Although the UK has a number of specialist professional and learned societies, it lacks an overarching body with the ability effectively to bring together its diverse parts, from pure mathematics through industrial and applied mathematics to statistics and operational research, in an effective broad-based forum. The experience of the Royal Academy of Engineering shows that a single Academy is a hugely powerful way to build on the existing specialist bodies, enabling them far more effectively to contribute their individual strengths to the overall discipline. The Academy would act as an enabler, not a competitor, enhancing the work of the existing learned societies and other groups.

 

The idea of an Academy was mooted in the Bond review and has been considered in more detail by the Implementation and Strategic Committees, which were set up by the Council for Mathematical sciences in response to the review and chaired by Sir Bernard Silverman and Dr Claire Craig respectively.

 

The purpose of this event is to bring together interested members of the mathematical community to discuss the role and mission of such an Academy and to map out possible ways forward.

 

This event is now finished. Feedback was forwarded to the CMS. Many thanks to the scribes (named below) and synthesisers who supported the breakout room discussions.