%) The wastefulness of rejecting good pa- son, John Greenlees, Susan Hezlet and rejection rate for papers, with many pa- pers should be avoided, with the crite- Marc Lackenby will follow up the Away- pers that are highly recommended by rion for acceptance based on quality day and draft a description and rough referees and advisers rejected owing to rather than on page numbers. business plan of a new model - this will the fixed page numbers, something that The groups came up with remarkably doubtless require many iterations. Our is wasteful and frustrating and some- similar models that might be adopted to journals have a distinguished history times seen as arbitrary; if a paper is to be achieve this. The major conclusion was and it is hoped the Awayday marked the rejected this should be done as quickly that there should be one journal devoted start of a process that will ensure that 11 as possible. Although the formal ‘impact to papers of the highest quality by world they will continue to have a major place factors’ of the journals are low, the online standards with world leaders as editors. in the mathematics community in the usage is very high. The number of papers Other very good papers would be pub- future. with preprint versions on the arXiv has lished in a second journal with the cri- Kenneth Falconer increased to about 50% and this seems terion purely one of quality and with a LMS Publications Secretary beneficial in the visibility of the papers that are published. The importance of an efficient and effective editorial and paper management system was noted. The discussions moved to the many external drivers that are likely to affect the future of mathematics journals. The more obvious ones include the declin- ing role of paper versions, that many papers are easily accessible in preprint form, open access pressures and the im- portance of publishing in peer-review journals for getting jobs or promotion. The effects of interdisciplinary funding, ‘atomisation’ (that a reader will under- stand a very small subset of papers), the demand for easy searching, the increas- ing difficulty in finding referees and the cost of the refereeing and editing proc- ess, and the use of metrics for research assessment are all also significant. Small group sessions considered what Awayday participants

December08-NL.indd 11 25/11/2008 15:21:13 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

MATHEMATICS POLICY involved in public engagement activities, PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE such as the EPSRC media fellowships. The ROUND-UP response also drew attention to problems Professor Marcus du Sautoy has been ap- Student numbers in mathematics and other for classroom teachers and suggested that pointed to the Charles Simonyi Chair for the ‘strategically important and vulnerable more information about how mathematics Public Understanding of Science at the Uni- subjects’ (SIVS) such as physics and chemis- is used in industry and financial institutions versity of Oxford. The chair is held jointly try are now growing rather than declining, would help public understanding. To see between the Department for according to the Higher Education Funding the response, go to www.mathspromotion. Continuing Education and Council for England (Hefce). The Funding org.uk. the post-holder’s disciplinary Council announced that in 2008/09, univer- Future Morph, a new careers site to department in the University – sities had accepted 8.1% more students to help school students considering the value in this case, the Mathematical study the mathematical sciences compared of science, technology, engineering and Institute. to the previous year, following a trend of mathematics in their careers, went live in Commenting on his ap- increases over recent years (although this November. The creation of the site was pointment, Professor du must be taken in the context of overall ex- led by the Science Council in partnership Sautoy said, “I think that pansion of the university sector over this with the Department for Children, Schools mathematics is a fantastic period – as a proportion of overall student and Families and others. The site will be choice for the Simonyi chair. numbers, the BBC website calculated that a resource for students, but also teachers, Mathematics is the language 12 mathematical sciences have increased by careers advisers and parents, aiming to of science. It is at the heart of 1.4%). Despite this, following Hefce’s re- answer the question “Why study science physics, chemistry and much view this year, mathematics remains on the and maths?” The site www.futuremorph. of biology which makes it a SIVS list. The three-year more maths grads org will work alongside the existing Careers great platform for engaging project, which is part of Hefce’s £350 million from Maths site www.mathscareers.org.uk. the public in science.” programme to help the SIVS, will become Caroline Davis The aim of the Professorship is to “commu- part of the £20 million next stage national Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer nicate science to the public without, in doing programme for mathemat- so, losing those elements of scholarship which ics, physics, chemistry and constitute the essence of true understanding”. engineering due to begin The chair-holder does not have substantial in 2009. teaching or administrative workloads, but in- The Mathematics Pro- stead is expected to carry on with their research motion Unit submitted a programme whilst also giving public lectures, response on behalf of the writing articles and books, making television LMS and the IMA to the and radio appearances and travelling widely. government’s A vision for At present, Professor du Sautoy is an EPSRC Science and Society con- media fellow, which has a similar emphasis on sultation. The response research and communication. For his new role, underlined the importance he has underlined his commitment to continuing of mathematics being his own high-level academic research in number part of government think- theory and symmetry. He added, “At the same ing on science and society time, I am passionately dedicated to giving as and drew attention to the many people as possible access to the exciting many mathematical public and beautiful world of mathematics and science engagement activities al- that I inhabit and revealing to them why it is “I can remember when all we needed was someone who ready taking place. It called such a powerful way to understand the world.” could carve and someone who could sew.” for more opportunities He will succeed evolutionary biologist Profes- for mathematicians to get © Sidney Harris sor Richard Dawkins, who has held the position

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involved in public engagement activities, PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE such as the EPSRC media fellowships. The response also drew attention to problems Professor Marcus du Sautoy has been ap- since the chair was created in 1995. Professor for classroom teachers and suggested that pointed to the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Dawkins’s tenure attracted much attention more information about how mathematics Public Understanding of Science at the Uni- in particular for his outspoken atheist views. is used in industry and financial institutions versity of Oxford. The chair is held jointly Professor du Sautoy is likely to take a different would help public understanding. To see between the Department for approach, saying, “Of course the response, go to www.mathspromotion. Continuing Education and I am bracing myself for ques- org.uk. the post-holder’s disciplinary tions about my views on God Future Morph, a new careers site to department in the University – but this job is about com- help school students considering the value in this case, the Mathematical municating the wonders and of science, technology, engineering and Institute. excitement of science.” mathematics in their careers, went live in Commenting on his ap- Dr Charles Simonyi is a November. The creation of the site was pointment, Professor du computer scientist who was led by the Science Council in partnership Sautoy said, “I think that instrumental in the develop- with the Department for Children, Schools mathematics is a fantastic ment of personal comput- and Families and others. The site will be choice for the Simonyi chair. ing, working for many years a resource for students, but also teachers, Mathematics is the language as chief software architect at careers advisers and parents, aiming to of science. It is at the heart of Microsoft. Professor du Sautoy 13 answer the question “Why study science physics, chemistry and much took up the position on and maths?” The site www.futuremorph. of biology which makes it a 1 December 2008. His four- org will work alongside the existing Careers great platform for engaging part series The Story of Maths Marcus du Sautoy from Maths site www.mathscareers.org.uk. the public in science.” was broadcast on BBC4 during Caroline Davis The aim of the Professorship is to “commu- October (see page 20 for a review). Professor Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer nicate science to the public without, in doing du Sautoy is also a member of the Mathematics so, losing those elements of scholarship which Promotion Unit Steering Group. constitute the essence of true understanding”. The chair-holder does not have substantial KAC–MOODY GROUPS – teaching or administrative workloads, but in- stead is expected to carry on with their research A PROFINITE PERSPECTIVE programme whilst also giving public lectures, A one-day meeting on Kac–Moody Groups writing articles and books, making television – A Profinite Perspective will be held on 17 and radio appearances and travelling widely. December 2008 at Royal Holloway, University At present, Professor du Sautoy is an EPSRC of London. Prospective speakers are: media fellow, which has a similar emphasis on • Christopher Voll (Southampton) research and communication. For his new role, • Nikolay Nikolov (Imperial) he has underlined his commitment to continuing • Pierre-Emmanuel Caprace (IHÉS) his own high-level academic research in number The meeting is part of the South England theory and symmetry. He added, “At the same Profinite Groups Meetings which are funded time, I am passionately dedicated to giving as by an LMS Scheme 3 grant. Limited funds many people as possible access to the exciting are available to reimburse travel expenses of and beautiful world of mathematics and science UK-based students and young mathemati- that I inhabit and revealing to them why it is cians. For more details see www.ma.rhul.ac. “I can remember when all we needed was someone who such a powerful way to understand the world.” uk/profinite_groups/meetings.html or contact could carve and someone who could sew.” He will succeed evolutionary biologist Profes- Y. Barnea and B. Klopsch (profinitegroups@ © Sidney Harris sor Richard Dawkins, who has held the position googlemail.com).

December08-NL.indd 13 25/11/2008 15:21:14 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

VISIT OF ALGEBRAIC TOPOLOGY, PROFESSOR V. SHULMAN GROUP THEORY AND Professor Victor Shulman (Vologda State REPRESENTATION THEORY University, Russia) is visiting the London Metropolitan University until 24 December An international conference on Algebraic 2008. Professor Victor Shulman is a spe- Topology, Group Theory and Representation cialist in the theory of Operator Algebras. Theory will take place from 9 to 15 June 2009 During December he will give the following (with the expected arrival and departure lectures: dates on the 8th and 16th). The conference will take place on the Isle of Skye - a scenic • 3 December, Queens University Belfast island off the west coast of Scotland. (contact I. Todorov, [email protected]) The aim of the conference is to stimulate • 10 December, London Metropolitan activity in and enhance interaction between University (contact E. Kissin, Algebraic Topology, Group Theory and Rep- [email protected]) resentation Theory. The conference will also For further details of this visit contact Edward be an opportunity for colleagues to celebrate Kissin. The visit is supported by an LMS Scheme 2 the 60th birthday of two distinguished math- 14 grant. ematicians, Bob Oliver and Ron Solomon. It is planned to have several plenary speakers as VISIT OF DR F. WUBS well as contributed talks, with exact numbers to be determined later. Currently the follow- Dr Fred Wubs (University of Groningen, ing have agreed to give a plenary talk: The Netherlands) will be visiting the Nu- • Alejandro Adem (Univ. of British Columbia) merical Analysis Group at the Rutherford • Michael Aschbacher (Caltech) Appleton Laboratory (RAL) from Novem- • George Glauberman (University of Chicago) ber 2008 to March 2009. His main field of • John Greenlees (University of Sheffield) interest is the design of algorithms for the • Robert Griess (University of Michigan), TBC solution of large sparse linear systems aris- • Jesper Grodal (University of Copenhagen) ing in computational fluid dynamics. Dur- • Lars Hesselholt (MIT) ing his visit he will give the following three • Nick Kuhn (University of Virginia) talks: • Jean Lannes (École Polytechnique) • Ian Leary (Ohio State University) • Brunel University, 8 December 2008 • Peter Neumann (University of Oxford) Numerical solution of linear systems in an • Raphael Rouquier (University of Oxford) implicit ocean flow model • Stephen Smith (University of Illinois at • University of Reading, 12 December 2008 Chicago) Preconditioning for an implicit thermo- • Alexandre Turull (University of Florida) haline circulation model The organisers are: Dave Benson, Carles • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Broto, Inna Capdeboscq (Korchagina), Radha 22 January 2009 Preconditioning of linear Kessar, Kathryn Lesh, Ran Levi and Assaf systems in an ocean flow model Libman. For further information visit the For further information contact Dr website at www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/skye2009/ Jennifer Scott, RAL ([email protected]). or email [email protected]. This This visit is partially supported by an LMS conference is supported by an LMS confer- Scheme 2 grant. ence grant.

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ALGEBRAIC TOPOLOGY, GROUP THEORY AND LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY REPRESENTATION THEORY NORTHERN REGIONAL MEETING An international conference on Algebraic Topology, Group Theory and Representation Theory will take place from 9 to 15 June 2009 Room G107, Alan Turing Building, University of Manchester (with the expected arrival and departure dates on the 8th and 16th). The conference Wednesday 14 January 2009 will take place on the Isle of Skye - a scenic island off the west coast of Scotland. 14.00 Opening of the Meeting The aim of the conference is to stimulate activity in and enhance interaction between 14.15 Imre Leader (Cambridge) Algebraic Topology, Group Theory and Rep- Euclidean Ramsey Theory resentation Theory. The conference will also be an opportunity for colleagues to celebrate 15.15 Kathryn Hess (EPFL, Switzerland) the 60th birthday of two distinguished math- Free loop spaces in topology and physics ematicians, Bob Oliver and Ron Solomon. It is 16.15 Tea/Coffee 15 planned to have several plenary speakers as well as contributed talks, with exact numbers 16.45 Paul Baum (Penn State, USA) to be determined later. Currently the follow- What is K-theory and what is it good for? ing have agreed to give a plenary talk: • Alejandro Adem (Univ. of British Columbia) 18.00 Dinner at the Tai Pan restaurant • Michael Aschbacher (Caltech) • George Glauberman (University of Chicago) These lectures are aimed at a general mathematical audience. All interested, • John Greenlees (University of Sheffield) whether LMS members or not, are most welcome to attend this event. • Robert Griess (University of Michigan), TBC • Jesper Grodal (University of Copenhagen) For further details, to register or to reserve a place at the dinner, email magic@ • Lars Hesselholt (MIT) maths.manchester.ac.uk. The cost of the dinner will be approximately £25 • Nick Kuhn (University of Virginia) including drinks. • Jean Lannes (École Polytechnique) • Ian Leary (Ohio State University) The meeting is preceded by the postgraduate student conference MAGIC09 • Peter Neumann (University of Oxford) from Monday 12 January to mid-day on Wednesday 14 January. For further • Raphael Rouquier (University of Oxford) details visit www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~magic or contact the organisers • Stephen Smith (University of Illinois at Dr Marianne Johnson, Dr Andrew Hazel, Gemma Lloyd, Hadi Zare at Chicago) [email protected]. • Alexandre Turull (University of Florida) The organisers are: Dave Benson, Carles Lunch will be provided on Wednesday for delegates of the MAGIC09 Broto, Inna Capdeboscq (Korchagina), Radha conference. This lunch is also open to everyone attending the meeting. Kessar, Kathryn Lesh, Ran Levi and Assaf Libman. For further information visit the There are funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of members website at www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/skye2009/ of the Society or research students to attend the meeting and workshop. or email [email protected]. This Requests for support, including an estimate of expenses, may be addressed conference is supported by an LMS confer- to Marianne Johnson (email above). ence grant.

December08-NL.indd 15 25/11/2008 15:21:15 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

MATHEMATICS OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE PREDICTION Computations using large and complex nu- merical models are fundamental in predicting the circulations of the atmosphere and ocean, and hence in weather and climate predic- tion. Validation of these models is essential, particularly in climate prediction where no verification is possible. It can be achieved by demonstrating that important asymptotic limit solutions of the governing equations, which are simple enough to be resolved by the computer models, can be successfully re- produced. There have been major advances in the mathematical analysis of several of these sets of limit equations, which has brought such validation within reach. 16 A meeting on this topic will take place from 30 March to 3 April 2009 at the Meteorologi- cal Office in Exeter. It will contain four mini- courses describing recent developments in the mathematical analysis and physical under- standing of equations describing atmosphere and ocean circulations. There will be about eight additional research lectures on specific topics in the area. The intended audience are graduate students and researchers working in either nonlinear partial differential equa- tions or meteorology and oceanography. The intention is that meteorologists and oceanog- raphers will learn about the new results that have been achieved and the methods that can now be used for nonlinear problems, and that the mathematicians will learn about physically important unsolved problems to work on. Confirmed speakers are: • Yann Brenier (University of Nice) • Peter Constantin (University of Chicago) • Gregory Falkovich (Weizmann Institute) • Isabelle Gallagher (Paris VII) • Michael Ghil (UCLA) • Andrew Majda (Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences) • Laure Saint-Raymond (Paris VI and École Normale Supérieure)

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MATHEMATICS OF WEATHER • Sebastian Reich (Universität Potsdam) • David Sexton (Met Office Hadley Centre) AND CLIMATE PREDICTION • Roger Temam (Indiana University) Computations using large and complex nu- • John Thuburn (University of Exeter) merical models are fundamental in predicting • Vladimir Zeitlin (École Normale Supérieure) the circulations of the atmosphere and ocean, There is funding available to support and hence in weather and climate predic- postgraduate students and postdoctoral tion. Validation of these models is essential, researchers to attend. For further informa- particularly in climate prediction where no tion and to register, visit www.maths.ox.ac. verification is possible. It can be achieved by uk/groups/oxpde/events. The meeting is demonstrating that important asymptotic co-organised by the Mathematical Institute limit solutions of the governing equations, Oxford, The Maxwell Centre for Analysis which are simple enough to be resolved by and Nonlinear PDEs and The Meteorological the computer models, can be successfully re- Office. produced. There have been major advances in the mathematical analysis of several of these REPRESENTATIONS OF sets of limit equations, which has brought such validation within reach. FINITE GROUPS OF LIE TYPE A meeting on this topic will take place from AND THEIR SUBGROUPS 17 30 March to 3 April 2009 at the Meteorologi- cal Office in Exeter. It will contain four mini- There will be a meeting on Representations of courses describing recent developments in Finite Groups of Lie Type and their Subgroups the mathematical analysis and physical under- held from 15 to 17 December 2008 at the standing of equations describing atmosphere University of Birmingham. The speakers are: and ocean circulations. There will be about • Carlos André (Lisbon) eight additional research lectures on specific • Michel Broué (Paris) topics in the area. The intended audience are • David Craven (Oxford) graduate students and researchers working • Anton Evseev (Cambridge) in either nonlinear partial differential equa- • Rod Gow (Dublin) tions or meteorology and oceanography. The • Frank Himstedt (Munich) intention is that meteorologists and oceanog- • Gerhard Hiss (Aachen) raphers will learn about the new results that • Lacri Iancu (Aberdeen) have been achieved and the methods that can • Tung Thien Le (Aberdeen) now be used for nonlinear problems, and that • Martin Liebeck (London) the mathematicians will learn about physically • Götz Pfeiffer (Galway) important unsolved problems to work on. The meeting is supported an LMS confer- Confirmed speakers are: ence grant and the EPSRC network Repre- • Yann Brenier (University of Nice) sentation Theory Across the Channel. There • Peter Constantin (University of Chicago) is funding available to support participation • Gregory Falkovich (Weizmann Institute) of research students. There will also be some • Isabelle Gallagher (Paris VII) introductory lectures in the morning of Mon- • Michael Ghil (UCLA) day 15 December suitable for PhD students. • Andrew Majda (Courant Institute of The organisers are Simon Goodwin, Kay Mathematical Sciences) Magaard and Chris Parker. For further infor- • Laure Saint-Raymond (Paris VI and mation visit the website at http://web.mat. École Normale Supérieure) bham.ac.uk/S.M.Goodwin/repslie/.

December08-NL.indd 17 25/11/2008 15:21:17 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

18

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LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY MARY CARTWRIGHT MEETING Friday 27 February 2009 Clore Lecture Theatre, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London

3.30 Opening of the Meeting Simon Donaldson, FRS (Imperial College London) A spectator’s commentary on symplectic topology The talk will survey some of the developments of modern symplectic topology over the past 30 years, aimed at non-specialists. We will discuss the developments of pseudoholomorphic curve techniques, Floer homology, connections with geometric topology in 3 and 4 dimensions and the theory of complex algebraic surfaces. 19 4.30 tea 5.00 Mary Cartwright Lecture Dusa McDuff, FRS (Barnard College, Columbia University) Symplectic embeddings of 4-dimensional ellipsoids Gromov’s celebrated nonsqueezing theorem of 1985 says that it is impossible to embed symplectically a large ball into a thin cylinder. One of the foundational results of modern symplectic topology, this led to a more or less complete solution of the 4-dimensional symplectic packing problem (which asks when a given disjoint union of balls can be sym- plectically embedded into another ball). However, there are many other packing problems. In this talk we discuss recent joint work with Schlenk about the constraints on embedding a symplectic ellipsoid into a ball. This leads to some intriguing elementary questions in number theory. The result has applications to constructing 6-dimensional manifolds with symplectic circle action. The talk does not use much symplectic topology and will be accessible to graduate students and nonspecialists.

A reception and dinner will be held after the meeting. Contact Susan Oakes ([email protected]) for further information.

There are limited funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of members of the Society or research students to attend the meeting. Contact Isabelle Robinson ([email protected]) for further information.

December08-NL.indd 19 25/11/2008 15:21:19 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

REVIEWS Chinese and, above all, the Indians well be- 50 mathematical ideas you really need to fore the Europeans. know by Tony Crilly, Quercus, 2008, 208 pp, THE STORY OF MATHS There was a description of Muslim Math- £8.99, ISBN 978-1-84724-008-8. Four BBC television programmes made by ematics. This is famous for the work on tes- This is one of a series of books of ‘50... ideas Marcus du Sautoy sellations, where they found the 17 groups you really need to know’. Management, phi- of plane crystallography. What is less well losophy and physics have so far received the This series of four programmes is a real known is the work of the poet Omar Khayam. same treatment. We would all have, I suspect, triumph. Together with Simon Singh’s famous He was obsessed with solving the cubic our own version of what those 50 mathemati- programme on Fermat’s Last Theorem these equation. cal ideas should be, but they would certainly are the best mathematical programmes ever We then moved to Europe which was just overlap considerably with Tony Crilly’s se- shown on UK television. For an account of coming out of the dark ages and experienc- lection, which ranges from zero to the Rie- the programmes see Marcus’s article in the ing a new flowering of mathematics. There mann hypothesis, with a good smattering of Newsletter of the EMS, September 2008. was the work of Fibonacci, illustrated by a anything else you care to name in between. Marcus had considerable help from the cute graphic involving bunnies. Then came Each ‘idea’ gets a four-page treatment, and BBC to take him on location to tell his story. the work of Tartaglia and Cardano on the there is a certain amount of cross-referencing It begins in ancient Egypt, with the Pyramids cubic equation. We then moved to the great as you would imagine – mathematics is not a forming an exotic background. We learn mathematics of Desargues and Fermat and series of self-contained boxes. that the Egyptians used a decimal system then on to the Bernoullis and Euler. We cov- The book has an occasional American feel, 20 but without zero and that they had the idea ered the bridges of Königsberg (now Ka- which can jar (I hate ‘donut’!) but one can of calculating by using fractions of the form liningrad) and the beginnings of Topology. accept that on the whole, and there are some 1/n, an idea still found today in Egypt. Then (If I may add a personal reminiscence: my inconsistencies (was it C. Friederich, or just on to Babylonian Mathematics where the wife was the Mayor of Southampton, and Friedrich Gauss – probably he used both, any- base was 60. (However, Health and Safety we were twinned with Kaliningrad. She had way), but the only serious misspelling I spot- restrictions meant that Marcus could not to welcome the dignitaries of that city, and ted was ‘absurdam’ for ‘absurdum’. And from film in Iraq.) All this was before the flower- in her speech she said that Kaliningrad was a type-setting point of view, I was sorry that ing of Greek Mathematics, when most of us famous because of the seven bridges which consider Mathematics in its modern sense to led to the development of Topology. Our have been developed. guests were amazed – not many mayors Independent of Greek Mathematics, there would have been aware of this!) was the distinct mathematics of the Chinese, With the work of Gauss, Riemann, Galois for example the Chinese Remainder Theorem, and Poincaré mathematics is much like it and Marcus told us how it was used for every- is today. In the final programme the math- day calculations, and not just for Astronomy. ematics becomes quite advanced, mention- This programme found him walking the ing for example the work of Grothendieck great Wall of China which I imagine was just and Weil on algebraic geometry. A choice for local colour! Then on to India where, at has to be made as to the mathematics to last, zero was discovered in the temple of be discussed and some notable work was Gwalior. We learned that the Indians devel- omitted. There are mathematicians who oped some sophisticated mathematics, for would disagree with the choice but it was example the use of infinite series, and they unavoidable. were able to get good approximations for p. Overall an excellent set of programmes. Some of this mathematics was not discov- It is to be hoped that the BBC will make a ered in Europe until several hundred years video, and then these programmes should later. In fact, one of the most interesting be shown to all our undergraduates. parts of the programmes was showing that David Singerman great mathematics was being done by the University of Southampton

December08-NL.indd 20 25/11/2008 15:21:20 No. 376 December 2008

Chinese and, above all, the Indians well be- 50 mathematical ideas you really need to most of the fractions were so small! In that fore the Europeans. know by Tony Crilly, Quercus, 2008, 208 pp, section the author mentions recurring deci- There was a description of Muslim Math- £8.99, ISBN 978-1-84724-008-8. mals, but the notation as printed was new to 5 ...... ematics. This is famous for the work on tes- This is one of a series of books of ‘50... ideas me: for example /7 is printed as 0.714285, sellations, where they found the 17 groups you really need to know’. Management, phi- whereas I was taught to put the dots only of plane crystallography. What is less well losophy and physics have so far received the over the first and last digits of the repeating known is the work of the poet Omar Khayam. same treatment. We would all have, I suspect, part – a very powerful notation as Tony Crilly He was obsessed with solving the cubic our own version of what those 50 mathemati- says. equation. cal ideas should be, but they would certainly There is quite a lot on probability and statis- We then moved to Europe which was just overlap considerably with Tony Crilly’s se- tics, with a discussion of Bayesian probability coming out of the dark ages and experienc- lection, which ranges from zero to the Rie- in terms of diagnosis, and also a mention ing a new flowering of mathematics. There mann hypothesis, with a good smattering of of inheritance and genetics. Naturally the was the work of Fibonacci, illustrated by a anything else you care to name in between. famous numbers of mathematics, e, p, i get cute graphic involving bunnies. Then came Each ‘idea’ gets a four-page treatment, and their own slots as does infinity – there we the work of Tartaglia and Cardano on the there is a certain amount of cross-referencing are, infinity reduced to a four page spread! cubic equation. We then moved to the great as you would imagine – mathematics is not a But very skilfully. The section on Pascal’s tri- mathematics of Desargues and Fermat and series of self-contained boxes. angle is only flawed by its introduction – that then on to the Bernoullis and Euler. We cov- The book has an occasional American feel, should be changed for a second edition: 115 ered the bridges of Königsberg (now Ka- which can jar (I hate ‘donut’!) but one can is not as printed. And in the chapter on curves 21 liningrad) and the beginnings of Topology. accept that on the whole, and there are some it is suggested that the cable of a suspension (If I may add a personal reminiscence: my inconsistencies (was it C. Friederich, or just bridge hangs in a catenary, which is true for wife was the Mayor of Southampton, and Friedrich Gauss – probably he used both, any- a free chain, but not, I think, when there is we were twinned with Kaliningrad. She had way), but the only serious misspelling I spot- the large weight of the carriageway to sup- to welcome the dignitaries of that city, and ted was ‘absurdam’ for ‘absurdum’. And from port. I was intrigued by the analysis of ‘near in her speech she said that Kaliningrad was a type-setting point of view, I was sorry that birthdays’ as an extension of the ‘same birth- famous because of the seven bridges which day’ problem. I had never considered it – and led to the development of Topology. Our should have: my wife’s birthday was the day guests were amazed – not many mayors before mine, and my elder daughter shares would have been aware of this!) mine! With the work of Gauss, Riemann, Galois I would like to have seen a little more and Poincaré mathematics is much like it applied mathematics – why do skaters spin is today. In the final programme the math- faster when they pull their arms in? But ematics becomes quite advanced, mention- as the author says in his introduction, the ing for example the work of Grothendieck problem is not finding things to put in, it’s and Weil on algebraic geometry. A choice deciding what to leave out. So, at whom is has to be made as to the mathematics to this book aimed? The publisher implies that be discussed and some notable work was it’s definitely for the layman. The blurb on omitted. There are mathematicians who the dust jacket says: “For once, mathematics would disagree with the choice but it was couldn’t be simpler.” That may well be true, unavoidable. but as Einstein opined, “Everything should be Overall an excellent set of programmes. made as simple as possible, but no simpler”. It is to be hoped that the BBC will make a There are still some knotty points here, which video, and then these programmes should is as it should be. That said, this book can be shown to all our undergraduates. be read with profit by anyone with a good David Singerman school grounding. University of Southampton M.L. Perkins

December08-NL.indd 21 25/11/2008 15:21:21 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ISAAC NEWTON INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES This calendar lists Society meetings and REPRESENTATION THEORY AND LIE THEORY other events publicised in the Newsletter. Further information can be obtained from the 22–26 June 2009 appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings in association with the Newton Institute programme entitled and events is given on the Society’s website Algebraic Lie Theory (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). (12 January – 26 June 2009)

Organisers: M. Geck (University of Aberdeen), A. Kleshchev (University of DECEMBER 2008 Oregon) and G. Röhrle (Ruhr-Universität Bochum). 1-2 From Nonlinear Dynamics to Systems Theme of conference: This is the concluding conference of the programme Biology Workshop, Warwick (373) 1-5 Large Amplitude Internal Waves, ICMS on Algebraic Lie Theory. It brings together leading experts of the various Workshop, Edinburgh (369) branches in this field, ranging from classical Lie theory to the modern use 5-12 Partial Differential Equations and of geometric methods in representation theory. The goal is to review the Applications Conference, Hong Kong (372) state of the art and to map out new directions in this highly dynamic and 8-12 Rotating Stratified Turbulence and 22 interdisciplinary area of current research. Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Oceans, INI Workshop, Cambridge (371) Speakers will include: 10-12 Infinite Group Theory and Related • J. Bernstein (Tel Aviv University) Topics Workshop, Edinburgh (373) • C. Bonnafé (Université de Franche-Comté) 10-12 Triangulated Categories Workshop, Swansea (374) • J. Brundan (University of Oregon) 11 Harmonic Things, Gresham Lecture, • P. Etingof (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) London (375) • P. Fiebig (Universität Freiburg) 12-13 Joint Meeting with the Edinburgh • E. Friedlander (Northwestern University) Mathematical Society, Edinburgh (376) • I.G. Gordon (University of Edinburgh) 15-17 Representations of Finite Groups • R.M. Guralnick (University of Southern California) of Lie Type and their Subgroups Meeting, Birmingham (376) • V. Kac (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) 15-19 Classical and Quantum Transport • G.I. Lehrer (University of Sydney) in the Presence of Disorder, INI Conference, • I.V. Loseu (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Cambridge (372) • E.M. Opdam (University of Amsterdam) 16-18 Mathematics in Signal Processing, • V. Ostrik (University of Oregon) IMA Conference, Cirencester (370) • A. Premet (University of Manchester) 17 Kac–Moody Groups – A Profinite Perspective Meeting, Royal Holloway, University of London (376) Further information and application forms are available from the web at: www.newton.ac.uk/programmes/ALT/altw04.html. Completed application JANUARY 2009 forms should be sent to Tracey Andrew, Programme & Conference Secretary, Isaac Newton Institute, 20 Clarkson Road, Cambridge CB3 0EH or via 5-9 Dense Granular Flows, IMA Conference, email to: [email protected]. INI Cambridge (370) 7 Global Analysis and Quantisation Day, Closing date for the receipt of applications is 31 March 2009. Warwick (375) 8-11 Dynamics and Complexity, UK–Japan Winter School, Bath (375)

December08-NL.indd 22 25/11/2008 15:21:21 No. 376 December 2008

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12 The Maths of Pylons, Art Galleries and Prisons under the Spotlight, Gresham This calendar lists Society meetings and Lecture, London (375) other events publicised in the Newsletter. 12-23 Algebraic Lie Theory Instructional Further information can be obtained from the Workshop, INI, Cambridge (374) appropriate LMS Newsletter whose number 14 LMS Northern Regional Meeting, is given in brackets. A fuller list of meetings Manchester (376) and events is given on the Society’s website 28 Winter Combinatorics Meeting, Open (www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/calendar.html). University, Milton Keynes (376) 29 Some Interesting Curves, Gresham DECEMBER 2008 Lecture, London (375) 1-2 From Nonlinear Dynamics to Systems Biology Workshop, Warwick (373) FEBRUARY 2009 1-5 Large Amplitude Internal Waves, ICMS 27 Mary Cartwright Lecture, London (376) Workshop, Edinburgh (369) 5-12 Partial Differential Equations and MARCH 2009 Applications Conference, Hong Kong (372) 3 How to be a Winner: The Maths of Race 8-12 Rotating Stratified Turbulence and Fixing and Money Laundering, Gresham Turbulence in the Atmosphere and Oceans, Lecture, London (375) 23 INI Workshop, Cambridge (371) 23-27 Algebraic Lie Structures with Origins 10-12 Infinite Group Theory and Related Topics Workshop, Edinburgh (373) in Physics Workshop, INI, Cambridge (373) 10-12 Triangulated Categories Workshop, 30-3 Apr Mathematics of Weather and Swansea (374) Climate Prediction Meeting, Meteorological 11 Harmonic Things, Gresham Lecture, Office, Exeter (376) London (375) 31-4 Apr LMS Invited Lectures, A. Ionescu, 12-13 Joint Meeting with the Edinburgh Edinburgh Mathematical Society, Edinburgh (376) 15-17 Representations of Finite Groups APRIL 2009 of Lie Type and their Subgroups Meeting, 6-9 BMC, Galway Birmingham (376) 7-9 BAMC, Nottingham (370) 15-19 Classical and Quantum Transport 20-22 Atiyah80: Geometry and Physics in the Presence of Disorder, INI Conference, Workshop, Edinburgh (375) Cambridge (372) 16-18 Mathematics in Signal Processing, IMA Conference, Cirencester (370) JUNE 2009 17 Kac–Moody Groups – A Profinite 8-11 British–Nordic Congress of Perspective Meeting, Royal Holloway, Mathematicians, Oslo (374) University of London (376) 9-15 Algebraic Topology, Group Theory and Representation Theory Conference, JANUARY 2009 Isle of Skye (376) 5-9 Dense Granular Flows, IMA Conference, 15-19 Nonlinear PDE and Free Boundary INI Cambridge (370) Problems, Warwick 7 Global Analysis and Quantisation Day, 22-26 Representation Theory and Lie Warwick (375) Theory Workshop, INI, Cambridge (376) 8-11 Dynamics and Complexity, UK–Japan 29-3 July Discrete Systems and Special Winter School, Bath (375) Functions Workshop, INI, Cambridge (375)

December08-NL.indd 23 25/11/2008 15:21:21 R.B. HAYWARD LMS member 1871–1902 Hills & Saunders, Harrow

Robert B. Hayward, MA, FRS, FCPS Mathematical Master at Harrow School; Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge; Fellow of University College London.

December08-NL.indd 24 25/11/2008 15:21:22