An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme, 2007–2008
Review of
Department of Mathematical Physics
Final Report
16th April 2008
Department of Mathematical Physics: Review Report 2008
2
This report arises from a visit by a review group to the Department of Mathematical
Physics on 11th – 13th February 2008. The Department had already prepared and
submitted a 'Self Assessment Report' that, with other documentation, was made available
to the Group in advance of the visit. The Review Group consisted of:
Professor Christopher Essex, Dept. of Applied Mathematics, University of
Western Ontario (Chair)
Professor Peter Lynch, School of Mathematical Sciences, University College
Dublin
Dr Sharon Flynn, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (formerly of
the Department of Information Technology), NUI Galway
Mr Murray Scott, Department of Accountancy and Finance, NUI Galway, acting
as rapporteur.
The report is structured to cover the following topics:
1. Context of Review
2. Organization and Management
3. Programmes and Instruction
4. Research and Scholarship
5. Community Service
6. Need for Immediate Action
7. Summary and Recommendations
8. Comments on the Review Process
1. Context of Review
This review of the Department of Mathematical Physics has been undertaken at a time of
imminent change in structure within the University and the creation of new Schools.
Therefore, the report should be read as reflecting our impressions of the discipline of
Applied Mathematics and its future, whatever the details of future structures may be.
We found the staff in Mathematical Physics to be enthusiastic about engaging
fully in the emergence of a new School and confident in their ability to contribute to its
success. We similarly found strong support from the Department of Mathematics and the
interim Head of School regarding the important role this Department will play in the
formation of the new School. There are many opportunities for this Department to
develop fruitful interdisciplinary endeavours supported by the new School structures
whilst maintaining a strong sense of academic identity.
The Review Group appreciates the candour with which the Department critically
appraised its current position in the Self Assessment Report, particularly with reference
to their research profile. The Review Group welcomes the admission of shortcomings
identified by the Department but during our visit we were also aware of external factors,
which have certainly impeded progress and development. In particular, this Department
has suffered greatly from a lack of leadership due to unsuccessful attempts to fill the
Established Professorship.
File name, print date
MathPhysicsFinalReport08
12/12/2008
Department of Mathematical Physics: Review Report 2008
3
However, the Review Group would like to draw attention to certain issues that
require immediate action on behalf of the Department. We would especially recommend
that the Department give consideration to exactly what contribution this Unit will make
to the new School and to the University as a whole. The Review Group is confident that,
by taking a leadership role in the context of research and teaching, the Department can be
assured of support from its colleagues in the School and from University Management.
In summary, this Review Group believes that in embracing change, the members
of the new School and University Management will commit to supporting and fostering
the development of Applied Mathematics as it seeks to contribute fully to the overall
mission of the University.
2. Organisation and Management
It was clear from interviews with academic staff, administrative staff and students that
this is a Department that has sustained an excellent work culture that continues to result
in productive relations between staff and with the student body. Departmental workloads
seem to be distributed equally among staff and there exists a strong collegial spirit and
sense of collective responsibility for the activities of the Department.
The Department is currently in consultation with other members of the School
regarding the nature of operational procedures required by the formation of the new
School. The Department appears to be well represented on the Steering Committee
charged with this task and it is certainly the aspiration of members of this Unit that
workloads can be equalised across the School in a spirit of cooperative endeavour.
The Review Group strongly believes that full consultation with administrative
staff is essential in this ongoing process to ensure that concerns regarding the nature of
future roles are well represented and accounted for in this period of transition.
3. Programmes and Instruction
The focus of the educational programme has been on theoretical physics and mathematics
used in physics. In view of the overall change of emphasis from mathematical physics to
applied mathematics, we recommend a broadening of the content, to embrace a wider
range of topics in applied mathematics.
The evidence is that the quality of the teaching programmes is excellent.
However, there appears to be some redundancy, and we recommend a re-examination of
all the programmes, with a view to rationalizing them. One possibility is to consolidate
several curricula into a B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics, which could be a denominated
entry programme.
There will be a continuing requirement for service teaching for engineering and
other students. This must be delivered in the most effective way possible. The average
teaching load in the discipline is about the maximum that can be sustained. Restructuring
and coordination of the programmes could result in a reduction, allowing staff more time
for research.
We see the very small number of post-graduate students as a serious deficiency.
Strenuous efforts to address this are necessary in the short term. A reasonable target is a
ratio of one PhD student to each staff member.
File name, print date
MathPhysicsFinalReport08
12/12/2008
4
Department of Mathematical Physics: Review Report 2008
We recommend the establishment of a regular seminar series, and allocation of
funding for visiting scientists. We see these activities as an integral component of the
teaching and research programmes.
The Department has no rooms for seminars, visiting scientists, and so on. This
need should be addressed in the framework of the emerging School of Mathematics,
Statistics and Applied Mathematics.
4. Research and Scholarship
The quality of the research is excellent: all staff are research-active and the standard and
level of publications are high.
The Unit has obtained some external funding. However, given the opportunities in
recent years, we feel that more could have been done in this area. We recognize the
efforts to set up a Centre for Mathematical Modelling as valuable. Although
unsuccessful, these efforts could be exploited, for example in framing an application for a
Stokes Professorship in Mathematical Modelling in the next round.
We were happy to learn that three applications under the SFI/RFP programme
have passed the first stage. We recommend that staff apply for funding through this route
on an annual basis.
The imminent filling of a Stokes Chair in Bioinformatics provides great
opportunities for effective collaboration with the NCBES and other interdisciplinary
activities. We are assured by the Registrar's Office that the university wishes to facilitate
such interdisciplinary activities and the Department should plan accordingly.
There is significant potential for fruitful interaction with other schools and
institutes within NUI Galway and with external organizations, such as the Marine
Institute. Staff should be proactive in making approaches to explore possibilities for
collaborative work.
Currently, the research efforts in the Department are not explicitly aligned with
the themes and priorities identified in the Strategic Plans of the university. In drawing up
research plans, the staff of the Department need to take account of these themes, and also
the priorities identified at a national level, in government documents such as the Strategy
for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI).
5. Community Service
It is clear that members of the Department are heavily involved in community activities
across the University and at regional, national and international level. In particular, they
give much time to supporting School, College and University activities.
The Review Group notes with much interest the involvement with the International
Mathematical Contest in Modelling (MCM), at the undergraduate level. This activity
allows students of Mathematical Physics to demonstrate their abilities in an international
forum, but also has the benefit of positively promoting Applied Mathematics among the
undergraduate student population. Moreover, it has the effect of promoting the University
externally as a desirable place for the study of Applied Mathematics.
File name, print date
MathPhysicsFinalReport08
12/12/2008
Department of Mathematical Physics: Review Report 2008
5
The Review Group recommends that the Department consider a more proactive
approach to promoting their programmes and activities, at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels. The number of students taking core programmes at undergraduate
level has been identified as a concern and has a direct effect on the number of
postgraduate students. Simple strategies (e.g. school talks, seminars for first and second
year undergraduates, poster display etc) should be considered, along with a reexamination of the Department’s promotional materials (pamphlets etc). In particular, the
Departmental website should be reviewed and updated as a matter of urgency.
6. Need for Immediate Action
It may seem to some that mathematical physics and applied mathematics are nearly
indistinguishable. In some respects this true; however the difference between them is
significant in terms of how the Department views itself. Changing the Department from
one to the other in the space of less than one year (dating from 2/23/2007) can be
expected to be jarring. Similarly participating in a major structural reorganization brought
about by University restructuring can be equally so. Doing these things with a
established chair that has been vacant for many years must be regarded as extraordinary.
Since we cannot expect the vacant Chair to be filled before these other measures
are fully upon the Unit, a special responsibility falls on senior members of the Unit to act
before the new Established Chair arrives. This implies immediate action be considered to
help the Unit with the transition and to lay the ground work for the Unit to grow and
thrive. The Department should consider immediate actions on the points listed in the
Summary below.
7. Summary and Recommendations
The Review Group has visited the Department of Mathematical Physics at a time of
unprecedented change, not only with imminent changes to staffing but also in the context
of the restructuring process and formation of the School of Mathematics Statistics and
Applied Mathematics.
We are confident that this Department is prepared and, with the implementation
of an appropriate planning strategy, will be able to further develop and thrive in this new
environment. Furthermore, we would urge the Department to set its plans firmly in line
with the strategic priorities and research themes of the University and, in doing so, ensure
the continued support of University Management.
Immediate action is however needed in critical areas and as noted in Section 6
above this cannot await the arrival of the appointment of an Established Chair. The
Department should consider the following points:
1. The School Steering Committee, in setting the structure and terms of reference for the
new School, will be crucial. The participants on that steering committee from the Unit
must feel empowered to act on its behalf. They should not be considering what a
future Established Chair might wish to do.
2. The Unit must immediately take steps to define itself in terms of actions. It must take
ownership of its identity within the new School and within the University as soon as
possible. This should be done in both teaching and research.
File name, print date
MathPhysicsFinalReport08
12/12/2008
6
Department of Mathematical Physics: Review Report 2008
3. On the research side, the idea of a Centre for Mathematical Modelling, despite
setbacks, remains an excellent goal to press for and there seems to be widespread
support for the concept from outside the Unit. One suggestion to immediately
advance in that direction is to produce a proposal for a Stokes Chair in Mathematical
Modelling based on materials already developed.
4. Creating a new B.Sc programme in Applied Mathematics, would establish a teaching
identity at once throughout the University, it could serve as the natural backbone for a
rationalized and much simplified programme structure for the Unit.
Finally, the Review Group believes that the SWOT analysis, contained in the SelfAssessment report prepared by the Department, gives an accurate picture of the current
deficiencies in the Department from a research perspective. This review attempts to
provide some guidance for short-term actions in response to this. The new School is also
an invaluable opportunity to address many of the problems raised in the SWOT analysis.
8. Comments on the Review Process
The last review of Mathematical Physics was in 2000. Many recommendations were
made at that time. Few of the recommendations seem to be have been pursued until at
least 2006. Without considering the specifics of why this happened in this case, there are
implications for the quality assurance program. There seems to be a need for occasional
monitoring between reviews in the established cycle. Nonetheless the review committee
wishes to express their appreciation to the Quality Office for the work in organizing this
review
Professor Christopher Essex
Professor Peter Lynch
Dr Sharon Flynn
Mr Murray Scott (Rapporteur)
16th April, 2008.
File name, print date
MathPhysicsFinalReport08
12/12/2008