Professor Sara Lombardo
Member-at-Large (Women and Diversity)
Professor of Mathematics, Heriot Watt University
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PhD: University of Leeds, 2004
Previous appointments: I have held various post-doctoral positions in Leeds, Manchester, Rome and Amsterdam, before returning to the UK in 2010, accepting a Senior Lectureship at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. I was promoted to Reader in 2014 and served as Head of Mathematics between 2014 and 2017. I obtained a personal Chair in 2017 and I am currently the Executive Dean/Head of School of the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University and a member of the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical sciences in Edinburgh.
Research interests: Integrable systems, a lively area of mathematics which brings together algebra, analysis and geometry to tackle fundamental problems often motivated by mathematical physics
аĿª½±service: Since 2017 member of the Women in Mathematics Committee, now Women and Diversity in Mathematics Committee, and of the Good Practice Scheme steering group; since 2021 Chair of the Committee.
Additional information: I am a member of the IMA Council and IMA Research Committee. I am the Chair of the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team for Mathematical Sciences (2022-2024). I have organised several research workshops and conferences, in the UK and abroad, often as chair of the organising committees. I have been guest editor of volumes and collections and I am currently on the editorial boards of two journals. Since 2021, I serve on the Scientific Steering Committee of the Isaac Newton Institute. I have led Equality (Equity), Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, both nationally and internationally; I am currently leading the ED&I workstream of the (proto) Academy for the Mathematical Sciences.
Personal statement: I am a keen advocate of the role of mathematics in the society, and of the unique contribution that mathematical sciences bring to other STEM disciplines and to the economy. I believe that it is important to promote interdisciplinary research as well as to emphasise the importance of fundamental research, especially in this moment of changes and uncertainty. I also believe that embracing diversity – in all its aspects – is key to successfully tackle research challenges and to create a welcoming and truly inclusive environment for the UK mathematics community. The аĿª½±clearly has one of the key roles to play with the Women and Diversity in Mathematics Committee and I am keen to contribute with my experience, ideally influencing also the EPSRC and UKRI; the Committee has started a number of projects which I would like to see completed in the next two years.