LMS-Bath Mathematical Symposia

The London Mathematical Society was pleased to announce its Call for Proposals for the LMS-Sheffield Mathematical Symposia to be held at the University of Sheffield in 2026. It is intended that there will be two LMS-Sheffield Mathematical Symposia with one of Symposium funded by the Isaac Newton Institute (INI) and another funded by the the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS). Core funding at approximately £40,000.00 is available to support each Symposium, and it is planned to support up to two Symposia to take place in 2026.

Formerly known as the LMS-Durham Symposia and the LMS-Bath Mathematical Symposia, the LMS-Sheffield Symposia will be held at the University of Sheffield between 2026 and 2030. The Symposia are an established and recognised series of international research meetings, since their foundation in 1974, that provide an excellent opportunity to explore an area of research in depth, to learn of new developments, and to instigate links between different branches.

The format is designed to allow substantial time for interaction and research. The meetings are by invitation only and will be held in July/August, usually lasting for two weeks, with up to 50 participants, roughly half of whom will come from the UK. A novel element of the symposia is that they will be complemented by a summer school, to prepare young researchers such as PhD students, or a “research incubator”, where problem(s) related to the topic of the conference is studied in groups. These events can take up to an additional week.

Proposals should include:

• A full list of proposed participants, divided into specific categories:
  • Category A – Scientific Organisers
  • Category B – Key Overseas Participants
  • Category C – Key UK-based Participants
  • Category D – Important Overseas Participants
  • Category E – Important UK-based Participants

• Proposers are encouraged to actively seek to include women speakers and speakers from ethnic minorities, or explain why this is not possible or appropriate. 
• Any changes in speaker lists between the time of the award and the event taking place need to be discussed and agreed with the Research Grants Committee. The list should still meet the diversity requirements of the LMS.
• A detailed scientific case for the symposium, which shows the topic is active and gives reasons why UK mathematics would benefit from a symposium on the proposed dates.
• Details of additional support from other funding bodies, or proposed avenues of available funding.
• Indicative plans for the summer school or research incubator.
• Where appropriate, prospective organisers should consider the possibility of an ‘industry day’.

Before submitting:  Organisers are welcome to discuss informally their ideas with the Chair of the Research Grants Committee (Grants@lms.ac.uk).

Prospective organisers should send a formal proposal to the Grants Team (Grants@lms.ac.uk) by the deadline, 13 March 2025 for proposals for LMS-Sheffield Symposia to be held in 2026. Proposals are approved by the Society’s Research Grants Committee and INI Management Committee after consideration of referees’ reports.

The Call for Proposals to organise a LMS-Bath Symposium in 2026 will open in October 2024 and the deadline will be 15 December 2024.

Additional sources of funding