Mathematical Institute Bulletin

How to do a Career Development Review – for Research Staff and Principal Investigators

Wednesday 11 February 2026, 09:30 – 11:00 

Regular, meaningful Career Development Reviews (CDRs) are vital for building a positive research culture and supporting researchers’ long‑term development. This session will help reviewers hold effective, supportive, and forward‑looking CDR conversations.

Please click here to reserve your place

Image: Girolamo Nerli - An old woman (study)

"O sleep, O gentle sleep,

Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee,

That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down, 

And steep my senses in forgetfulness?"

Mathematics perhaps?

No words required.

J Cole is a very successful US rapper and record producer with 9 million sales.

Andrew Wiles is a UK mathematician with (probably) 9 million fans. 

J approached us to use this voiceover to promote his new album (out today). Andrew said yes. 

Mathematics is everywhere.

Who owns our knowledge? In the age of AI, how can we make research trustworthy and share it openly (including in non-traditional formats)? Join the research community in shaping the future of ‘open.’ Come to challenge, learn, laugh, and eat. All Oxford staff/students attend free, but spaces limited.

In-person Wed 4 March 10:00 - 18:00, including lunch. Online events 2 - 6 March. 

Register and info

As part of the Pay & Conditions programme, a survey is currently underway to understand barriers and access to health, fitness and wellbeing facilities for staff. There is particular interest in hearing from colleagues who do not currently use University or college facilities, including those who are based outside of central Oxford.

The survey is open to all staff and closes on Friday 13 February.

Image: Andreas Vesalius - Drawing of muscles on a man (1555)

It's LGBT+ History Month so why not come along to this panel discussion which will focus on the evolving meanings of the word “queer”, including its historical usage, political reclamation, and contemporary significance within academic and social contexts. 

18 February 2026, 4.00 - 6:30 pm, Oxford Martin School Lecture Theatre. Register here.

Edge Challenges is a new initiative for Oxford DPhil and Master’s students, delivered in collaboration with Oxford Science Enterprises and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

From 25 February to 15 April, you’ll join a small, interdisciplinary team to work once a week on a real-world challenge shaped by external stakeholders. You’ll develop a research-informed response with impact beyond the University – whether that’s at the frontier of scientific entrepreneurship or social innovation. 

Applications close 5 pm on 18 February. Find out more.

Applications are now open for SeedWISE Trinity 2026, a unique enterprise programme tailored for women DPhil students in STEM. Running from 20 April 2026 – 8 June, this programme will help you explore potential career routes in industry, innovation, and enterprise through interactive in-person and online sessions. Find out more about the programme.

In week 5 of Hilary Term (w/b 16 February for those of us on Planet Earth) the Radcliffe Science Library will be hosting a wellbeing week. There will be a range of events based on student feedback, including an art class, jewellery making, free hot chocolate, board games and more. Details and booking available on the Wellbeing Calendar.

G-Research will be hosting a quant pub quiz in Oxford on the evening 23^rd of February. Join them to discover the world of Quantitative Finance through an evening of fun and games and prizes.

Sign up here or via the QR code in the poster.

Join us for a discussion of the ideas in x+y: a mathematician's manifesto for rethinking gender by Eugenia Cheng.

Wednesday 11 February, 2:30 pm in N3.12. 

Sweet treats provided as always - bring your own hot drink. Summaries of the readings will be available through the email list and WhatsApp group early next week.

This annual meeting for research students in the history of mathematics will take place at the Queen's College on Saturday 7th March, 10.30 - 17.30

Further information and registration

Happy Pancake Day

Tuesday 17 February | Morning Only 

Treat yourself this Shrove Tuesday with our exclusive breakfast menu. We’re serving up stacks of fluffy, golden pancakes loaded with a variety of delicious toppings. 

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Tuesday 17 February | From 12 to 2 pm 

Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a festive feast. We’ve curated a special Chinese lunch menu for the day. It is available for one day only, so don’t miss your chance to join the festivities.

'Garage' was a largely American phenomenon in the 1960s (presumably they had more garages per capita). It was 'amateur', guitar based and largely commercially unsuccessful though there was a lot of it, in every garage, so to speak. 

It was mainly male, but there were also female groups such as the Pleasure Seekers (featuring a young Suzi Quatro) and The Debutantes, both from Detroit and two of the first all female rock bands, as opposed to 'girl groups' who sang but didn't play the instruments.

Check out that guitar sound - more from the garages in coming weeks.