APPENDIX 25
Memorandum submitted by the London Mathematical
Society
I am writing on behalf of the London Mathematical
Society, which is the principal learned society for mathematics
in the United Kingdom, and which serves the whole United Kingdom
mathematical community.
The Society does not receive any current funding
from the Government, nor any project grants. It owns its own premises
and receives no subsidy for this.
The Society gives scientific advice as the occasion
demands, either directly to ministers and their departments, or
through the Office of Science and Technology or through the Parliamentary
and Scientific Committee. It does this both on its own, and jointly
with the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, either directly
or through bodies such as the Science Council, the Advisory Committee
for Mathematical Education and the Joint Mathematical Council
of the United Kingdom.
The Society's main aim in promoting mathematics
is met at the university level. It does however each year organise
a series of Popular Lectures, which take place in London, Scotland
and another variable venue in England. These lectures are for
a general audience, and are well received. The Society also promotes
the Holgate Lectures, which are given in schools for an audience
usually drawn from a group of schools, and are given by academic
mathematicians.
The Society would also like to give its views
on government funding of the Royal Society, with which it has
had good and strong connections. The most important feature of
the Royal Society, in our view, is that it sets and maintains
the highest possible scientific and academic standards. This is
essential to maintain the United Kingdom's strong scientific position
in the United Kingdom. We feel that it is essential for the Royal
Society to continue to set and maintain these standards, particularly
when making election to Fellowships.
There are several ways in which the London Mathematical
Society interacts with the Royal Society. Until recently, the
Royal Society was the adherent body to the International Mathematical
Union, the international body for mathematicians which is responsible
for the four-yearly International Congress of Mathematicians.
This role has ben taken over by the London Mathematical Society,
but we value the role of the Royal Society membership of the International
Council for Science (ICSU). The Royal Society also provides helpful
financial support for attendance by our delegates at the meeting
of the International Mathematical Union which precedes the Congress,
and plenary speakers and invited lecturers at the Congress. We
feel that this international role is an important one for the
Royal Society, and that although dependent on government money
it is best carried out by an independent body such as the Royal
Society.
We also welcome warmly the award by the Royal
Society of various research fellowships, from University Research
Fellowships for young scientists to Research Professorships for
outstanding world class scientists. We have great confidence that
because of its own expertise the Royal Society has excellent appointment
procedures and makes outstanding appointments. The programme for
University Research Fellowships has developed enormously in recent
years, and helps meet the needs of Science in society by supporting
excellent young scientists, and by ensuring an appropriate spread
through scientific disciplines, and in doing so helps meet the
needs of young women scientists.
Professor J T Stuart
President
April 2002
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