Counting on colleagues

An institute for mathematical science was launched at Imperial College London this week.

Some 50 mathematicians - both staff and visiting fellows - will work for three-year stints researching problems that require a collaborative approach. These will include using mathematics to study outbreaks of epidemics, big questions in cosmology and risk prediction.

Visiting positions will be available for more senior scientists to spend up to a year at the institute.

Simon Donaldson, head of mathematics, will be the first president of the institute, and Phil Hall, a former head of mathematics, will be its first director. Roy Anderson, head of infectious disease epidemiology, will oversee the organisation of the institute.