Lucasian Professor of Mathematics

Lucasian Professor of Mathematics is a prestigious academic position at the University of Cambridge, established in 1663 by Henry Lucas, who was a member of the University of Cambridge and a Member of Parliament for the University of Cambridge. The chair is considered one of the most renowned positions in the field of Mathematics, with previous holders including Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage, and Stephen Hawking, who have all made significant contributions to the field, including work on Calculus, Computer Science, and Theoretical Physics. The Lucasian Professor of Mathematics has been held by many notable mathematicians and physicists, including Paul Dirac, George Gabriel Stokes, and Michael Atiyah, who have all been affiliated with institutions such as the Royal Society, Trinity College, Cambridge, and the Institute for Advanced Study.

History of the Chair

The Lucasian Professor of Mathematics was established in 1663, with Isaac Barrow as the first holder of the position, who was a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and a Church of England clergyman. The chair was created to provide a position for a mathematician to teach and conduct research at the University of Cambridge, with a focus on Geometry, Astronomy, and Physics, and has been associated with institutions such as the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Cavendish Laboratory. Over the years, the chair has been held by many notable mathematicians and physicists, including Isaac Newton, who developed the Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation, and Joseph Larmor, who worked on Electromagnetism and was a fellow of the Royal Society. The chair has also been associated with other institutions, such as the University of Oxford, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has been held by mathematicians and physicists who have worked on topics such as Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, and Quantum Mechanics, including Andrew Wiles, Richard Feynman, and Murray Gell-Mann.

List of Lucasian Professors

The list of Lucasian Professors includes Isaac Barrow, Isaac Newton, William Whiston, Nicholas Saunderson, John Colson, Edward Waring, Isaac Milner, Robert Woodhouse, Thomas Turton, George Biddell Airy, Charles Babbage, Joshua King, George Gabriel Stokes, Joseph Larmor, Paul Dirac, Stephen Hawking, and Michael Green, who have all been affiliated with institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Trinity College, Cambridge, and the Institute for Advanced Study. Other notable holders of the chair include James Lighthill, Michael Atiyah, and Roger Penrose, who have all worked on topics such as Fluid Dynamics, Topology, and Cosmology, and have been associated with institutions such as the Royal Society, University of Oxford, and the California Institute of Technology. The current holder of the chair is Michael Green, who is a fellow of the Royal Society and has worked on topics such as String Theory and Quantum Field Theory, and has been affiliated with institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the Stanford University.

Notable Lucasian Professors

Many notable mathematicians and physicists have held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, including Isaac Newton, who developed the Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation, and Stephen Hawking, who worked on Black Holes and Cosmology, and was a fellow of the Royal Society and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Other notable holders of the chair include Paul Dirac, who developed the Dirac Equation and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, and Michael Atiyah, who worked on Topology and Geometry, and was awarded the Fields Medal and the Abel Prize. The chair has also been held by mathematicians and physicists who have worked on topics such as Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, and Quantum Mechanics, including Andrew Wiles, Richard Feynman, and Murray Gell-Mann, who have all been affiliated with institutions such as the University of Oxford, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Role and Responsibilities

The Lucasian Professor of Mathematics is responsible for teaching and conducting research in the field of Mathematics, with a focus on Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, and is affiliated with institutions such as the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge and the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge. The chair is also responsible for supervising graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and for contributing to the development of the Mathematics curriculum at the University of Cambridge, which includes courses on Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations. The Lucasian Professor of Mathematics is also expected to engage in outreach and public engagement activities, such as giving public lectures and participating in Science Festivals, and to collaborate with other researchers and institutions, such as the University of Oxford, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Selection Process

The selection process for the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics involves a rigorous evaluation of candidates by a committee of academics and researchers, including Fellows of the Royal Society and Members of the National Academy of Sciences, who are experts in the field of Mathematics and have been affiliated with institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the Institute for Advanced Study. The committee considers factors such as the candidate's research record, teaching experience, and potential for future contributions to the field, as well as their ability to collaborate with other researchers and to engage in outreach and public engagement activities, and to contribute to the development of the Mathematics curriculum at the University of Cambridge. The selection process typically involves a series of interviews and presentations, as well as a review of the candidate's publications and research proposals, and is overseen by institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge. The final decision is made by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, who is advised by the committee and other experts in the field, including Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists.