Exploration of how the London Mathematical Society celebrated 150 years including both successes and challenges, presented by Dr John Johnston, Society Communications Officer, at the Science Council Marketing & Communications Network event on 10 May 2016.

1. @science_council
Dr John Johnston
Society Communications Officer,
London Mathematical Society
@LondMathSoc

2. • Initial Paper to LMS Council January 2012
• Anniversary Committee comprising LMS Officers and Staff
(chaired by LMS President)
• Early committee priorities: What messages? What type of
activities? How best to reach a wide range of audiences?
• Brainstorming session to create long list of activities
(approximately 70)
• Regular meetings from 2013 onwards (Monthly during 2015)
• Internal staff group met bi-weekly in 2015 to monitor progress
and discuss future events
Governance

3. • Project Management
• Branding
• Ambitious programme
• Fundraising
• Communication with schools
• Anniversary web portal
• Science Museum event
The Challenges

4. Overarching theme: Mathematics Unlocking Worlds
To communicate the following messages to a wide audience
• Mathematics transforms people’s lives
• Mathematics is everywhere and for everyone
• Mathematics Research: Curiosity, Creativity, Discovery
Anniversary Launch Event: 16th January 2015,
Goldsmiths’ Hall, London
Happy Birthday announcement in Parliament Professor Terry Lyons (LMS President) opened
the 150th Anniversary celebrations
The Success Story

5. • Artist Associates Scheme
• Local Heroes Exhibitions
• Thinking Space: Filmed
Interviews
• Science Museum Festival
30 Pieces, George Legendre
Praxis 2015,
Mark Francis
Local Hero: Robert Recorde
Mathematics and Culture

6. • Anniversary Joint Meetings
• Scientific Lectures
• Women in Mathematics meeting
• Anniversary Regional Meetings
• Research Schools
• Young Researchers in Mathematics
Women in Mathematics Day 2015 Young Researchers in Mathematics
EMS and LMS Presidents: Anniversary Joint
Meeting
Scientific Meetings & Lectures

7. Major promotion opportunities for the LMS
• Launch event – Over 300 attended, including school students. The event was live
streamed and covered on Twitter
• Queen of the Sciences Exhibition, UCL Library
• 150th Anniversary Popular Lectures – Four venues across the UK, London,
Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds
• Departmental Celebrations – 40 departments across the UK toasted the LMS
Anniversary
• Open House 2015 – Over 300 visitors to De Morgan House (1500 visitors over five
years)
Departmental Celebration at Aberystwyth
Queen of the Sciences Exhibition, UCL
Promoting Mathematics

8. Press Coverage for 150th Anniversary Events
Londonist (What’s On?) Queen of the Sciences Exhibition
The Guardian 150 Years of Mathematics in the UK
The Guardian (Alex Bellos) LMS Popular Lecture
Lincolnshire Echo Lincoln Local Heroes
Wales Online Tenby Local Heroes
BBC Radio Tenby Tenby Local Heroes
Western Telegraph Tenby Local Heroes
BBC Online Tenby Tenby Local heroes
Carrickfergus Times Carrickfergus Local Heroes
Other communication channels
LMS Newsletter
LMS website
Twitter
E-alerts
YouTube channel
Communicating Success