As a matter of fact, applied and pure mathematicians have inspired each other. Why does the University of Leicester abandon a gold mine?
R
Ramesh Sreekantan
5 years ago
Ridiculous.
M
Mireya Silva
5 years ago
Math is vital in life
A
Alexander Operacz
5 years ago
Pure mathematics is essential for the evolution of the human race.
J
Jack Jacquier
5 years ago
While I agree with the vice-chancellor statement "“To compete on a global level we need to focus our efforts and build on our core strengths. We can’t be excellent at everything.", I disagree with the path they plan to follow. You cannot teach future generation and leaders a set of recipes to apply. Our job as teachers (and researchers) is to be at the forefront of research to be able to teach, not only how to apply the tools, but also their limitations and the ingredients to build and modify them. Forgetting the latter is extremely dangerous as these tools will end misused. In the context of AI or Machine Learning, the tools are the software and Mathematical research is the material to build them. Removing the research component means that you will use the same tools for the next decades and loose any kind of competitiveness in the future.
This is a choice, but a very dangerous one and ultimately a loosing one.
D
Dan Lewis
5 years ago
To ensure a future research identity in AI, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science requires INCREASING research in Pure Mathematics in order to invest and extend activities in these areas. Fixed it for you!
J
James Juniper
5 years ago
This kind of short-termIsm -
focusing on STEM teaching and 'applied' research - is naive and destructive of true intellectual culture and innovation at a time when developments in fields like applied category theory subvert these simplistic dichotomies!
K
Kazuki Masugi
5 years ago
Mathematics is important
S
Sebastian Schuster
5 years ago
Pure mathematics and applied mathematics cannot be disentangled from each other, and strength in one depends on strength in the other for good research outcomes, not to mention a comprehensive and flexible university education for students of mathematics.
D
Dian Wang
5 years ago
Math is not redundant!
N
Nada Al-Haddad
5 years ago
Pure Mathematics is the essence of AI, computational modeling, digitalisation and data science. Having access to pure math education is a basic human right. New generations should not be deprived from the opportunity to understand the most basic science of all, and the foundation to "new, in-demand, in-fashion" digital sciences.
J
John Bray
5 years ago
Not again! I well remember the 2016 "issue". Any news of what happened in 2018 (see the union link) must have passed me by.
This idiocy by management must cease at once.
T
Takehiko Yasuda
5 years ago
Stop undermining roots of science.
M
Mark Weber
5 years ago
The decision to cease research in Pure Mathematics and make redundant all Pure Mathematicians is short-sighted and unethical, particularly given the timing in this pandemic. The idea that such a decision is justified by a desire to invest instead in "AI, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science" is ridiculous. These areas owe their very existence to mathematical ideas, and their continued evolution will certainly intersect heavily with that of Mathematics (pure and applied). It seems that the administrators at Leicester pursuing this agenda are either unaware of this, in which case they are incompetent, or their real agenda is political and their justifications are lies.
E
Eleftherios Chatzitheodoridis
5 years ago
It takes great ignorance about the fundamentals of the natural & computing sciences to try to scrap a Pure Maths department, and a great lack of principles to do so amidst a pandemic and in the name of "innovation". Shameful.
S
STILIANOS HADJITHEODORIDIS
5 years ago
Sad decisions by sad people
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
You cannot "ensure a future research identity in AI, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science" without pure math.
C
Casey Blakey
5 years ago
It's a bit ridiculous. The basis of all of computer science has its heart in these same mathematics. It's a little ridiculous to axe them in the name of furthering the very system that owes its existence to them.
S
Stephan Tornier
5 years ago
Featured
It is sadly ironic that research in pure mathematics, whose use in practical technology has rapidly increased in complexity and sophistication since the start of the digital revolution, is being cut in order to ensure excellence in this very digital age.
As a matter of fact, applied and pure mathematicians have inspired each other. Why does the University of Leicester abandon a gold mine?
Ridiculous.
Math is vital in life
Pure mathematics is essential for the evolution of the human race.
While I agree with the vice-chancellor statement "“To compete on a global level we need to focus our efforts and build on our core strengths. We can’t be excellent at everything.", I disagree with the path they plan to follow. You cannot teach future generation and leaders a set of recipes to apply. Our job as teachers (and researchers) is to be at the forefront of research to be able to teach, not only how to apply the tools, but also their limitations and the ingredients to build and modify them. Forgetting the latter is extremely dangerous as these tools will end misused. In the context of AI or Machine Learning, the tools are the software and Mathematical research is the material to build them. Removing the research component means that you will use the same tools for the next decades and loose any kind of competitiveness in the future. This is a choice, but a very dangerous one and ultimately a loosing one.
To ensure a future research identity in AI, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science requires INCREASING research in Pure Mathematics in order to invest and extend activities in these areas. Fixed it for you!
This kind of short-termIsm - focusing on STEM teaching and 'applied' research - is naive and destructive of true intellectual culture and innovation at a time when developments in fields like applied category theory subvert these simplistic dichotomies!
Mathematics is important
Pure mathematics and applied mathematics cannot be disentangled from each other, and strength in one depends on strength in the other for good research outcomes, not to mention a comprehensive and flexible university education for students of mathematics.
Math is not redundant!
Pure Mathematics is the essence of AI, computational modeling, digitalisation and data science. Having access to pure math education is a basic human right. New generations should not be deprived from the opportunity to understand the most basic science of all, and the foundation to "new, in-demand, in-fashion" digital sciences.
Not again! I well remember the 2016 "issue". Any news of what happened in 2018 (see the union link) must have passed me by. This idiocy by management must cease at once.
Stop undermining roots of science.
The decision to cease research in Pure Mathematics and make redundant all Pure Mathematicians is short-sighted and unethical, particularly given the timing in this pandemic. The idea that such a decision is justified by a desire to invest instead in "AI, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science" is ridiculous. These areas owe their very existence to mathematical ideas, and their continued evolution will certainly intersect heavily with that of Mathematics (pure and applied). It seems that the administrators at Leicester pursuing this agenda are either unaware of this, in which case they are incompetent, or their real agenda is political and their justifications are lies.
It takes great ignorance about the fundamentals of the natural & computing sciences to try to scrap a Pure Maths department, and a great lack of principles to do so amidst a pandemic and in the name of "innovation". Shameful.
Sad decisions by sad people
You cannot "ensure a future research identity in AI, computational modelling, digitalisation and data science" without pure math.
It's a bit ridiculous. The basis of all of computer science has its heart in these same mathematics. It's a little ridiculous to axe them in the name of furthering the very system that owes its existence to them.
It is sadly ironic that research in pure mathematics, whose use in practical technology has rapidly increased in complexity and sophistication since the start of the digital revolution, is being cut in order to ensure excellence in this very digital age.
It's utterly ridiculous!