London Mathematical Society

Who we are

Mission

The London Mathematical Society has, since 1865, been the UK learned society for the advancement, dissemination and promotion of mathematical knowledge. Our mission is to advance mathematics through our members and the broader scientific community worldwide.

Objectives

While the Society’s Royal Charter contains a formal statement of its objectives, the Society’s Council has approved the following interpretation of its objectives for operational use.

• To advance mathematical knowledge by enabling mathematicians to undertake research and collaboration, and by supporting them in their efforts.
• To promote widely mathematical sciences research and its broad benefits to decision makers, policy advisers, funders and users of mathematics.
• To disseminate mathematical knowledge and make it available worldwide.
• To promote equality of opportunity and a culture of fairness across all career stages, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the mathematical community.
• To support mathematical education in schools, colleges and universities, and to encourage the public and young people to appreciate and engage with mathematics.
• To manage the Society’s affairs and resources effectively, operating where appropriate to make a financial return on activities, and to seek a variety of funding sources to support the Society’s work.

What We Do

The major activities of the Society are:

• The provision of grants to support mathematics, especially conferences and joint research activities linking groups at different Universities. It is particularly concerned to provide help for young mathematicians (including research students). It also has schemes to support educational outreach activities and assistance to those with home commitments who wish to attend conferences, etc.
• Society Meetings are held at least five times during the year, including the Annual General Meeting of the Society which takes place each November. Meetings include formal business of the Society such as elections and admissions, as well as lectures intended for a broad mathematical audience.
• The Society is a major academic publisher, producing the Proceedings (est. 1865), the Journal (est. 1926), the Bulletin (est. 1969), the Journal of Topology (est. 2008), the open-access journal Transactions (est. 2014), and two book series: LMS Lecture Notes, LMS Student Texts. The Society publishes Nonlinearity jointly with the Institute of Physics, Compositio Mathematica on behalf of the eponymous Dutch Foundation, and Mathematika on behalf of University College London.
• The Society contributes to public debate on matters affecting mathematics and mathematics education, including position statements outlining Society policy.
• The Society's Library consists of a substantial collection of periodicals obtained in exchange for the Society's publications, copies of books and journals published by the Society and items acquired by the Society as review copies or gifts. The LMS Library is housed in the Library of University College London.
• The award of medals and prizes for outstanding contributions to mathematics. These include the De Morgan Medal, the Pólya Prize and the Whitehead Prizes. The Society jointly with the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications awards the David Crighton Medal and the Zeeman Medal.
• The appointment of several lectureships in the UK, including the Hardy and Mary Cartwright Lecturers, and overseas, including the Forder & Aitken Lectureship.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

The London Mathematical Society is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are open to all applications and will ensure that all qualified applicants receive equal consideration for employment without regards to race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age and disability.