O U R   P R I N C I P L E S

The London Institute for Mathematical Sciences organizes itself according to the following principles:

Detail from the ground floor fireplace.

1  Makes fundamental discoveries

LIMS’ main goal is doing great research. It offers full-time and part-time positions to the best scientists from inside and outside the UK and gives them the support and freedom to do what they do best: make fundamental discoveries.

2  Is a private charity in London

LIMS is a private charity based in central London and is wholly funded by research grants and benefaction. It is like a university research department but with no teaching or administration. It competes with the world’s best universities and research centres.

3  Supports theoretical science

LIMS supports basic and applied research in all the theoretical sciences, including mathematics and quantitative biology. It welcomes visitors from an experimental background who wish to pursue theoretical aspects of their work.

4  Associates truth and beauty

LIMS believes in the ancient university tenet that discovery is a noble pursuit, which shapes its culture and customs. Because ideas reflect the space in which they are created, LIMS’ premises are notable for their neoclassical design.

5  Has a single purpose and few rules

Most universities have multiple purposes: theory and experiment; arts and sciences; education and research. Organizational structures suitable for one are not always suitable for others. LIMS focuses on theoretical scientific research, thereby avoiding a lot of bureaucracy.

6  Is run by scientists, for scientists

At many universities, non-researchers cultivate a corporate, as opposed to collegiate, culture of governance. At LIMS, the scientists are the ‘shareholders’. The job of the support staff is to help, without imposing how, scientists do science; to enable rather than disable.

7  Promotes radical innovation

LIMS continually asks how research should best be organized, even if it breaks with established university customs. LIMS invites its scientists to participate in high-risk, high-payoff research in fundamental, difficult or emerging branches of science.

8  Is a living place, not a workplace

For good theorists, research is not a job but a way of life. They ‘work’ in their departments, at home and while travelling. Accordingly, LIMS is less like a collection of offices and more like a private house with an abundance of studies.

9  Provides substantial support staff

LIMS believes in freeing up scientists’ time so that they can focus on what they do best – research. LIMS minimizes the burden of routine tasks by providing substantial support staff for all its scientists.

10  Pays well, rewards grant-winners

LIMS believes that top scientists should receive the top academic salaries. Getting grants is time-consuming for scientists but an essential source of revenue for an institute, so LIMS rewards grant-winners with bonuses in proportion to the funding they bring in.

11  Makes better use of public funds

LIMS offers the best scientific return on investment for two reasons. Paper for paper, theoretical research is cheaper than experimental research. And because LIMS’ scientists are not obliged to teach or administrate, they can dedicate themselves wholly to their research.

12  Promotes collegiality

Scientists work best when they are part of a community and are able to exchange ideas both within and across disciplines. LIMS supports collegiality amongst its members in ways similar to those found in the ancient university colleges in the UK.