Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute
The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) was established in 2002 in response to a need for collaboration in the mathematical sciences to strengthen mathematics and statistics especially in the universities. The Fields Institute and the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences have influenced AMSI's structure and operations.
AMSI has a membership that includes most Australian universities, CSIRO, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Bureau of Meteorology and Defence Science and Technology Organisation. AMSI is located at Melbourne University.
Activities
AMSI pursues its mission through its three key program areas:
- School Education
- Research & Higher Education
- Industry, Business & Government
School Education Program
AMSI's School Education program was established in 2004 under the International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics (ICE-EM). Through ICE-EM a sequence of mathematics texts, teacher resources and professional development for school years 5-10 were developed.
In 2009 the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations provided funding for the extension of ICE-EM activities under The Improving Mathematics Education in Schools (TIMES) project. This funded an expansion of the teach professional development program across Australia, the development of teacher resource modules for years 5-10, and Maths: Make your career count - a suite of materials to promote careers in mathematics.
In work by Frank Barrington and Peter Brown, ICE-EM collected and published data on national enrolments in mathematics at year 12 and made a careful state-by-state comparison of year 12 curricula.
Research & Higher Education Program
Research
The AMSI Research Program expands and improves the mathematical sciences research base in Australia. The program promotes collaboration between member institutions and with international researchers and gives students at member institutions networking opportunities.
AMSI provides workshop sponsorship allocated through its Scientific Advisory Committee to AMSI Members. AMSI also sponsors annual AMSI Lecturers and the AustMS Mahler Lecturer.
Funding from the Department of Education, Science and Training enabled the establishment of the AMSI Access Grid Room (AGR) network. The AGR network facilitates distributed lectures, teaching and research. A national program of collaborative teaching of advanced mathematics at honours level at multiple remote sites is now established.
Industry, Business and Government Program
AMSI highlights the relevance of mathematics to industry through wide-ranging industry-linked activities including:
- AMSI's internship program - AMSI Intern
- Industry workshops
- Mathematical and statistical consulting services
The activities showcase the benefits of using mathematical tools in business, industry and government.
AMSI Intern
AMSI Intern is a national program that links postgraduate students and their university supervisors across all disciplines with industry partners through short-term 4-5 month tightly focused partner research internships. The postgraduate student is supported by an academic mentor from the host university throughout the internship placement period.
Members
Full Members
Associate Members
- Charles Sturt University
- Curtin University of Technology
- Deakin University
- James Cook University
- Flinders University
- Griffith University
- Macquarie University
- Queensland University of Technology
- Swinburne University of Technology
- University of Ballarat
- University of Canberra
- University of New England
- University of South Australia
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of Tasmania
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of Western Sydney
- University of Wollongong
Society and Agency Members
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Mathematical Society and ANZIAM
- Australian Mathematics Trust
- Bureau of Meteorology
- CSIRO
- DST Group