Mathematics is not redundant

This is a short-sighted move by senior management the University of Leicester. Dismantling their excellent pure mathematics department will make it very hard for them to attract forward-thinking researchers in all disciplines, including those that the management claims to support. Why would a data scientist choose to work in a university with no maths department?

There is nothing to explain about the fight between the quality of human life, investing in human inteligence vs dehumanizing and hyperfunctionalism, making run by a minority, empowering machines over humans, except for the anonymous, invisibile minority. This is just an act of resistence against psychopaths. I won't try and give a funcional answer, nor one that does not take into account the individual in the name of an alleged "collective interest", which those élites' interests: are disguised of: that would be playing their game.

Have you not learnt from your mistakes in the past?

So many comments have already said it all. So-called “pure mathematics” underpins and inspires applied mathematics and statistics, and physics, chemistry and biology, and even social science and humanities. New developments in “applied” subjects often come in unexpected ways from seemingly esoteric “pure” disciplines.

We need pure maths! People doing applied stuff at uni are 2nd rate, not good enough for industry.

This plan is an aberration. The best students, industry professionals and researchers in Computer Science (including AI and Data Sciences) are those who have a strong background in pure mathematics. Axing pure mathematics is sacrificing the very knowledge needed to progress in any of the directions that this plan proposes to favor.

No research in pure mathematics is absurd.

Outrageous decision. Shameful timing.

I am appalled to see that a university which is shaping for excellence doesn't see far ahead enough to measure how much dismantling research in pure mathematics can affect the long term future of the university. Beyond the impact it will have on the mathematicians presently at the department, at a time when fundamental research is clearly essential for the future, this decision seems extremely short sighted. As much as dismantling can be carried out in a short lapse of time, reconstructing a research department in pure mathematics requires decades.

And will the VC publicly remove the name of Michael Atiyah from the building?

Marketing Adjunct Professor

Pure Mathematics underpins all of the other sciences.

This is ridiculous and a shame and it will only affect the quality and reputation of the University. Please reconsider this decision!!!

Research in pure Mathematics is of fundamental importance for every university.

A short-sighted decision with disastrous lasting effects on mathematics and science at the university.

How does everything keep getting back to this? AI without pure mathematics will fail to perform and reach the level of its ambitions. It’s not a simple choice.

Research is not redundant!

There can be no community of scholarship in Mathematics without a base in pure mathematical research. The Department will be unable to attract anyone of quality. This must reduce its appeal to students in due course.

This is outrageous. It is a short sighted move which can only serve to damage the university.

AI, computational modeling, data science is all based on Mathematics. This is utterly irresponsible. Long live Pure Mathematics!