The Centre for Interdisciplinary Mathematical Research (CIMR) at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK was a research centre that existed between 2000 and 2017. It was devoted to promoting research collaborations between mathematicians and scientists in other fields, as well as mathematicians working in different areas of mathematics. The aim was to use mathematics to solve problems arising in industry and in other scientific disciplines and to develop new mathematical ideas motivated by the challenges of interdisciplinary research. The interests of its members were broad and the only restriction put on the mathematical research undertaken was its quality. See the archive of previous research seminars for a sample of the range of topics discussed.
The Centre was established in 2000 and grew as a result of the interest expressed by the various Schools at UEA and the Institute for Food Research in Norwich in such a venture. Various seminar and workshop meetings were held, with all welcome to participate.
Why the picture?
M.C. Escher's work epitomises the mathematical side of art. "Hand With Reflecting Sphere (self-portrait in a spherical mirror)" is an example of how by changing one's point of view one can enlarge one's understanding of one's own world. Within mathematics and its application, that is exactly the result that the Centre hopes to achieve by letting us taking advantage of each other's knowledge through interdisciplinary collaborations.