Abbreviation The Invariants Purpose Education Location Oxford, UK | Type Student organisation Headquarters Mathematical Institute Official language English | |
The Oxford University Invariant Society, or 'The Invariants', is a university society open to members of Oxford University, dedicated to promotion of interest in mathematics. The society regularly hosts talks from prominent British mathematicians such as G. H. Hardy on wide ranging topics from the mathematics of juggling to the history of mathematics. Many prominent British mathematicians were members of the society during their time at the University of Oxford.
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History
The Society was founded in 1936 by J. H. C. Whitehead, Graham Higman and Jack de Wet. The name of the society was chosen at random by Higman from the titles of the books; in this case, Oswald Veblen's Invariants of Quadratic Differential Forms. The opening lecture was G. H. Hardy on Round Numbers.
Though many members joined the forces during the war, meetings continued, including lectures by Douglas Hartree and H. A. Newman, as well as debates - 'Is Mathematics an end in itself?' - and mathematical films.
Past speakers
The society has hosted hundreds of prominent mathematicians, with recent lectures by David Acheson, Brian Stewart, Sir Roger Penrose, and Simon Singh, amongst others.
The Invariant
The society publishes an annual magazine entitled The Invariant.