Maths News

LMS Hardy Lectureship 2025

Aarav S

In 1979, the London Mathematical Society organised the first ever Hardy Lectureship, which has now become one of the most prestigious mathematical lecture series in the world, and biennially brings together mathematicians, students, university faculty, and research staff alike. They are usually free for the public to view, and even streamed for viewing online.

In 2025, the lectureship was conducted by Emily Riehl, from the USA’s John Hopkins University. Riehl is internationally recognised for her work in ∞-category theory and homotopic algebra – both important tools used to understand complex shapes and structures in a new way. Her research focuses on combining clarity and communication with deep theoretical insight.

Tour of the UK

DateLocation and VenueLecture Title
Fri 20 JuneAberdeen – Fraser Noble Building, University of AberdeenElements of ∞-Category Theory
Mon 23 JuneManchester – Alan Turing Building, University of ManchesterContractibility as uniqueness
Tue 24 JuneGlasgow – Maths and Stats Building, University of GlasgowFrom the 1-categorical Yoneda lemma to the ∞-categorical Yoneda lemma
Wed 25 JuneEdinburgh – Bayes Centre, University of EdinburghQueer in math and queering math
Fri 27 JuneCardiff – School of Mathematics, Cardiff UniversityHomotopy types as homotopy types
Mon 30 JuneCambridge – The Chapel at Churchill CollegePath induction and the indiscernibility of identicals
Wed 2 JulyBirmingham – University House, University of BirminghamProspects for formalizing the theory of weak infinite-dimensional categories
Fri 4 JulyLondon – De Morgan House (Official Hardy Lecture)Could we teach ∞-category theory to undergraduates or to a computer?
Mon 7 JulyBristol – Fry Building, University of BristolA conversation on professional norms in mathematics
Godfrey Harold Hardy

The event is named after G.H. Hardy (1877-1947), a renowned mathematician and former President of the LMS, who is known for his work in number theory, analysis, and the collaboration between him and Srinivasa Ramanujan. The series promotes his vision of mathematics as a beautiful, abstract discipline.

The Hardy Lectureship is a biennial event, in which the LMS invites a prominent mathematician from abroad to embark on a UK-wide tour to deliver lectures at multiple universities, including Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. By travelling across the country, the Lectures engage mathematicians around the country, and encourage local mathematical communities to grow. This is a key factor of what makes the Lectureship unique. This tour culminates with the Official Hardy Lecture, which is typically held at London’s De Morgan House.

The Hardy Lecture focuses on recognising and celebrating contributions of pure mathematics, and a way to foster connections between the international mathematical community and UK-based researchers. The lectures also serve as a breeding ground for mathematical discussion. They provide inspiration for students, spread new ideas across disciplines, and encourage academic dialogue.

The talks are designed to appeal to both specialist mathematicians and general audiences, which is a key reason for its success across the country. They are often followed by Q&A from the audience, which provides an opportunity to learn more about the speaker, or better understand what they’ve been discussing. 

The internationally renowned mathematicians chosen for the lecturers are some of the best in their field, and are chosen to allow cutting-edge mathematics to be accessible to mathematicians, students and researchers through the UK. The mathematicians chosen previously are now remembered as key figures in the development of modern ideas.

Hardy Lecturers

YearLecturerField / Notable Contribution
1979G.H. HardyFounding figure of the Hardy Lectureship
1981André WeilAlgebraic geometry, number theory
1983John von NeumannComputer Science, Game theory, quantum mechanics,
1985Sir Michael AtiyahTopology, index theory
1987John MilnorDifferential topology, singularity theory
1989Jean-Pierre SerreAlgebraic geometry, number theory, topology
1991Sir Michael AtiyahFurther developments in topology and index theory
1993Andrew WilesProof of Fermat’s Last Theorem
1995John ConwayGroup theory, knot theory, cellular automata
1997Pierre DeligneAlgebraic geometry, representation theory, modular forms
1999Timothy GowersFunctional analysis, Banach spaces, combinatorics
2001Jean-Pierre SerreAlgebraic geometry, topology, number theory
2003David MumfordAlgebraic geometry, pattern recognition
2005Sir Roger PenroseRelativity, cosmology, quantum mechanics
2007Andrew WilesFurther lectures on Fermat’s Last Theorem and modular forms
2009Sir Michael AtiyahMathematics and its future: The role of topology
2011Vladimir DrinfeldAlgebraic geometry, quantum groups, Langlands program
2013Marina RatnerErgodic theory, dynamical systems
2015Aubin J. ThibaultTheoretical mathematics, algebraic geometry
2017Andrew YaoComputer science, algorithm theory
2019Miranda ChengGeometry, string theory, moonshine theory
2021Ian AgolGeometric topology, 3-manifolds, and hyperbolic geometry
2025Emily Riehl∞-category theory, homotopy theory, mathematical logic

The event remains regarded as one of the most prestigious mathematical events hosted in the UK, and helps achieve the LMS’s committment to build and active and connected mathematical community.


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