---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Director of Mathematics Undergraduate Studies <ma.dug@imperial.ac.uk>
Date: 1 April 2015 at 08:52
Subject: New College regulations on Lectures start today
To: Maths - All Research Associates <ma-all-ras-dl@imperial.ac.uk>, Maths - All Academic Staff <ma-all-academic-staff-dl@imperial.ac.uk>


Dear All,

In an attempt to combat plagiarism and inadequate referencing in student projects, the College has decreed that academic staff should lead by example. It is now a strict College regulation that “whenever a lecturer mentions a source by name, an appropriate reference must be supplied.” This sounds reasonable, but I am afraid it will have some unfortunate consequences for us all.

>From the start of this month, whenever in lectures we use the name of a mathematician (or other scientist) whether living or dead, we must also provide a full reference. So for example “Poisson’s equation” must henceforth be accompanied by a written reference such as:

S.D. Poisson d’Avril, "Remarques sur une équation qui se présente dans la théorie des attractions des sphéroïdes" Nouveau Bull. Soc. Philomathique de Paris, 3 (1813) 388–392.

Notes and Clarifications:

(1)     When citing a dual source, BOTH authors must be credited. So for example Cayley-Hamilton, Euler-Lagrange, Bolzano-Weirstrass, Bose-Einstein each require two references.
(2)     If a topic is sufficiently standard that the name does not require a capital letter, then no reference need be supplied. Thus “Cartesian coordinates” requires a reference to René Descartes, but “cartesian coordinates” does not.
(3)     Adjectives, such as Bayesian or Jacobian, will require referencing to the appropriate author.
(4)     The Head of Dept has been asked to report any failure to comply with these regulations to the pro-rector for Quality Assurance in the Communication of Knowledge (QUACK).

Usually, I manage to insulate the department from foolishness of this sort, but alas, not today. If you feel you wish to express concern about these changes, the heads of department or faculty, r.craster@ic.ac.uk or fonsdean@ic.ac.uk always welcome any constructive criticism.

    All the best,

           Jonathan,      April 1st 2015



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Jonathan Mestel, Professor of Applied Mathematics
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Mathematics Dept, Imperial College London
Tel: 0207 594 8513 Room: Huxley 630
ma.dug@ic.ac.uk