News

Professor Philip Maini was recently appointed to a three-year Adjunct Professorship at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. He is a frequent visitor to Brisbane and this appointment will fund him to visit Professor Sean McElwain for one month per year during the period of the professorship.

Professor Philip K. Maini, Centre for Mathematical Biology (CMB), Mathematical Institute, was recently appointed to a Guest Honorary Professorship at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Chengdu. The inaugural ceremony, attended by the Vice-President and several deans of UESTC, was held in early April. As its name suggests, UESTC is committed to supporting the technological revolution in China. However, it is keen to expand its research into mathematical biology and this appointment recognises the world class reputation of the CMB. It will cement collaborative ties between the two universities.

Dr Shirley Harris has been awarded a Grace Chisholm Young Fellowship by the London Mathematical Society.

Sir Roger Penrose has been presented with the 2006 JPMB Communications Award.

Congratulations to Prof John Ball who received a Knighthood in the New Year Honours list.

We are pleased to announce that Professor N.M.J. Woodhouse has been reappointed as Chairman of Mathematics for a further five year period from 1 October 2006.

A short interview with Nigel Hitchin discussing his paper Generalized Calabi-Yau manifolds has appeared on the Essential Science Indicators Special Topics website.

Mercedes Magazine recently published an article about David Acheson.

Marcus du Sautoy is awarded the Sartorius Prize for 2005 by the Academy of Science in Gottingen for his book The Music of the Primes. The prize is awarded for an outstanding recent publication which increases public understanding of science and technology.

The Sutton Trust Summer School in Mathematics took place from 10th-15th July. The Sutton Trust has funded such summer schools since 1998, in various subjects including mathematics. This summer there were 28 Year 12 (lower sixth form) students chosen from 120 applicants - a number which is growing year on year. The students come from schools and families with little or no experience of Oxbridge or HE, as well as being selected on academic grounds. The academic programme for the week was run by Richard Earl and David Acheson, the aim being to give the students a sense of what university mathematics, and more generally what the whole university experience is like. The main lecture course was on cryptography, with other workshops concentrating on proof.