Pointer Targeting an AxisAims and Background

The International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS) was created in 1990. It is wholly owned by Edinburgh University and Heriot-Watt University. The creation of ICMS would have been impossible without early support from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, the City of Edinburgh District Council and the Scottish Development Agency. It has also benefited from support from Standard Life, Scottish Provident, the London and Edinburgh Mathematical Societies, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The core activity of ICMS is the development and organisation of international workshops and conferences in the mathematical sciences. In its decade of operation ICMS has organised well over 100 meetings (see Past Calendars for links to individual meetings). It will also undertake any other activities that meet its main aims (see below). ICMS is funded by its parent universities and by grants awarded by EPSRC and SHEFC (now SFC). In October 2004 ICMS received an award from EPSRC which will fund a large part of its programme of workshops through to 2008. (See Call for Proposals for information on submitting a proposal.) The grant from SFC also runs through to 2008 and will support refurbishment of the premises at India Street and assist with staff costs associated with development and promotion. The LMS provides a grant to support scientists from UK institutions who take part in ICMS workshops.

In April 1994 the Centre moved to its present location at 14 India Street, the birth place of James Clerk Maxwell, which is rented from the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation. This historic address houses the administrative staff and provides space for seminars, lectures and workshops. It is conveniently situated in the New Town district of Edinburgh which is just to the north of the city centre.  Meetings of over 40 people are held elsewhere in Edinburgh , usually in the premises of one of the universities.

14 India Street is a historic building and not accessible to wheelchairs. The seminar room is on the first floor and there is no lift. If any visitor anticipates having problems with access ICMS will make every effort to move the event to a different venue (probably Edinburgh or Heriot Watt University).

The main aims of the ICMS are

  • To create an environment in which mathematical sciences will develop in new directions
  • To encourage and exploit those areas of mathematics that are of relevance to other sciences, industry and commerce
  • To promote international collaboration within these aims and in particular with mathematicians in the developing world
  • To foster closer collaboration between departments of mathematical sciences in Scotland

To that end, ICMS has also under taken projects outside its core workshop programme such as: