Clay–Mahler lecture tour for 2009

The schedule for the Clay-Mahler lecture tour is now available.  This is a series of public lectures, colloquia, and specialist lectures at several across Australia by Mohammed Abouzaid, Danny Calegari, and myself, from Aug 3 – Oct 9.  They are being supported by the Clay Mathematical Institute, the Australian Mathematical Society, and the Australian Mathematical [...]

You can do maths!

The Australian Association of Maths Teachers has recently launched a campaign, entitled “You can do maths!“, to raise awareness among young people as to the importance of mathematics in a variety of careers.  Here are the two advertisements created so far by the project:

There is currently a [...]

Claims VU’s maths cut doesn’t add up

In the article “Claims VU’s maths cut doesn’t add up” in yesterday’s Australian by Andrew Trounson, comes the disturbing news that the draft “change plan” at Victoria University (part of its larger plan of voluntary and targeted redundancies to address its budgetary shortfall) will cut mathematics staff in the School of Engineering and Science (which [...]

2009 Australian Olympiad teams announced

The Australian mathematics and science Olympiad teams were announced at Parliament House a few weeks ago.  The maths team will train with the British team at Trinity College Cambridge in the week before IMO and compete for the Mathematics Ashes, which Australia won during the inaugural event in 2008.
(Thanks to Peter Taylor for the news).

The State of Mathematical Sciences in Australia

Hyam Rubinstein wrote an opinion piece recently on the Funneled Web on “The State of Mathematical Sciences in Australia“, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Australian mathematics today.  Strengths include internationally recognised research excellence, and a strong tradition in mathematics competition; weaknesses include severe shortages of maths and stats-trained graduates in the workforce (both in [...]

New Professor of Pure Mathematics position at the University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is in the process of advertising for a new professor of pure mathematics (level E), as part of an expansion program in the mathematics department. (The successful candidate for the position will also have a major say in two further junior appointments.) An information booklet for the position [...]

Review into poor mathematics qualifications

In today’s Australian, Andrew Trounson reports that the G08 has launched a review into the declining state of maths at Australian schools and universities, headed by Gavin Brown, currently director of the forthcoming Royal Institution of Australia, and formerly the vice-chancellor at U. Sydney and head of the maths department at UNSW, among other positions.  [...]