Savilian Professor of Geometry

Savilian Professor of Geometry is a prestigious academic position at the University of Oxford, founded in 1619 by Henry Savile, who also established the Savilian Professor of Astronomy. The chair is part of the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford and has been held by many renowned mathematicians, including Isaac Barrow, Edmond Halley, and Baden Powell (mathematician). The professorship has played a significant role in the development of mathematics and physics at the University of Oxford, with notable contributions to astronomy, optics, and mechanics. The Royal Society has recognized the achievements of several Savilian Professors of Geometry, including Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke, and Isaac Newton.

● History of

the Chair The Savilian Professor of Geometry was established in 1619, along with the Savilian Professor of Astronomy, by Henry Savile, a British mathematician and astronomer. The chair was initially held by Henry Briggs, who was a prominent figure in the development of logarithms and trigonometry. Over the years, the professorship has been associated with several notable mathematicians, including John Wallis, who made significant contributions to calculus, algebra, and geometry. The University of Oxford has a long history of academic excellence, with institutions like Christ Church, Oxford, Brasenose College, Oxford, and Magdalen College, Oxford producing many distinguished scholars, including Archibald Hill, Dorothy Hodgkin, and Andrew Wiles. The London Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association have also recognized the achievements of Savilian Professors of Geometry, including Godfrey Harold Hardy, John Edensor Littlewood, and Mary Cartwright.

● Notable Professors

Many notable mathematicians have held the position of Savilian Professor of Geometry, including Isaac Barrow, who was a prominent figure in the development of calculus and optics. Edmond Halley, who discovered Halley's Comet, also held the chair and made significant contributions to astronomy and mathematics. Baden Powell (mathematician), who was a prominent figure in the development of mathematics and physics at the University of Oxford, also held the position. Other notable professors include Stephen Hawking, who was a renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist, and Roger Penrose, who is a prominent figure in the development of mathematical physics and cosmology. The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the European Mathematical Society have recognized the achievements of several Savilian Professors of Geometry, including Michael Atiyah, Simon Donaldson, and Richard Taylor (mathematician).

● Role and Responsibilities

The Savilian Professor of Geometry is responsible for teaching and research in geometry and related fields, such as topology, algebraic geometry, and differential geometry. The professor is also expected to contribute to the development of mathematics and physics at the University of Oxford, and to participate in the academic life of the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford. The professorship is associated with several other institutions, including the Clarendon Laboratory, the Department of Physics, University of Oxford, and the Oxford University Computing Laboratory. The Science and Technology Facilities Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council have provided funding for research projects led by Savilian Professors of Geometry, including Andrew Strominger, Cumrun Vafa, and Nigel Hitchin.

● List of Savilian Professors of Geometry

The list of Savilian Professors of Geometry includes: * Henry Briggs (1619-1630) * Peter Turner (mathematician) (1631-1648) * John Wallis (1649-1703) * Edmond Halley (1704-1742) * Nathaniel Bliss (1742-1764) * Joseph Betts (1765-1770) * John Smith (mathematician) (1770-1796) * Abraham Robertson (1797-1815) * Stephen Peter Rigaud (1815-1839) * Baden Powell (mathematician) (1839-1860) * Henry John Stephen Smith (1860-1883) * James Joseph Sylvester (1883-1897) * William Esson (1897-1916) * Godfrey Harold Hardy (1919-1931) * Edward Charles Titchmarsh (1931-1963) * Michael Atiyah (1963-1969) * Elias Stein (1969-1974) * Nigel Hitchin (1974-1994) * Simon Donaldson (1994-2001) * Frances Kirwan (2001-2016) * Ulrike Tillmann (2016-present)

● Academic Influence

The Savilian Professor of Geometry has had a significant impact on the development of mathematics and physics at the University of Oxford and beyond. The chair has been associated with several major breakthroughs, including the development of calculus, optics, and mechanics. The professorship has also played a key role in the development of astronomy and cosmology, with notable contributions from Edmond Halley, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking. The International Mathematical Union and the European Mathematical Society have recognized the achievements of several Savilian Professors of Geometry, including Andrew Wiles, Richard Taylor (mathematician), and Ngô Bảo Châu. The University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and University College London have also been influenced by the work of Savilian Professors of Geometry, including John Edensor Littlewood, Mary Cartwright, and Christopher Zeeman. Category:Academic positions