2014-12-94

Letters to the EditorReply to: ‘An external viewon mathematical science’by Ludwig HolzleitnerVolker Mehrmann (Technische Universität Berlin,Germany)I believe that it is very good to have an external look atthe situation of a society and to point out deficienciesand make constructive suggestions to improve things. Ithank Ludwig Holzleitner for taking this initiative andwould like to comment and clarify some points where Isee that he is right and where he is not aware of the developmentsthat have taken place in recent years.It is true that many colleagues in other sciences considermathematicians as providers of a toolbox of techniquesfor them and that mathematicians do not like tobe reduced to this role of a mathematical science. Providingnew methods and techniques for other sciences, however,is an essential part of mathematical research. Butfundamental research in mathematics is important, evenif it is not application driven. Furthermore, without newdevelopments in theoretical mathematics the resourcesfor producing and analysing new methods and algorithmswould quickly dry up. In recent years, therefore,application driven fundamental research in mathematicshas grown substantially, documented by the existence ofa large number of research laboratories all over Europe.These laboratories are represented in the EMS throughthe Applied Mathematics Committee and also throughthe ERCOM institutes. There is a lot of activity sponsoredby the EMS in the direction that is mentioned inL. Holzleitner’s letter. This includes the recently foundedEuropean service network EU_MATHS-IN, which hasthe EMS and the ECMI as promoting organisations (seehttp://www.eu-maths-in.eu/). If L. Holzleitner wouldhave contacted colleagues represented in the networksof EU-MATHS-IN then I am sure the reaction to a requestfor help would have been different and help wouldhave been provided. Concerning the other points mentionedin the letter:- ‘So the sole employer for people working in the field ofmathematics seems to be universities, aside from somethink-tanks, for example in France (almost negligiblein terms of number of persons).’Answer: This is definitely not the case; there are a largenumber of mathematicians working in industry andalso in publically funded research centres. For example,in Austria there is the RICAM Institute and thereare many Fraunhofer and other non-university mathematicalinstitutes in Germany, France, the Netherlands,etc. It is true that not all mathematicians are open toother sciences, engineering, industry or applicationwork but the observation in the letter must arise froma single negative experience; to contradict the observationone can easily find lots of counterexamples in thesuccess stories book of the forward look mathematicsand industry (http://www.springer.com/mathematics/book/978-3-642-23847-5)or several reports that can be found athttp://www.eu-maths-in.eu/index.php?page=generalReports.- ‘Looking at awards granted to young researchers (e.g.published in the EMS newsletter) it is striking thatmost of them are awarded on grounds of research intheoretical topics like the Riemann-conjecture, Poincaré-conjecture,etc.’Answer: I would have to agree that it is harder to receiveawards like the Fields Medal for work in appliedmathematics but there are now quite a lot of appliedmathematics awards, such as the ICIAM, SIAM,GAMM, etc., awards that are highly recognised andare awarded to young mathematicians in industrial andapplied mathematics.- ‘The above message seems clear to me as to others: ifa young mathematician wants to stay in his field, theybetter concentrate on getting well known in a highlytheoretical topic, hoping to publish a highly-appreciatedpaper or receiving some award, and they better stayaway from any application as far as possible.’Answer: I strongly disagree. Consider as an examplethat in the last 10 years almost 100 young researchersin application driven research from the ResearchCenter MATHEON have received offers for professorpositions.- ‘I’m afraid that in this way, mathematical science currentlyisolates itself by ignoring the outside scientificworld and believing in its self-sufficiency.’Answer: I agree that there may be a tendency in thisdirection with some mathematicians but the overallpicture is exactly the opposite. More and more mathematiciansturn to collaboration with other sciences andengineering.- ‘However, for a successful transition to the 21st century,mathematical science must open itself to collaborationwith other sciences and applied institutions, bothconcerning collaboration in research projects and inopening its institutes and positions.’Answer: I fully agree that this is needed and I hope ithas become clear that this is already happening verystrongly now.Volker MehrmannChair of the Research Center MATHEON in Berlinand Member of the EMS Executive BoardEMS Newsletter December 2014 63