A world famous place for research in the mathematical sciences with a reputation for efficient management and a warm welcome for visitors
The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences is a national and international visitor research institute. It runs research programmes on selected themes in mathematics and the mathematical sciences with applications over a wide range of science and technology. It attracts leading mathematical scientists from the UK and overseas to interact in research over an extended period.
INI has a vital national role, building on many strengths that already exist in UK universities, aiming to generate a new vitality through stimulating and nurturing research throughout the country.
During each scientific programme new collaborations are made and ideas and expertise are exchanged and catalysed through lectures, seminars and informal interaction, which the INI building has been designed specifically to encourage.
Please see the table below for a summary description of the Institute's main forms of activity.
| Type of activity | Typical duration | Typical # of participants | Additional info. |
| Long programmes | 4 or 6 months | 20-30 at any time* |
• Collaborative research projects which attract leading mathematical scientists and other academics from across the globe. |
| Short programmes | 1 month | 20-30 at any time* | • As above, but on a shorter timescale. • A common and desirable output is a proposal for a longer programme. • Overseas participants are strongly encouraged to visit and give seminars at UK institutions outside Cambridge. • Programmes run in parallel, two (long or short) at any time, allowing the potential for further cross-fertilisation of ideas. |
| Workshops | 1 week | Up to 130 | • Collaborative events on related topics embedded into programmes. • Typically 4-6 workshops in a 6-month programme, 3 in a 4-month programme and 1 in a 4-week programme. • May contain an instructional component. • May incorporate Open for Business sessions or days. |
| Satellite workshops | 1 week | Up to 100 | • A type of programme workshop (see above): − May contain an instructional component. − May incorporate Open for Business sessions or days. • Held at a UK location outside Cambridge where there is a significant corpus of related activity. • Longer programmes incorporate at least one satellite workshop. |
| Follow on workshops | 1 week | Up to 100 | • Sustain momentum in the field established during the original programme. • Cement collaborations and networks established during the original meeting. • An opportunity to explore joint research grant possibilities. • An opportunity to crystallise research questions in advance of the submission of a proposal for a follow on INI programme. − The follow on programme may involve driving the mathematical techniques developed in the previous programme into a new field or application domain. • Investigate societal and economic impact of original programme including take-up by business and Government. • May incorporate Open for Business sessions or days. |
| Scoping meetings | 1 -5 days | 20 | • Incubate ideas where questions in other areas raise mathematical challenges. • Bring together international and UK experts from different fields to consider the potential for interactions where multidisciplinary activity is anticipated. • An opportunity for communities outside the mathematical sciences (traditionally interpreted) to set research challenges for the mathematical sciences and to influence mathematical research directions. • May incorporate Open for Business sessions or days. |
| Open for business activities | 1-5 days | Up to 100 | • Knowledge transfer in collaboration with the Smith Institute. • Days or sessions relevant to the industrial, commercial or financial sectors. • Frequently embedded within other INI scientific activities. • An opportunity for these sectors to set research challenges for the mathematical sciences and to influence mathematical research directions. • Young researchers are exposed to the needs of the industrial, commercial and financial sectors and the implications of mathematical research for applications of strategic and commercial importance. |
* (depending upon whether 2 or 3 programmes are being run concurrently)
