INI news

Launched in January 2019, the Isaac Newton Institute now proudly hosts the Kirk Distinguised Visiting Fellowship scheme. Designed to support and promote underrepresented groups in mathematics, the recipients so far are all women mathematicians of the highest regards. In the first of a series of interviews, we spoke to the philanthropist whose generous six-figure donation has made the project possible: Dr Ewan Kirk.
 

On Wednesday 30 January 2019 the annual meeting of the INI-ICMS Correspondents Network was held at ICMS in Edinburgh.

The Institute was greatly saddened by the passing of Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer, a Senior Fellow of INI for many years, on 26 December 2018 at the age of 91.

Sir Peter (full title "Professor Sir Henry Peter Francis Swinnerton-Dyer, 16th Baronet KBE FRS") will be best remembered for postulating one of the most important conjectures of 20th century mathematics: the Birch Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture. This historically challenging mathematical problem - which describes the set of rational solutions to equations defining an elliptic curve - has proven a rich source of inspiration for researchers since its inception, and directly influenced the work of figures such as Sir Andrew Wiles and his proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. 

In July 2018 work began on the long-anticipated refurbishment of INI's Benians Court properties - a project first proposed in 2012.

This exciting new redevelopment involves the comprehensive update of 24 apartments, all of which are regularly used to house INI visitors and participants. Of those flats, 16 are being altered to contain two double rooms with en-suite facilities, with improved kitchen areas and standardised quality throughout the furnishings.