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Marcus du Sautoy, a professor of mathematics at Oxford and a well-known populariser of the subject, takes over the position this December from the previous holder, the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.
Prof Jim al-Khalili, physicist at the University of Surrey, said:
“I am absolutely thrilled by this news. There are very few people around as able as Marcus when it comes to communicating science to the public. He has done more than anyone else in a generation to popularize mathematics. The Charles Simonyi chair is an apt reward for his efforts.”
Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) , said:
“I welcome the appointment of Marcus du Sautoy as Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science. Marcus is a great science communicator and possesses the ability to make maths engaging to people of all ages, as we have seen on television and at our Festival of Science. Mathematics can sometimes appear one of the less accessible science subjects despite its central role, so I’m particularly pleased to see a mathematician take up the post.”
Prof Marcus du Sautoy, Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, said:
“The Simonyi Chair encapsulates for me the two things I have dedicated my working life to over the last decades: high level academic research combined with a passion for communicating the excitement of my subject to a broad spectrum of society.
“For me, science is about discovery but it is also about communication. A scientific discovery barely exists until it is communicated and brought to life in the minds of others.
“I am deeply committed to continuing my own research which seeks to uncover some of the deep eternal mysteries of number theory and symmetry. But at the same time, I am passionately dedicated to giving as many people as possible access to the exciting and beautiful world of mathematics and science that I inhabit and revealing to them why it is such a powerful way to understand the world. A mathematically and scientifically literate society is essential given the huge role science now plays in our world. But my belief is that message can best come from someone actively involved at the cutting edge of their science.
“I think that mathematics is a fantastic choice for the Simonyi chair. Mathematics is the language of science. It is at the heart of physics, chemistry and much of biology which makes it a great platform for engaging the public in science.
“I am particularly excited by the challenge of leading the development of ‘Science at Oxford’. Having been involved in Oxford science since I came to Oxford as an undergraduate in 1983, I believe we have one of the greatest centres of scientific excellence in the world and it is important to tell people about our success.
“Richard Dawkins has done a fantastic job in the last 13 years in bringing the wonders of evolutionary biology to the public. This appointment I think marks a new direction for the Simonyi chair and I am excited by the attention it will provide for mathematics.
“Of course I am bracing myself for questions about my views on God but this job is about communicating the wonders and excitement of science.”