Deadline: 7 March 2024 (09.00am GMT)
We invite you to complete the London Mathematical Society’s survey about the future of the LMS Mathematical Symposia here.
The LMS Mathematical Symposia (LMS Symposia) have been a part of the UK mathematical landscape for 50 years (since 1974). Originally, these events were hosted at Durham University and from 2020-2025, they have been hosted at the University of Bath with a new UK institution expected to take on hosting duties from 2026-2030. The reason for this rotating system is to make the research and training benefits of hosting available widely, especially to institutions and regions that have traditionally had less activity of this nature.
Prior to 2020, the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) provided block grants direct to Durham University to host at least 2-3 LMS Symposia per year over a 4-5 year period. In 2020, EPSRC withdrew the block grant. Since then, the ICMS and the INI have each provided core funding of up to £40,000 per Symposium per year while the LMS Symposia are being hosted at the University of Bath. However, neither the ICMS nor the INI can commit to continuing core funding from 2026 onwards.
In order to secure the future of the LMS Symposia, the LMS Research Grants Committee is seeking to work with EPSRC to reinstate a mechanism for longer-term funding. We believe this kind of funding is essential in order to deliver equal opportunity to all institutions around the nation, rather than just those with ample financial resources. Before starting this negotiation, EPSRC has asked the LMS to provide a Statement of Need to be considered by its Strategic Advisory Team and, as part of this document, EPSRC has asked the LMS whose views it has consulted.
As such, we would be grateful if you could complete this survey, which is available here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/D0US5S/ Responses will be anonymous.
The survey will remain open until 9.00am (GMT) on Thursday 7th March.
We are keen to gather as many views as possible from as many diverse groups within the mathematical community as possible, so we would also be grateful if you could share this survey amongst your colleagues and graduate students. We particularly welcome input from Early Career Researchers.