Oxford University Invariant Society
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{{infobox organization
|name = Oxford University Invariant Society
|image = Invariant Society Logo.gif
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|abbreviation = The Invariants
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|type = Student organisation
|purpose = Education
|headquarters = Mathematical Institute, Oxford
|location = Oxford, UK
|language = English
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| homepage = {{URL|https://www.invariants.org.uk/}}
}}
The Oxford University Invariant Society, or 'The Invariants', is a university society open to members of the University of Oxford, dedicated to promotion of interest in mathematics.{{cite web|title=Constitution and other documents|publisher=Invariant society|url=http://www.invariants.org.uk/constitution|access-date=2024-06-28}} The society regularly hosts talks from professional mathematicians on topics both technical and more popular, from the mathematics of juggling to the history of mathematics.{{cite web |url=http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/about/history/ |title=Oxford Mathematics and Mathematicians | Mathematical Institute - University of Oxford |accessdate=2009-06-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812103358/http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/about/history |archivedate=2009-08-12 }} Oxford Maths Institute: History of Mathematics Many prominent British mathematicians were members of the society during their time at Oxford.{{cite book | authorlink = Donald J. Albers, Gerald L. Alexanderson, Constance Reid | title = More mathematical people: contemporary conversations| url = https://archive.org/details/moremathematical0000unse | url-access = registration | publisher = Harcourt Brace Jovanovich | year = 1990 | isbn = 9780151581757}}
History
The Society was founded in 1936 by J. H. C. Whitehead together with two of his students at Balliol College, Graham Higman{{MacTutor|id=Higman|title=Graham Higman|mode=cs1}} and Jack de Wet.{{cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Robin |title=Invariant Society 75th anniversary |journal=Oxford Mathematical Institute Newsletter |date=Spring 2011}} The name of the society was chosen at random by Higman from the titles of the books on Whitehead's shelf;John Fauvel, Raymond Flood & Robin Wilson (editors), [https://books.google.com/books?id=7QexAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA318 Oxford figures: 800 years of the mathematical sciences] (2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2013), page 318. in this case, Oswald Veblen's Invariants of Quadratic Differential Forms. The opening lecture was given by G. H. Hardy in Hilary Term 1936, with the title 'Round Numbers'.The Early History of the Invariant Society by Robin Wilson, The Invariant (2010)[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2032991/Professor-Graham-Higman.html Professor Graham Higman's Obituary in The Daily Telegraph]
Though many members joined the armed forces during the war, meetings continued, including lectures by Douglas Hartree and Max Newman, as well as debates - 'Is Mathematics an end in itself?' - and mathematical films.The Early History of the Invariant Society by Robin Wilson, The Invariant (2010)
The society has hosted hundreds of prominent mathematicians,[https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/introbook18_0.pdf Oxford Undergraduate Handbook] including lectures by Benoit Mandelbrot,John Fauvel, Raymond Flood & Robin Wilson (editors), [https://books.google.com/books?id=7QexAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA318 Oxford figures: 800 years of the mathematical sciences] (2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2013), page 318. Sir Roger Penrose,Hilary 2010 Termcard, Bodleian Library and Simon Singh.{{cite web |url=http://www.cherwell.org/news/world/2010/01/26/the-drugs-don-t-work |title=Cherwell.org {{!}} World {{!}} The drugs don't work by Oliver Moody |website=www.cherwell.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320064525/http://www.cherwell.org/news/world/2010/01/26/the-drugs-don-t-work |archive-date=2012-03-20}}
Since 1961, the Society has published a magazine entitled The Invariant.{{cite web|url=https://www.invariants.org.uk/magazine/|title=Magazine|work=The Invariants|access-date=2024-06-28}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.invariants.org.uk/ Official website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20000826222350/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~invar/archive/ Archive of old termcards and committee lists]
{{Mathematics in the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1936 establishments in England
Category:Clubs and societies of the University of Oxford