Council for the Mathematical Sciences

Council for the Mathematical Sciences
Name	Council for the Mathematical Sciences
Formation	2001
Headquarters	London
Type	Learned society consortium
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	Sir David Spiegelhalter
Website	cmath.org.uk

Council for the Mathematical Sciences

The Council for the Mathematical Sciences is a UK-based consortium representing leading mathematical organisations. It brings together prominent bodies to coordinate positions on issues affecting mathematics and statistical science, engaging with actors such as UK Parliament, European Commission, Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council while interacting with institutions like University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, and London School of Economics.

History

The organisation was established to unify voices from groups including Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, London Mathematical Society, Royal Statistical Society, Edinburgh Mathematical Society, and Mathematical Association in response to policy debates involving Higher Education Funding Council for England, Research Councils UK, and inquiries by House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. Early milestones involved submissions to the Browne Review, contributions to discussions around the Haldane Principle, and engagement during the formation of UK Research and Innovation. The council has responded to crises such as the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and legislative initiatives like the Data Protection Act 2018 while collaborating with bodies including Academy of Finland, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, National Science Foundation, European Research Council, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Structure and Membership

Membership unites learned societies, professional bodies, and research institutes including Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, London Mathematical Society, Royal Statistical Society, Operational Research Society, Association for Science Education, British Society for the History of Mathematics, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, International Mathematical Union, and university departments at University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, University of Warwick, University of Bristol, University of Glasgow, University of Nottingham, University of Leeds, University of Southampton, and University of York. Governance features a rotating executive with officers drawn from organisations such as Royal Society of Edinburgh, Royal Society, British Academy, and Nuffield Foundation. Committees liaise with funders like Medical Research Council and agencies such as Office for National Statistics and collaborate with professional regulators including Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The council also engages named individuals affiliated with institutions like King's College London and research centres including Alan Turing Institute and Centre for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics.

Roles and Activities

The council coordinates position statements, provides expert advice, and organises responses to consultations from entities such as UK Research and Innovation, European Commission Horizon 2020, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive. It mobilises expertise from academics at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London, statisticians at Office for National Statistics, and applied mathematicians in industry partners such as Siemens, Rolls-Royce, GSK, AstraZeneca, and BP. Activities include convening panels with representatives from Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, British Council, and TechUK; contributing to reviews by House of Lords Science and Technology Committee; and responding to consultations by European Mathematical Society and International Statistical Institute.

Policy and Advocacy

The council advocates on funding, training, and data access, engaging directly with decision-makers at UK Parliament, Treasury (United Kingdom), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for Education, and Home Office. It has produced submissions concerning initiatives like Industrial Strategy White Paper, advised on doctoral training partnerships with organisations such as Research Councils UK and UK Research and Innovation, and commented on immigration frameworks including the Points-based immigration system. Coordinated advocacy has targeted topics addressed by panels from Royal Society, British Academy, Nuffield Council on Bioethics, and international frameworks like General Data Protection Regulation discussions influencing European Commission policy.

Publications and Reports

The council publishes briefing papers, consultation responses, and reports often cited by bodies such as House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, National Audit Office, Higher Education Funding Council for England, and Economic and Social Research Council. Reports have covered workforce projections cited alongside analyses by Office for National Statistics, curriculum recommendations resonating with Department for Education, and data science frameworks overlapping work by Alan Turing Institute and Royal Statistical Society. Collaborative reports have appeared with partners like Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Wellcome Trust, British Academy, Academy of Medical Sciences, and international organisations including Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Partnerships and Outreach

Partnerships span universities like University of Birmingham, University of Liverpool, Queen Mary University of London, University of Sheffield, University of Exeter, Cardiff University, University of Leicester, Durham University, and Queen's University Belfast; learned societies such as London Mathematical Society, Royal Statistical Society, and Institute of Mathematics and its Applications; funding bodies including Wellcome Trust and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; and research hubs like Alan Turing Institute and CERN. Outreach initiatives connect with schools and teachers via collaborations with Association for Science Education, Mathematical Association, Royal Institution, STEM Learning, and national teachers' unions. International engagement includes exchanges with European Mathematical Society, International Mathematical Union, American Mathematical Society, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and networks linked to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Category:Mathematical organisations based in the United Kingdom