Cambridge University Reporter


Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Readership in the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics is one of the largest and most highly regarded centres for research in pure and applicable mathematics in the world. The Department's research supports and informs its successful programme of teaching within the Faculty of Mathematics. This includes major contributions to graduate training at Part III level (the Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics) and in the M.Phil. course in Statistical Science. The study of Pure Mathematics is in a period of rapid progress; new areas are being developed, and fresh connections are being made between established areas of the subject, and between mathematics and modern theoretical physics. The Department aspires to continue its major role in such new developments.

2. The Department has particular strengths in Geometry, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Probability. It wishes to reinforce these by developing cognate activities in areas including Analysis, Partial Differential Equations, Topology, and Algebra. The recent election of a new Herchel Smith Professor of Pure Mathematics is an important part of such development. In advance of the Research Assessment Exercise of 2007-08, the Department expects to make a number of appointments at the level of University Lecturer, but wishes also to establish a Readership with a view to attracting candidates with international reputations in Pure Mathematics.

3. The proposed establishment of this Readership will be funded by suppressing the University Lectureship that became vacant on 1 October 2005 by the retirement of Dr Patricia Mary Elizabeth Altham. The additional costs will be met from within the existing level of recurrent allocation to the Council of the School of the Physical Sciences, who have approved the case made by the Department.

4. The General Board have accepted the proposal of the Council of the School of the Physical Sciences for the establishment of this Readership. The criteria for appointment to a Readership through open competition will be identical to those for appointment through the senior academic promotions procedure. The Appointments Committee will be constituted as specified in the regulations (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 692).

5. The General Board accordingly recommend:

That a Readership be established in the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics from 1 October 2006.

7 June 2006 ALISON RICHARD, Vice-ChancellorRICHARD FRIENDROGER PARKER
 JOHN BELLRICHARD HUNTERJ. P. SISSONS
 H. A. CHASED. W. B. MACDONALDLAURA WALSH
 M. J. DAUNTONMELVEENA MCKENDRICKI. H. WHITE