| Oxford University Invariant Society | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | The Invariants |
| Type | Student Organisation |
| Purpose/focus | Education |
| Headquarters | Mathematical Institute |
| Location | Oxford, UK |
| Official languages | English |
| President | Catrin Campbell-Moore |
The Oxford University Invariant Society, or 'The Invariants', is a university society open to members of Oxford University, dedicated to promotion of interest in Mathematics.[1] The society regularly hosts talks from prominent British mathematicians[2] such as G. H. Hardy on wide ranging topics from the mathematics of juggling to the history of mathematics.[3][4] Many prominent British mathematicians were members of the society during their time at the University of Oxford.[5]
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The Society was founded in 1936 by J. H. C. Whitehead, Graham Higman[6] and Jack de Wet [7] . The name of the society was chosen at random by Higman from the titles of the books; in this case, Oswald Veblen’s Invariants of Quadratic Differential Forms. The opening lecture was G. H. Hardy on Round Numbers.[8][9]
Though many members joined the forces during the war, meetings continued, including lectures by Douglas Hartree and H. A. Newman, as well as debates - 'Is Mathematics an end in itself?' - and mathematical films.[10]
The society has hosted hundreds of prominent mathematicians[11], with recent lectures by David Acheson,[12][13] [14], Brian Stewart,[15], Sir Roger Penrose,[16] and Simon Singh,[17] amongst others.
The society publishes an annual magazine entitled The Invariant.[18]
| Term | Name | College |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 - 2012 | Catrin Campbell-Moore | Worcester |
| 2010 - 2011 | Rosanna Creteny | Queens |
| 2009 - 2010 | Henry Bradford | St John's |
| 2008 - 2009 | Sean Ledger | St John's |
| 2007 - 2008 | Julia Steinberg | St. Hilda's |
| 2006 - 2007 | Tim Palmer | Keble |
| 2005 - 2006 | Helene Neufeld | St Hilda's |
| 2004 - 2005 | Owen Cotton-Barratt | Balliol |