THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 398 December 2010 Society LMS COUNCIL DIARY to have a special Strategy Day in February. Among the issues to Meetings 8 October 2010 be discussed are the recommen- and Events At its meeting on 8 October, dations from the Membership Council noted with regret the Working Group led by Garth 2010 resignation from Council with Dales. In particular, do we want Monday 6 December immediate effect of Simon to increase the membership of Society Meeting, Chandler-Wilde, due to pres- the LMS, and if so, in what way? ICMS, Edinburgh sure of work in his new role as How do we make membership [page 3] Head of the School of Mathe- of the LMS more attractive while matical and Physical Sciences at staying within the charity law 2011 Reading. Thus I am writing this which states that the overall cost Council Diary in his stead. of members’ benefits must not Friday 25 February Among the substantial mat- exceed the total subscriptions Mary Cartwright ters before Council was the paid? Since any large change in Lecture, Oxford job of considering and approv- membership may alter the char- [page 20] ing the annual accounts and acter of the Society irrevocably, Friday 6 May trustees’ report. This is perhaps it is important to think carefully Women in Mathematics our single most important le- before making changes. Day, London gal duty as trustees, and Brian Ken Brown led a discussion on [page 2] Stewart, the Treasurer, ably the three research policy docu- led us through the mass of ments (see article on page 2), Tuesday 17 May figures, clearly pointing out to which had been substantially LMS–Gresham Lecture, us where to find the real fig- updated since they were dis- London [page 2] ures in amongst the accounting cussed by Council in July. They Friday 1 July fictions. The overall picture is were generally agreed to be London that the Society is in a healthy very helpful in arguing the case Tuesday 19 July position financially, with a for mathematics, and they were Northern Regional small recovery in invested capi- formally approved by Council. Meeting, Leeds tal, and a significantly greater These documents also fed into profit from publications than the LMS submission to the cur- Friday 18 November expected this year. Neverthe- rent International Review of LMS AGM, London less, the continued economic Mathematics being undertaken uncertainty means that con- by EPSRC. The LMS made a stant vigilance is still required. strong case that mathematics It is one of the jobs of Coun- in the UK is highly successful, NEWSLETTER cil to make decisions on policy despite serious and chronic and strategy, but there is never underfunding relative to both ONLINE: enough time at ordinary Council comparator countries and com- Go to www.lms.ac.uk/ meetings to discuss these matters parator disciplines. newsletter properly. We decided therefore John Greenlees reported on Dec10-NL.indd 1 23/11/2010 16:58:38 THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter [email protected] the regular meeting between the CMS and invited us to start thinking about the 50th EPSRC, which had little cheer for mathe- anniversary of the founding of the LMS, matics, as various nightmare scenarios were which occurs in 205. Stephen Huggett played out in front of us. In the event, the reported on the slow progress on the new Government’s Comprehensive Spending Re- website, but since the Council meeting view has protected the overall cash spent there has been more movement, and there on research in STEM subjects, but it is too are signs that we might actually have at early to say what will happen to the share least a skeleton of a brand new website be- of this currently allocated to mathematics. fore long. We then came to a discussion of policy on Robert Wilson school education, which continues to gen- erate great controversy. Numerous bodies with the word ‘mathematics’ in their title RESEARCH POLICY have widely differing views. After much discussion, Council decided that in repre- COMMITTEE senting its members, the LMS represents The Research Policy Committee, as a part of university mathematics, and that it was the LMS input into the International Review quite legitimate for us to have a different of Mathematics, has produced three papers. 2 view from other bodies which have differ- These are now available on the LMS website ent constituencies. We therefore declined at www.lms.ac.uk/activities/research_policy. to support initiatives which we felt would The statements are: be detrimental to university mathematics. • Research and Teaching in Symbiosis On a happier note, June Barrow-Green This paper aims to set out the context in which research and training in the mathe- LMS Newsletter www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter matical sciences are currently carried out Editorial office: [email protected]; London Mathematical Society, in UK higher education. De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655) • UK Government Funding for Mathematical Events calendar: please send updates and corrections to [email protected] Sciences Research This paper sets out the methods by which General Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) research in the UK is financially supported. Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Dr C.M. Roney-Dougal ([email protected]) • Doctoral Training Administrative Editor: S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) This paper sets out the current issues surrounding doctoral training in the mathe- Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd. matical sciences in the UK. Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Items and advertisements by the Initial drafts of these statements were made first day of the month prior to publication, or the closest preceding working day. available during the summer on the LMS Advertising: for rates and guidelines, see www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter/ratecard.html website for comment. Seventy responses of a News items and notices in the Newsletter are free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated, very high quality were received and the com- although attribution is requested when reproducing whole articles. Contributions to the Newsletter mittee is grateful for the input provided by are made under a non-exclusive licence; please contact the author or photographer for the rights to individual LMS members, their departments reproduce. The LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information in the Newsletter. and other organisations in the mathematical Views expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the London Mathematical Society. sciences. There is no doubt that many people Charity registration number: 252660. engaged constructively with the debate that the committee’s work prompted. Dec10-NL.indd 2 23/11/2010 16:58:38 www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter [email protected] No. 398 December 2010 invited us to start thinking about the 50th anniversary of the founding of the LMS, LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY which occurs in 205. Stephen Huggett reported on the slow progress on the new website, but since the Council meeting MEETING there has been more movement, and there are signs that we might actually have at Monday 6 December 2010 least a skeleton of a brand new website be- ICMS, 15 South College Street, Edinburgh EH8 9AA fore long. Robert Wilson Speakers: Yujiro Kawamata (Tokyo) RESEARCH POLICY Yum-Tong Siu (Harvard) COMMITTEE The LMS Meeting will take place on the first day of the conference Birational Geometry, to be held at the Institute of Geography, University of The Research Policy Committee, as a part of Edinburgh, from 6 to 10 December. Further information can be found at the LMS input into the International Review of Mathematics, has produced three papers. www.maths.ed.ac.uk/cheltsov/shokurov/index.html. These are now available on the LMS website There are limited funds available to contribute in part to the expenses of 3 at www.lms.ac.uk/activities/research_policy. members of the Society or research students to attend the meeting. Contact The statements are: Isabelle Robinson ([email protected]) for further information. • Research and Teaching in Symbiosis This paper aims to set out the context in All are welcome to attend. which research and training in the mathe- Although these statements were prepared LMS Newsletter www.lms.ac.uk/newsletter matical sciences are currently carried out with the IRM panel in mind we hope that Editorial office: [email protected]; London Mathematical Society, in UK higher education. they will be of use to anyone concerned with De Morgan House, 57–58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS (t: 020 7637 3686; f: 020 7323 3655) • UK Government Funding for Mathematical the position of the mathematical sciences Events calendar: please send updates and corrections to [email protected] Sciences Research in UK higher education. Please feel free to This paper sets out the methods by which print and distribute copies as you wish (while General Editor: Mr A.J.S. Mann ([email protected]) research in the UK is financially supported. – of course – giving due acknowledgement to Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) Reviews Editor: Dr C.M. Roney-Dougal ([email protected]) • Doctoral Training their provenance). Administrative Editor: S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) This paper sets out the current issues The Committee expects to revise the papers surrounding doctoral training in the mathe- in the light of developments, so any com- Typeset by the London Mathematical Society at De Morgan House; printed by Holbrooks Printers Ltd.