Save the LMS?

10th December, 2008

The London Mathematical Society is a small but important institution which operates out of De Morgan House in London. It publishes a few (very high quality) books and journals, organises and supports conferences and symposia, and has small grants to give out for mathematical activities. The LMS also bestows highly regarded prizes and medals for mathematical research. Its focus is research into pure maths.

There is a firm plan to merge the LMS with the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), no doubt a fine institution, but one about which I must plead ignorance. Its focus is applied - or applicable - areas of maths.

There have been meetings around the country to discuss the proposed New Unified Mathematical Society, with the Presidents of both societies present (but me absent).

I can’t say that I have weighed the arguments carefully myself. But certainly several mathematicians are deeply concerned about this plan. If you have a view, you can follow the debate at their Save the LMS blog.

Categories: Maths, Politics | Comments (1) | Permalink

Bad Science 1 - Bad Medicine 0

15th September, 2008

The Guardian has won its legal battle against Matthias Rath - a vitamin-magnate who told desperate South Africans that his pills could cure AIDS, while “so-called anti-retroviral… drugs severely damage all cells in the body - including white blood cells - thereby not improving but rather worsening immune deficiencies and expanding the AIDS epidemic.” Ben Glodacre of Bad Science - who wrote the piece in the Graun that attracted Rath’s unsuccessful lawsuit - is justifiably pleased and proud. Meanwhile Rath is doubtless spitting mad, and hopefully, shortly, bust.

Categories: Bloggery, Crankishness, General Science, Politics | Comments (0) | Permalink

Laws, exclusions, and middles

30th July, 2008

What does Intuitionistic Logic have to do with Kate Moss’ drug use? A Neighborhood of Infinity explains.

Categories: Logic, Maths, Nonsense, Politics | Comments (0) | Permalink

“Education Without Permission”

10th August, 2007

Last week should have been the summer school in Sirince, Turkey, on the subject of Algebra and Model Theory. This school is an annual event, and is financially supported by TUBITAK, the highest research institute of Turkey, the Turkish Mathematical Society, and various universities. You can see photographs of this idyllic event here. However this year it was closed down by the local authorities; one of the reasons given was “Education Without Permission”.

Worse, the event’s organiser, the distinguished mathematician and teacher Ali Nesin, has been arrested, and now faces criminal charges in Turkey. Alexandre Borovik is organising a campaign and a petition against this action here. I encourage everyone to sign it.

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