Conference Welcome:

Sue Singer,
President 2005-2006

A very warm welcome to you all and particularly to any for whom this is your first MA Conference. The theme of the Conference, Sailing through Mathematics, is, of course, open to a rich variety of interpretations but the fact that the 200 th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar fell within my Presidential year adds to the significance of this theme. As an island nation navigation has always been of vital importance to us. Nelson was renowned for the emphasis he placed on his young midshipmen perfecting their knowledge of the mathematics needed to calculate their position from the sunshots they took and arguably his navigational skills displayed at the Battle of the Nile meant that when the fleets met at Trafalgar Nelson and the British Fleet already had a considerable psychological advantage over the French and Spanish Fleets.

These days most maritime navigation is done via satellites and GPS (Global Positioning System) but as Barry points out elsewhere the mathematics underlying celestial navigation is opening up fascinating new possibilities for space travel.

While there are a number of talks which build on the nautical theme I am sure you will be delighted to see that Alan Camina, the Conference Organiser, has arranged a very wide and varied programme of speakers, seminars and workshops so there will be plenty to entertain, stimulate and inspire you whatever your mathematical (or nautical) interests.

The fact that we have the prospect of such a fascinating and diverse series of talks is due not only to the hard work of Alan Camina ably assisted and supported by Barry Lewis and Marcia Murray to whom we all owe a great debt of thanks, but also to the time and energy all those involved have put into preparing their talks and lectures.

Have a good conference!