Savilian Professor of Geometry

Savilian Professor of Geometry
Post	Savilian Professor of Geometry
Body	University of Oxford
Incumbent	Frances Kirwan
Incumbentsince	2017
Department	Mathematical Institute
Appointer	University of Oxford
Termlength	Tenured professorship
Formation	1619
First	Henry Briggs

Savilian Professor of Geometry. The Savilian Professor of Geometry is a prestigious, endowed professorship in geometry at the University of Oxford. Founded in 1619 by the bequest of Sir Henry Savile, a Warden of Merton College, it is one of the oldest and most distinguished mathematical chairs in the world. The position has been held by many of history's most influential mathematicians, who have profoundly shaped the development of mathematics, astronomy, and theoretical physics.

History and establishment

The chair was established as part of Sir Henry Savile's landmark endowment to the University of Oxford in 1619, which also created the Savilian Professor of Astronomy. Savile, a noted classical scholar and patron of learning, sought to reform the teaching of the mathematical sciences in England, which he felt lagged behind continental Europe. His statutes specified that the professor should lecture on Euclidean geometry, conic sections, and other classical texts, while also engaging with contemporary advancements. The first holder, Henry Briggs, was a leading figure in the development of logarithms following his collaboration with John Napier. The establishment of the chair marked a significant step in the institutionalization of advanced mathematical research within the British university system, influencing the later founding of the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

List of Savilian Professors of Geometry

Since its inception, the position has been held by a succession of eminent scholars. Following Henry Briggs, early notable professors included John Wallis, a founding member of the Royal Society who made seminal contributions to calculus and infinite series. The 18th century saw figures like Edmond Halley, who succeeded Wallis and is famed for his work on comet orbits, and Nathaniel Bliss. The 19th century was marked by the long tenure of Baden Powell and the revolutionary James Joseph Sylvester, a co-founder of invariant theory. In the 20th century, luminaries included G. H. Hardy, a central figure in analytic number theory and mentor to Srinivasa Ramanujan, and Michael Atiyah, a recipient of the Fields Medal and Abel Prize for his work in topology and geometry. The current holder, appointed in 2017, is Frances Kirwan, an expert in algebraic geometry and former President of the London Mathematical Society.

Role and responsibilities

The original statutes dictated that the professor deliver regular lectures on prescribed geometrical texts, a duty that has evolved significantly. Today, the professor is a senior member of the Mathematical Institute at Oxford and plays a leading role in the university's research and teaching in pure mathematics. Responsibilities include supervising graduate students, conducting original research, and contributing to the administration and strategic direction of the mathematical sciences at Oxford. The professor also often participates in broader academic service, such as serving on committees for the Royal Society or advising national bodies like the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Notable contributions and impact

Holders of the chair have been responsible for transformative discoveries across mathematics and science. John Wallis's work on infinitesimals directly influenced the development of Newtonian calculus. Edmond Halley's application of Newton's laws of motion to comets remains a cornerstone of celestial mechanics. In the modern era, G. H. Hardy's work on the Hardy–Littlewood circle method and his collaboration with Ramanujan revitalized number theory. Michael Atiyah's development of the Atiyah–Singer index theorem with Isadore Singer bridged differential geometry and topology, with profound implications for theoretical physics, including quantum field theory. The professorship has thus served as a catalyst for advances linking pure mathematics to fields like cosmology and particle physics.

Relationship with other Savilian chairs

The professorship is intrinsically linked to the Savilian Professor of Astronomy, founded simultaneously under the same endowment. Historically, the two chairs were closely allied, with professors often collaborating; for instance, Edmond Halley held both positions sequentially. They form the core of the historic Savilian chairs, which are distinct from other Oxford professorships like the Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy or the Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics. While the astronomy chair is now housed within the Department of Physics, the geometry professorship remains central to the Mathematical Institute, maintaining a unique identity within Oxford's ecosystem of endowed scientific chairs.

Election and tenure process

The professor is appointed by the University of Oxford following a rigorous international search conducted by a specially convened electoral board. This board typically includes the Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor's appointed representative, the Head of the Mathematical Institute, and other senior academics from within Oxford and occasionally from other institutions like the University of Cambridge or Imperial College London. The position is a tenured professorship, implying a permanent appointment until retirement, contingent upon the holder's continued engagement in research, teaching, and academic leadership as expected of a senior Fellow of the Royal Society-caliber scholar.

Category:University of Oxford Category:Academic chairs Category:Mathematics in the United Kingdom