This year marks 500 years of Mathematics at the University of Aberdeen and to help celebrate this monumental milestone the University is hosting a 4-day conference later this month.
While some universities have seen their Mathematics Departments close, the University of Aberdeen has seen its research strength double in size over the last couple of years, with recruitment being extremely buoyant in this discipline, and it is emerging as an international centre of excellence in mathematics.
Professor Ran Levi, Head of the Department of Mathematics, joined the University in 1998 and since then has seen the Department continue to go from strength to strength. He explains: “In 1998 the University of Aberdeen’s Mathematics Department consisted of 17 people. By 2004 the team had decreased in size to 11 due to retirements. However, this year has seen the Department more than double in size to 23, and more are soon to join, with almost all of the team being research-active.
“This is quite remarkable in this day and age. The University has very strong research groups in Algebraic Topology and Representation Theory. The new appointments in Representation Theory make it the strongest group in the UK and one of the strongest worldwide.
“Unlike many other universities, where mathematics struggles to remain afloat, the University of Aberdeen is continuing to invest in Mathematics, and has recruited mathematicians from all over the world who are highly respected in their disciplines.
“This confirms that the University of Aberdeen is a centre of excellence for the study of Mathematical Sciences.”
The celebration of 500 years of teaching of mathematics has also been heralded with a major expansion in the Department of Mathematics’ academic staff. Five Sixth Century Chairs have been appointed in the last 12 months. Four of these are specialists in Group Representation Theory - Professors Dave Benson, Meinolf Geck, Markus Linckelmann and Geoffrey Robinson. There have also been five other new appointments in Mathematics, including Professor John Wright who has been appointed as a Sixth Century Chair in Functional Analysis.
To celebrate these appointments, a Conference in Representation Theory will be held on October 26-29. Invited speakers from the UK, Europe and the US will be presenting and the conference is aimed at mathematicians interested in Representation Theory and related subjects.
The 500th anniversary of the appointment of the first Professor of Mathematics at King's College will also be celebrated at a public lecture evening event which will take the form of short lectures, anecdotes, memories and plans for the future from staff of the Mathematics Department both past and present.
Speakers will include Professor Graham Hall, who will give a short lecture on some of the great mathematics that has been accomplished in Aberdeen and, in particular, on James Clerk Maxwell and Colin MacLaurin; Professors Edward Paterson and John Wright, who will walk down memory lane and reminisce on their time at Aberdeen; and Professor Ran Levi, who will speak on plans for a new Mathematics Research Institute in Aberdeen.
Mathematical Sciences is continuing to grow and will include the building of new accommodation for the discipline, which will involve a new and exciting research facility. The process of appointing is still going strong, and further expansion is planned.
The public lectures will take place in the Fraser Noble Lecture Theatre, FN2 on Thursday, October 27, between 7.30 and 9.00pm. The event is free of charge and everyone is welcome. All of the talks at the event are aimed at a general audience, requiring no scientific background. Booking is not required and refreshments will be provided by the College of Physical Sciences following the event.
Professor Albert Rodger, Head of the College of Physical Sciences is delighted at the ongoing enthusiasm for Mathematical Sciences at the institution and is optimistic for the future that lies ahead. He said: “Aberdeen is an ancient, Scottish University founded in 1495. Our first chair in Mathematics was created in 1505 and we have been studying and teaching Mathematics ever since. This has been a remarkable year for Mathematical Sciences and the University is committed to growing and strengthening this area, as can be seen from the prestigious Professorial appointments recently made.
“The Department has an excellent reputation for research with very strong groups in Topology and in Group Representation theory and we continue to attract students from around the world as we provide great opportunities for postgraduate work in Pure Mathematics.”
For general enquiries regarding the conference, please email: sixc@maths.abdn.ac.uk or to register visit: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/~wpe006/conference/sixc/register.php and complete your details.