Abstract

Working with the Part III students and PhD students has been a terrific privilege. Getting to know some of them well, following their progress through PhD’s, or not, on into the working world, in academia or out, has given me a chance to observe what the employment options are in this difficult economic climate. Difficult, but exciting too, in that as a group, Cambridge mathematics students, undergraduates, Part III ’s and PhD’s have considerable influence. It’s a time when using that potential to best advantage could make a real difference to the relationship between mathematics and other areas of technological research. Using that potential, making that difference, does require a bit of thought. I will talk about some of the trends I have seen, how they might develop, and invite you to start thinking.