| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/J500884/1 |
| Title: |
Scottish Mathematical Sciences Training Centre -- Follow-on funding for a Taught Course Centre for UK PhD students in the Mathematical Sciences |
| Principal Investigator: |
Carbery, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
| King, Professor R |
Carr, Professor J |
Zachary, Dr S |
| Geck, Professor MJ |
Kessar, Professor R |
Chaplain, Professor MAJ |
| Davies, Dr P |
Hood, Professor AW |
Blue, Dr P |
| Higham, Professor D |
Wright, Professor J |
Craw, Dr AN |
| Norman, Professor R |
Szabo, Professor RJ |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Mathematics |
| Organisation: |
University of Edinburgh |
| Scheme: |
Training Schools (Non-FEC)-NR1 |
| Starts: |
01 October 2011 |
Ends: |
30 September 2016 |
Value (£): |
150,000
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Algebra & Geometry |
Continuum Mechanics |
| Logic & Combinatorics |
Mathematical Analysis |
| Mathematical Physics |
Non-linear Systems Mathematics |
| Numerical Analysis |
Statistics & Appl. Probability |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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09 Jun 2011
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Mathematical Sciences Taught Course Centres
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Since the autumn of 2007 when the SMSTC became fully operational, it has offered a broad range of high-quality courses designed for first year PhD students in the mathematical sciences. The primary aim of these courses has been to broaden students' mathematical perspective with the ultimate goal of bringing their experience into line with that offered in competitor countries and of making the recipient of a UK PhD in the mathematical sciences more competitive in the academic employment market. The SMSTC provides eight core streams of material, each taught in 20 two-hour lectures (over two semesters) delivered "live" by dedicated video-conferencing (VC). Comprehensive printed notes are made available for students to download and read about a week before each lecture from www.smstc.ac.uk, the SMSTC wiki-based website. There is also local tutorial support provided by a student's home department, and there are two short residential symposia at which students have the opportunity to meet each other and the teaching teams. Beginning PhD students have normally been expected to take three streams, and to spend about 75% of their time studying the course material during the first six months of their PhD programme. This means that students are also able to begin working with their supervisor from the start of their PhD studies. The SMSTC also provides generic skills training in key areas which support research, such as using bibliographic databases, report writing and giving talks. SMSTC is a cooperative venture (consortium) of mathematical sciences departments at seven Scottish universities, (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, St Andrews and Strathclyde, together with Stirling as an associate member) and as such draws on the active participation of academic staff from these departments in both its management and operational functions. The management of the SMSTC is undertaken by a Director and Deputy Director together with an Academic Steering and Management Group (ASMG) which contains representatives of each participating department and is constituted so as to be able to give a broad academic overview of the areas of mathematical sciences involved. It also contains external representatives in order to provide an independent perspective and advice. As well as being important for quality assurance, this aids in the dissemination of good practice throughout the UK. Each core stream that we offer is delivered by a team of academics drawn from across the universities and is headed up by a Stream Leader. The Stream Leaders projected to be in post for 2011/12 are also named as co-Investigators on the project. They are all eminent researchers in their respective fields and are capable organisers who have proved their abilities in inspiring their team members to actively contribute to a coherent programme of instruction within the stream. They oversee the operation of each stream and coordinate the teaching team, ensure that appropriate assessment takes place and prepare a brief stream report for the ASMG. Day-to-day administration for SMSTC is undertaken by the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS) which is a joint institute of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities established in 1990. Since then ICMS has organised over 200 meetings and has an established reputation in the UK and internationally for organising regular high-quality scientific events.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ed.ac.uk |