This is a very short-sighted decision...
Q: Which technological collapse do you prefer?
A: We do not care, as we are not interested in Pure Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science.
M
Manuel del Río Rodríguez
5 years ago
Shame on you, University of Leicester! I doubt your self-description as "one of the top 25 UK universities" can be maintained for an institution that is repeatedly trying to ax (for the second time!) its Pure Mathematics department.
L
Leszek A Gasieniec
5 years ago
If this policy stays it will hurt badly not only the targeted academic staff but also the students, the School, and the University. The most valuable academics (who can easily find other jobs) will likely consider options. Also it will be very difficult to bring new academics of equal strengths and recognition, especially that all CS departments in the United Kingdom and elsewhere are hiring in the field. The universities including their research environments should be balanced (getting rid of the foundations of CS is a big mistake) and ought to evolve naturally in time. This can be implemented gradually through a long term strategic planning including natural departures and new appointments.
A draconian policy like this ruins the reputation of any employer and it will take a long time to gain it back.
D
Don Taylor
5 years ago
A vibrant and research active mathematics department is an essential component of every respectable university
J
James Sochacki
5 years ago
All these discoveries in computer science, applied maths, computational maths were based on pure maths. This is a BAD idea.
G
Gerhard Woeginger
5 years ago
A shortsighted decision. There is no excellence in research without understanding the foundations of science.
D
Dr Matthew England
5 years ago
Progress in applied research requires strong foundational research!
A
Alexandre Zagoskin FInstP
5 years ago
Rephrasing Talleyrand, this is worse than a disgrace. This is a mistake.
J
Joel Day
5 years ago
Isolating applied research from the foundations will only be to the detriment of both. The wider research community, both nationally and internationally, recognises the value of strong mathematical research. This plan will likely result in reputational damage to the University, both as a research institution and as an employer, both of which will make it substantially harder for the University to "shape for excellence" in the future.
A
Andrea Cangiani
5 years ago
Fire the VC
I
Ian Gallagher
5 years ago
Worryingly short-sighted.
M
Misha Rudnev
5 years ago
Why does not the Executive Board declare themselves redundant instead if cuts have to be made? Was not it THEM who've navigated the University into the dire straits?
P
Prof Simon King
5 years ago
Removing the foundations of a subject means that eventually (not tomorrow, but perhaps in a few decades) the whole house will fall down.
T
Thomas Erlebach
5 years ago
The plan shows a complete lack of understanding of how important pure maths is (also for developments in AI and data science etc.) and of how intricately linked pure and applied maths are. Closing down pure maths will destroy mathematics at Leicester.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
It is naive to think that research in pure mathematics does not underpin other branches of mathematics and other disciplines. I urge you to reconsider.
G
Gavin Gibson
5 years ago
Pure mathematics is essential to underpin developments in AI and related areas. Any proposal that weakens the former will also damage prospects for the latter.
A
Andrew Philippides
5 years ago
My BSc in Pure Maths was the ideal preparation for a career in AI and robotics. This is a ridiculous decision
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Pure Maths underpins all the in focus topics, without it they are doomed.
A
Asma Adnane
5 years ago
Everyone should be able to progress in any research direction he is strong in, the research doesn't change with the agenda
P
Peter Green
5 years ago
Don't discard the seed corn - the ideas of this group underpin the future you haven't thought of yet
This is a very short-sighted decision... Q: Which technological collapse do you prefer? A: We do not care, as we are not interested in Pure Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science.
Shame on you, University of Leicester! I doubt your self-description as "one of the top 25 UK universities" can be maintained for an institution that is repeatedly trying to ax (for the second time!) its Pure Mathematics department.
If this policy stays it will hurt badly not only the targeted academic staff but also the students, the School, and the University. The most valuable academics (who can easily find other jobs) will likely consider options. Also it will be very difficult to bring new academics of equal strengths and recognition, especially that all CS departments in the United Kingdom and elsewhere are hiring in the field. The universities including their research environments should be balanced (getting rid of the foundations of CS is a big mistake) and ought to evolve naturally in time. This can be implemented gradually through a long term strategic planning including natural departures and new appointments. A draconian policy like this ruins the reputation of any employer and it will take a long time to gain it back.
A vibrant and research active mathematics department is an essential component of every respectable university
All these discoveries in computer science, applied maths, computational maths were based on pure maths. This is a BAD idea.
A shortsighted decision. There is no excellence in research without understanding the foundations of science.
Progress in applied research requires strong foundational research!
Rephrasing Talleyrand, this is worse than a disgrace. This is a mistake.
Isolating applied research from the foundations will only be to the detriment of both. The wider research community, both nationally and internationally, recognises the value of strong mathematical research. This plan will likely result in reputational damage to the University, both as a research institution and as an employer, both of which will make it substantially harder for the University to "shape for excellence" in the future.
Fire the VC
Worryingly short-sighted.
Why does not the Executive Board declare themselves redundant instead if cuts have to be made? Was not it THEM who've navigated the University into the dire straits?
Removing the foundations of a subject means that eventually (not tomorrow, but perhaps in a few decades) the whole house will fall down.
The plan shows a complete lack of understanding of how important pure maths is (also for developments in AI and data science etc.) and of how intricately linked pure and applied maths are. Closing down pure maths will destroy mathematics at Leicester.
It is naive to think that research in pure mathematics does not underpin other branches of mathematics and other disciplines. I urge you to reconsider.
Pure mathematics is essential to underpin developments in AI and related areas. Any proposal that weakens the former will also damage prospects for the latter.
My BSc in Pure Maths was the ideal preparation for a career in AI and robotics. This is a ridiculous decision
Pure Maths underpins all the in focus topics, without it they are doomed.
Everyone should be able to progress in any research direction he is strong in, the research doesn't change with the agenda
Don't discard the seed corn - the ideas of this group underpin the future you haven't thought of yet