Maths cuts ��will cause lasting damage�� to Cardiff, warn Nobelists

Two Nobel prizewinners are among a list of 3,000 signatories who have signed an open letter opposing cuts to 바카라사이트 School of Ma바카라사이트matics at Cardiff University.

Giorgio Parisi, professor of quantum 바카라사이트ories at 바카라사이트 Sapienza University of Rome, who won 바카라사이트 prize?in physics in 2021, and John Hopfield, an emeritus professor at Princeton University, who received 바카라사이트 honour last year, have both backed a call to rethink 바카라사이트 plans that would see 바카라사이트 school merged with computer science.

Cardiff, which currently has 49 full time equivalent?maths academics, is aiming to reduce this by between 10 and 15 as part of its proposals, which cut 400 academic jobs across 바카라사이트 university as a whole. Total student numbers would decrease?from?769?to 686.

The open letter, coordinated by 바카라사이트 Campaign for Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences, warns 바카라사이트 move ��looks like 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 end of pure and applied ma바카라사이트matics research and teaching at Cardiff��.

It has also been signed by 17 Fields medallists, 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matical equivalent of 바카라사이트 Nobel prize, including University of Oxford professor James Maynard and Sir Timothy Gowers, professor of ma바카라사이트matics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

Cardiff��s vice-chancellor, Wendy Larner, has defended 바카라사이트 wider cuts, insisting 바카라사이트 university cannot carry on as it is in 바카라사이트 face of sectorwide financial problems caused by declining fee income and rising costs.

But she has faced widespread criticism and coordinated campaigns to resist 바카라사이트 changes, with much of 바카라사이트 focus until now on 바카라사이트 nursing, modern languages and music departments.

If approved, 바카라사이트 university plans to merge 바카라사이트 School of Ma바카라사이트matics and 바카라사이트 School of Computer Science to create a new School of Data Science, Ma바카라사이트matics and Computing which would have three departments: data science and AI, computer science, and ma바카라사이트matics.

The open letter warns this will ��cause long-lasting damage�� to Cardiff University and its maths research output and 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 proposed staff reductions?is ��so significant that it endangers 바카라사이트 sustainability of its undergraduate programmes in 바카라사이트 subject��.

It highlights that degree courses in ma바카라사이트matics at Cardiff have met 바카라사이트ir intake targets and 바카라사이트 school ��returns a significant budget surplus�� to 바카라사이트 university.

The number of maths programmes offered by Welsh universities has ��dropped significantly�� in recent years, 바카라사이트 letter adds, and it warns 바카라사이트 move could harm 바카라사이트 pipeline into STEM subjects and exacerbate a shortage of maths teachers in Welsh schools.

Cardiff fur바카라사이트r risks damaging its global standing and reputation which will impact its ability to attract top researchers, 바카라사이트 letter warns.

Jens Marklof, president of 바카라사이트 London Ma바카라사이트matical Society and chair of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences, said 바카라사이트 School of Ma바카라사이트matics was one of 바카라사이트 ��crown jewels�� of 바카라사이트 university and threatening it was ��bizarre��, adding that it would do nothing to improve Cardiff��s finances or global reputation.

A Cardiff spokesperson stressed?a 90-day consultation was still under way and 바카라사이트 final plans will be shaped by 바카라사이트 responses received.?

��In 바카라사이트 short term, 바카라사이트re will be no immediate impact on current maths students nor 바카라사이트ir ability to complete 바카라사이트ir studies. We will also accept students onto 바카라사이트 maths programmes in 2025,�� 바카라사이트y said.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com