So why is the UK government putting hundreds of millions of pounds into fundamental research in mathematics? What are the Heilbronn Institute and the Turing Institute doing? Even at a basic utilitarian level, this idea fails. This programme, and not only the part of it that affects mathematics, will cause devastating reputational damage to the University of Leicester.
J
Jamie Vicary
5 years ago
This is a short-sighted and terribly unfortunate act by the University of Leicester. Sacking all your female mathematicians is an appalling thing to do. Pure mathematics is the foundation of all science, and pure mathematicians can contribute in so many ways to a university. The pure mathematics track record at Leicester has a fantastic track-record. If university management is trying to sow discontent in as many staff as possible, this is a great way to do it.
B
Bernard Kay
5 years ago
I'm an Applied Mathematician and I apply Pure Mathematics every day! No university could sustain an undergraduate mathematics course unless there is a lively research activity in all areas of mathematics amongst the staff. Nor could Applied Mathematics research thrive in a university without Pure Mathematics research going on too. Please reconsider.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Pure mathematics is important for the development of science in general, it'd be foolish to axe it.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
The importance of pure mathematics for laying the foundation that permits relevant scientific advances and novel applications cannot be overstated.
J
Jonathan Bagley
5 years ago
Pure mathematics is the foundation of today's world. Without it, the Google search engine wouldn't exist and secure online payment would be impossible. And I need people who can answer my dumb analysis questions.
J
James Marshall
5 years ago
To countenance the replacement of research into pure maths with research into AI is, well - I have never heard the like. I recommend the decision makers involved read Profession by Isaac Asimov
C
Chris Wood
5 years ago
To VC: if you cut off a bird's wing then that bird will never fly, no matter how "excellent" you declare the bird to be.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Don't do this!
C
Colm-cille Caulfield
5 years ago
As a (very) applied mathematician, I find this decision profoundly disappointing and also misguided. "Pure" mathematics is essential to putting statistical analyses, artificial intelligence, machine learning and all other aspects of the mathematics of information on a firm, trustable and interpretable footing.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Just as the distinction between pure and applied mathematics is breaking down in the mathematical community, Leicester's management seems to be taking a very old-fashioned, ill-informed approach.
I
Irakli Patchkoria
5 years ago
Math department at the University of Leicester is a world class department. They have amazing mathematicians and they are doing extremely important research. For example in my area, Topology/Algbera this is one of the strongest deaprtments in the UK. Also removing pure math research will destroy the quality of math teaching and all science subjects will extremely suffer from that. Mr VC please do not cause irreparable damage to your University!
J
Jorge Vitória
5 years ago
I stand in solidarity with the colleagues in Leicester. This absurd, narrow-minded decision needs to be overturned!
M
Mike Grannell
5 years ago
I can hardly believe this is proposal is being considered at a time when "pure" mathematics is finding so many applications to biological sciences, AI and data security (to name just three). Pure maths is what underlies all maths. If implemented you will end up with a third class department that will not attract good students. I wish the staff every success in opposing this daft proposal.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Getting rid of pure mathematics is shortsighted and stupid. If the claim of ensuring an identity in the fields they mention is to be believed, it cannot be taken seriously if pure maths is dropped. All these fields rely on, and benefit tremendously from research in pure mathematics. The research endeavor in the sciences is deeply interconnected, and pure mathematics is at its heart.
I
Irit Huq-Kuruvilla
5 years ago
This is a short-sighted decision that will tank the reputation of this university, rather than improve it.
In addition to the obvious cruelty of firing people during a pandemic, few people in other disciplines will come to Leicester if they know they can also easily be made redundant on the whims of an incompetent University VC.
J
Jeremy Rickard
5 years ago
An unbelievably bad and shortsighted decision. Very sad.
B
Brendan Quinn
5 years ago
This proposal makes no academic sense and so no financial sense either
So why is the UK government putting hundreds of millions of pounds into fundamental research in mathematics? What are the Heilbronn Institute and the Turing Institute doing? Even at a basic utilitarian level, this idea fails. This programme, and not only the part of it that affects mathematics, will cause devastating reputational damage to the University of Leicester.
This is a short-sighted and terribly unfortunate act by the University of Leicester. Sacking all your female mathematicians is an appalling thing to do. Pure mathematics is the foundation of all science, and pure mathematicians can contribute in so many ways to a university. The pure mathematics track record at Leicester has a fantastic track-record. If university management is trying to sow discontent in as many staff as possible, this is a great way to do it.
I'm an Applied Mathematician and I apply Pure Mathematics every day! No university could sustain an undergraduate mathematics course unless there is a lively research activity in all areas of mathematics amongst the staff. Nor could Applied Mathematics research thrive in a university without Pure Mathematics research going on too. Please reconsider.
Pure mathematics is important for the development of science in general, it'd be foolish to axe it.
The importance of pure mathematics for laying the foundation that permits relevant scientific advances and novel applications cannot be overstated.
Pure mathematics is the foundation of today's world. Without it, the Google search engine wouldn't exist and secure online payment would be impossible. And I need people who can answer my dumb analysis questions.
To countenance the replacement of research into pure maths with research into AI is, well - I have never heard the like. I recommend the decision makers involved read Profession by Isaac Asimov
To VC: if you cut off a bird's wing then that bird will never fly, no matter how "excellent" you declare the bird to be.
Don't do this!
As a (very) applied mathematician, I find this decision profoundly disappointing and also misguided. "Pure" mathematics is essential to putting statistical analyses, artificial intelligence, machine learning and all other aspects of the mathematics of information on a firm, trustable and interpretable footing.
Just as the distinction between pure and applied mathematics is breaking down in the mathematical community, Leicester's management seems to be taking a very old-fashioned, ill-informed approach.
Math department at the University of Leicester is a world class department. They have amazing mathematicians and they are doing extremely important research. For example in my area, Topology/Algbera this is one of the strongest deaprtments in the UK. Also removing pure math research will destroy the quality of math teaching and all science subjects will extremely suffer from that. Mr VC please do not cause irreparable damage to your University!
I stand in solidarity with the colleagues in Leicester. This absurd, narrow-minded decision needs to be overturned!
I can hardly believe this is proposal is being considered at a time when "pure" mathematics is finding so many applications to biological sciences, AI and data security (to name just three). Pure maths is what underlies all maths. If implemented you will end up with a third class department that will not attract good students. I wish the staff every success in opposing this daft proposal.
Getting rid of pure mathematics is shortsighted and stupid. If the claim of ensuring an identity in the fields they mention is to be believed, it cannot be taken seriously if pure maths is dropped. All these fields rely on, and benefit tremendously from research in pure mathematics. The research endeavor in the sciences is deeply interconnected, and pure mathematics is at its heart.
This is a short-sighted decision that will tank the reputation of this university, rather than improve it. In addition to the obvious cruelty of firing people during a pandemic, few people in other disciplines will come to Leicester if they know they can also easily be made redundant on the whims of an incompetent University VC.
An unbelievably bad and shortsighted decision. Very sad.
This proposal makes no academic sense and so no financial sense either
Pure maths is very important.
This is absolutely appalling!!!