THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 329 September 2004 Forthcoming COUNCIL DIARY how the issues and proposals in 18 June 2004 the report could be taken for- Society ward. Council discussed some Meetings The first item for discussion at recommendations put forward the June meeting of Council by Norman Biggs, and a tabled 2004 was a draft proposal for the for- paper by Penny Davies on the Friday 17 September mation of an Advisory implications of the CTA mecha- Exeter Committee for Mathematics nism. Among other things, we South West & South Research and Industry, as rec- are determined to press for Wales Regional ommended by the Smith improvements in doctoral train- Meeting Report. This new body would ing accounts, and to seek fund- R. Langlands speak on behalf of the mathe- ing for the recruitment of aca- G. Henniart matical sciences community to demic mathematicians to cover 1 [page 5] government and others on the the gaps created by the retire- role of mathematics and mathe- ment of key researchers. Friday 19 November matics research; it would com- The first item for discussion in London plement ACME's role in relation the Treasurer's report was the Annual General to mathematics education. The level of our subscriptions, which Meeting draft proposal arose out of dis- we shall raise by 10% this year; D. Olive cussions at the Council for the Council considers that this still P. Goddard Mathematical Sciences on 18 represents a good deal. The (Presidential Address) May, and will form a basis for budget for 2004/05 was dis- further discussion with the CMS cussed and agreed. The Treasurer and with ACME. Much, includ- had already been given a grilling ing a name for the new body, by the Finance and General remains to be decided, but the Purposes Committee, so discus- proposal, in principle, received sion at Council was short. The strong support from Council. Programme Secretary drew The President's Report also Council's attention to the fact prompted discussion of RAE 2008. that the Programme Committee An invitation to nominate for budget had (in effect) been cut membership of panels and sub- through a clarification of policy panels was expected imminently, on reserves and unspent grants. with a deadline of 15 September. Under the report of the (More details are given on page 4 Publications Secretary, Council of this Newsletter.) formally approved a 5.5% rise The CMS is arranging a meet- in the sterling prices of our ing with EPSRC to follow up on standard journals, a slightly the International Review of higher dollar price increase (to Mathematics, and to discuss reflect exchange rates) and a THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 329 September 2004 2% rise in the price of Compositio The Education Secretary reported further Having toyed with the idea of a colour and topology, but also provided entirely new Mathematica. The Publications Secretary on actions which followed up on the Smith change every month, or every three connections with other subjects such as num- expressed some anxiety over subscription lev- report. A meeting would shortly take place months, the Editorial Board decided that ber theory and also theoretical physics. els, which are falling. Publications income has between the Presidents of the CMS societies keeping each academic year's issues the Professor Singer was one of those responsi- been a very major contributor to the Society's and the Secretary of State for Education and same colour would help readers to file their ble for establishing the very successful dia- income for several years, so this is certainly Skills. There would also be a meeting with collections and would look more attractive logue that has taken place in recent decades not welcome (but also not unexpected) news. Anita Straker, in her capacity as the interim on the shelves: we hope you agree. between geometers and physicists, introduc- Stephen Huggett reported on the recent Chief Adviser for Mathematics. The Whatever its colour, the Newsletter wel- ing into mathematics viewpoints from quan- meeting of the new International Affairs Education Committee had discussed at comes items of interest that any readers tum field theory which have radically Committee, when John Ball (President of the length the matters that should be covered in may like to tell us about: mathematics in changed the agenda in both geometry and International Mathematical Union) had present- these meetings. the news, on the stage, cinema, radio or TV, topology. ed a review of its responsibilities as the UK As the meeting drew to a close, David in the art gallery or even in Parliament - in ‘Committee for Mathematics’ within the Union. Abrahams reminded us that the IMA, rather addition of course to the usual mainstream CMS MEETS SECRETARY Stephen suggested that the LMS should consid- younger than the LMS, would celebrate its meetings, conferences and workshops. er setting up a web page devoted to IMU busi- 40th birthday with a celebratory event on Items with visual impact are especially wel- OF STATE FOR EDUCATION ness. The Committee had recommended sup- Thursday 2 September. come: they can be any colour you like this AND SKILLS port for a request from John Ball for help sup- Sarah Rees year, as long as it is amber. porting a new post to improve the IMU's work David Chillingworth The three CMS Presidents, together with 2 in poor countries (and this was now agreed by NOT AMBER FOREVER Nigel Steele (Hon. Sec., Education, IMA) and 3 Council). The forthcoming EMS Council meeting HONORARY MEMBERSHIP Peter Cooper (current CMS Secretary) had a had been discussed, and in particular the ques- As the green leaves of summer begin to meeting with the Rt Hon. Charles Clarke, tion of mathematics in Framework 6, the elec- tinge with autumn brown, so the The London MP, Secretary of State for Education and tions to the EMS executive, and EMS publishing. Newsletter takes on a new shade for the Mathematical Skills, on 6 July 2004. The meeting had been Martin Taylor had presented an excellent brief- whole of its second year in colour. Readers Society has arranged following earlier discussions ing on Anglo-Russian collaboration, including a can be assured that as winter approaches elected Professor between the LMS and Mr Clarke. proposal for a joint meeting between the the Newsletter will not (intentionally) fall I.M. Singer of The CMS delegation welcomed the DfES London and Moscow mathematical societies. in pieces to the ground or turn all white. MIT to Honorary response to the Smith Report and reiter- Membership of ated its support for implementation of the Society. Prof- the recommendations. Frances Kirwan essor Singer has (LMS) and Andy Grieve (RSS) put the CMS’ LMS Newsletter been a leading case that the supply of mathematically- figure in geom- skilled people needed to be addressed as General Editor: Dr D.R.J. Chillingworth ([email protected]) etry and analy- a whole, looking at all stages in second- Reports Editor: Dr S.A. Huggett ([email protected]) sis for over fifty years. He has received many ary and higher education and research Reviews Editor: Professor M.P.F. du Sautoy ([email protected]) honours and prizes including the American training. The erosion of the maths base in Administrative Editor: Miss S.M. Oakes ([email protected]) Mathematical Society's Prize for universities was a major problem, primari- Editorial office address: London Mathematical Society, De Morgan House, Distinguished Public Service and the Steele ly brought about by a system in which stu- 57-58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS (tel: 020 7637 3686; fax: 020 7323 3655; Prize for Lifetime Achievement, as well as dents’ choice was the main determinant email: [email protected], web: www.lms.ac.uk) the US National Medal of Science. Together of a department’s viability. This was lead- Designed by CHP Design (tel: 020 7240 0466, email: [email protected], web:www.chpdesign.com) with Sir Michael Atiyah he was awarded the ing to closures and mergers, limiting stu- Publication dates and deadlines: published monthly, except August. Abel Prize for 2004. Professor Singer is best dent access in some areas and depriving Items and advertisements by first day of the month prior to publication. known for his share in the Atiyah-Singer schools and local businesses of access to Information in the Newsletter is free to be used elsewhere unless otherwise stated; attribution is index theorem for elliptic operators on man- mathematical expertise. Without an over- requested when reproducing whole articles. The LMS cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy ifolds which was proved in the mid-1960s. arching strategic approach to provision in of information in the Newsletter. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy This powerful tool not only gave an explana- mathematics the Government’s plans of of the London Mathematical Society. Charity registration number: 252660. tion for a host of earlier results in geometry increasing the supply of STEM-trained THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER No. 329 September 2004 people could not be achieved. Radical NOMINATIONS ideas – necessarily involving money – LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY were needed. FOR RAE 2008 The Secretary of State commented on the Earlier this year the LMS, in conjunction SOUTH WEST AND SOUTH WALES CMS’ points, but could not commit himself – with the IMA and RSS, set up a coordinating but we would not have expected him to at group to monitor the events leading up to REGIONAL MEETING such a meeting. In discussion several points RAE 2008. Its first task was to respond to were made that the CMS will consider fur- the HEFCE consultation document RAE Harmonic Analysis and Number Theory ther.