Mathematical Institute Bulletin

The Mathematical Institute will host a one-day quantum error correction (QEC) workshop on Wednesday September 23, 2026. 

The aim of the workshop is to connect researchers working on QEC-related topics across the university, in different departments, and build relationships with other QEC researchers with similar interests. The workshop will give such researchers an opportunity to present their work, discuss their ideas, and collaborate with others working on related problems.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the Google form to register and receive further updates about the programme.

Twenty-five Fields Medallists has issued a Declaration about AI and maths in the light of the Navier-Stokes news from OpenAI. Here's James Maynard and here's the Declaration. In addition 42 mathematicians have sent an open, signable letter to the Royal Society about the broader implications of recent developments. In addtion here is the Clay Mathematics Institute's response to the Navier-Stokes 'resolution'. And June's Leiden Declaration website has been updated.

Kit Gallagher was a DPhil student here in Oxford Mathematics before going across the pond as Schmidt Science Fellow at Harvard Medical School.

For over 2,000 years scholars have marvelled at the Parthenon in Athens. The audacity, the beauty. And the architectural genius of the Greeks to introduce curves to correct optical illusions. Brilliant. 

Except they didn't. Here's Alain Goriely. 

And here's a Guardian article  And also the original research

All central University information for staff is now on OxIntranet, bringing together everything you need in one place - The 'For Staff' area provides access to key systems, processes, policies and guidance. The OxIntranet Agent searches across OxIntranet and University websites, providing responses in chat form.

Access OxIntranet through the left-hand menu in Microsoft Teams, or via the University website. Content for external audiences remains on the open web, with staff pages linking to more detailed information on OxIntranet.

For students, the best place to find information remains the Oxford Students site or MyOxford.  Any wider changes to central University student content is not expected until Summer 2027, and more information will follow about this in due course.

CXO School is a practitioner-led eight-session pilot for any researcher wondering what their work could lead to, whether that's a spinout, a founding-team role, or a stronger grant or fellowship application. No 'idea' or business background needed.

Wednesdays 1.30–2.30 p.m. from 7 October, Kavli Oxford (South Parks Road). Open to postgraduates, DPhils, researchers and staff. Registration closes 12 p.m., Monday 5 October.

Find out more and register 

Image: Conrad Shawcross - Eye of the Needle (Time Pebble (E30A13). Showing at Frieze Sculpture in Regent's Park

One of our funders, QRT, is offering funding for Master's students, DPhils and Postdocs to attend the AI and neuroscience conference NeurIPS 2026 in Sydney, Australia from 6-12 December 2026.

Full details

Image: Augustus Leopold Egg - The Traveling Companions

Sometimes you have to let rip.