News

David Acheson will give a public lecture, Mathematics, Magic and the Electric Guitar, at 7.30pm on Thursday 18 November at Science Oxford.

The event is in association with Oxford University Press.

Further details are available

A meeting on Open Mathematical Problems from Industry and Elsewhere is to held on Thursday December 9th 2010 to make the retirement of John Ockendon.

The idea of this one day meeting is to give participants the opportunity to air the 'problem you never solved'. This might be either a problem you have never had time to work on or one that has defeated you. There will be plenty of time for discussion and maybe a few problems will be solved during the day! (Alternatively, the meeting may provide John with a source of problems to work on during his retirement.)

Further information and a registration form are available.

A recent article in the journal Science highlights how early-career academics can hone a wide range of non-research skills through grass roots initiatives, including the establishment of local chapters, as the Oxford University SIAM Student Chapter currently chaired by Hermes Gadêlha, and part of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). The Chapter is run by a committee of graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Oxford, with support from Mason Porter, the Faculty Advisor, and it is sponsored by industrial partners, the SIAM and the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford.

About the Chapter

The Oxford University SIAM Student Chapter is a society devoted to facilitating engagement between the University of Oxford’s international applied mathematics community and industry through conferences, workshops, competitions, prizes and other events. The Chapter was founded in January 2008, and it is now one of the largest chapters worldwide with members including undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, faculty and industry.

A Maths in the City Alumni Network Debate was held at the Royal Society on 22 September 2010. This unparalleled gathering of faculty, students and alumni from across the range of the financial industry gathered to address the motion that “The more effective use of Mathematics would make a major contribution to averting future financial crises.”

Further information and pictures are available.

Marcus Du Sautoy is to receives an hononary DSc from the University of Bath in December.

The Mathematical Institute has been given Supporter Status under the LMS/HoDoMs Good Practice Award Scheme.

Xunyu Zhou will give a speech at the inaugural Oxford China Business Forum on 9th September 2010 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing. The
forum will be chaired by the Chancellor of Oxford, The Rt Hon the Lord Patten of Barnes.

See http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/newsandevents/conferences/forum/Pages/default.a… for details.

In "The Numb8r My5teries", Marcus du Sautoy reveals the beauty of mathematics through five playful mathematical puzzles. The subjects range from how to better your chances at Rock, Paper, Scissors all the way through to the shape of the universe.

Set in an easy to read style with copious illustrations, some done by Thomas Woolley (Dphil Student in the Centre for Mathematical Biology), this book will show you that maths is at the heart of everything we do.

These courses are designed to be undertaken by those in full-time employment - usually in the financial sector.

The full MSc is designed to take just over two years, starting in January each year. Students travel to Oxford for individual 'modules'.

Short courses of 4 days are also available.

Specific information on the course is available.

Warm congratulations to Bill Morton, who has won the 2010 De Morgan Medal.

The De Morgan Medal is the most prestigious prize of the London Mathematical Society (LMS)

Professor Morton’s work concerns understanding the flow of liquids and his results have influenced a wide range of fields, from weather forecasting to the design of power stations and from the development of aircraft engines to the growth of scientific computing.

LMS president Professor Angus MacIntyre FRS, said, “A hallmark of Professor Morton's work is the creation of original, elegant mathematics in the service of real-world applications. The London Mathematical Society is proud to honour a mathematician who has changed the way we look at the numerical analysis of partial differential equations through his world-leading research results, his vision and his dynamic leadership qualities.”