Mathematical Institute Bulletin

We are pleased to announce that the Mathematical Institute DPhil Thesis Prize 2020 is awarded to two of our former DPhil students: 

Bernadette Stolz-Pretzer for her thesis on "Global and Local Persistent Homology for the Shape and Classification of Biological Data"

and

Florian Wechsung for his thesis on "Shape Optimisation and Robust Solvers for Incompressible Flow".

The Mathematical Institute has established this annual thesis prize for graduate research students in the department. The prize is intended to recognise a truly exceptional research thesis that goes substantially beyond the level normally expected for the award of a research degree at Oxford, making a very significant contribution to the field of study.  

Congratulations to our awardees.

Let's stick together

Do you need to record your teaching sessions this term with Panopto? New to Panopto?

The central university Panopto team are running training sessions over the next few weeks. They are online but very interactive, arranged into two sets:

1. Panopto First steps - for absolute beginners 
2. Panopto Next steps - an overview of features and tips 

Both courses offer plenty of chances to ask the teacher questions and to get advice from experts. Sessions are free, about an hour long, and bookable through the IT learning system. The links above give more details about course content and how to book.

We also have lots of Maths-specific guidance on Panopto (and Teams etc).

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mathematical Physics (12 months, closing 4 May) - Jon Keating

Area Coordinator, Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (FTC until 31 July 2022 with possibility for extension, closing 4 May) - Richard Earl

The University has run a biennial survey since 2016 (this year’s survey was due to take place in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic). We are mindful that uncertainties over the pandemic pose challenges for any survey at this time. However, we also think that the circumstances of the last year make it more important than ever to gain insight from you about your experience of working here – what you value and what you would like to see improved.

We hope that you will take the time to respond to the survey. What you tell us will be used to help us build on our successes and shape plans to ensure that Oxford remains an attractive place to work. In turn, this will support our overall academic mission and our long-term success as an institution.

The survey will launch on 27 April and you will receive a personal invite to take part from People Insight, who are conduting the survey on our behalf. Further information is available here. If you have additional questions, please contact: @email

The 7th Lorna Casselton Memorial Lecture, entitled 'Mathematics and Art Conservation', will be given by Professor Ingrid Daubechies (Duke University), first woman President of the International Mathematical Union at 5pm BST on Thursday 13th May online by Zoom.

Admission is free, but booking is required via the website.

In 1972, Island Records boss Chris Blackwell was looking for the next big thing. Meanwhile Bob Marley and his band needed money to get home to Jamaica. So began Bob's golden period.

Stir it Up is from their first work together, the 1973 album Catch a Fire, and this performance is from the band's May 1973 appearance on the influential music show The Old Grey Whistle Test. The Wailers, as they were known until 1974, comprised a core group of Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. They had been together since 1963. Good things come to those who wait...

[youtube:rf8GjhXvOjU|100%|680|Bob Marley & The Wailers - Stir It Up (Live at The Old Grey Whistle, 1973)]