LMSI hopes to bridge gap between maths research and application

Mumbai: The Lodha Mathematical Sciences Institute (LMSI), a privately-funded maths research institution, was launched on Sunday, with top mathematicians from across the world in attendance.“India has immense talent, we must identify it, nurture it, and show young people that mathematics can be a viable and rewarding career path. We also want to inspire Indians to think about how mathematics can be introduced to younger students,” said Abhishek Lodha, chief executive officer of the Lodha group and the driving force behind the institute, while speaking during the inauguration ceremony.Based out of the Lodhas’ residential and commercial complex at New Cuffe Parade, Wadala, LMSI will be headed by Dr Vijaya Kumar Murty, a doctorate from Harvard University known for his pioneering contributions to number theory and arithmetic geometry.“The work we undertake at this institute will benefit everyone,” Murty told Hindustan Times. “Our aim is to narrow the gap between the inception of research and its real-world application.”Murty was earlier a professor at the University of Toronto and stepped down as the director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences in Toronto, Canada, among the institutes globally for mathematical research and education, to take up the role at LMSI.The institute, he said, will draw on best practices of leading mathematical institutes worldwide while fostering an open and welcoming environment.“The focus will be on interdisciplinary exchange, senior researchers mentoring young scholars, and building collaborations with other institutions,” he told HT.Thrust on guidanceSunday’s inauguration ceremony marked the beginning of a two-day symposium, during which renowned mathematicians on the institute’s 12-member scientific advisory board will deliver talks.Thereafter, the institute will focus on running seminar-based intensive courses spread over four to six months, said a press statement issued by LMSI on Sunday. The courses would be addressed by various subject experts, and attendees would be able to enrol free of cost and pursue research in their areas of interest in collaboration with faculty members.The first such course, focussed on arithmetic statistics and number theory, will commence with a five-day workshop on August 25 and run till mid-December. It will be led by Manjul Bhargava, the first Indian-origin winner of the Fields Medal – the highest honour for a mathematician – and a member of LMSI’s advisory board. Bhargava is currently a professor at Princeton University and he will address seminars at LMSI alongside his teaching responsibilities at the university.In 2026, LMSI plans to host two intensive courses led by Dr Parimala Raman from Emory University and Dr Mahan MJ from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).“I do not want the institute to be burdened with too much structure,” said Murty. The emphasis, he said, will be on inspiring and guiding researchers towards a subject, providing the right facilities and allowing them to pursue their work freely.“We will also encourage researchers to work on mathematical solutions for issues such as air pollution in collaboration with experts from other disciplines,” he said.In December 2026, the institute plans to launch the Indian Congress of Mathematics, an annual event that will celebrate the achievements of mathematicians of Indian origin and help build a strong global network. It will also serve as a precursor to the International Congress of Mathematics, which is held once every four years.Addressing challengesAbout a year ago, the Lodha family pledged ₹20,000 crore to the Lodha Foundation, with setting up a mathematics research institute being one of the aims. During the inauguration ceremony of the LMSI on Sunday, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, founder of the Lodha group and minister for skill development and entrepreneurship in Maharashtra, said the institute was an investment in people.“This is a small beginning of a time when people will line up to come to India,” he said.LMSI’s advisory panel includes several eminent Indian mathematicians including Manjul Bhargava, Mahan MJ, Saurav Chatterjee from Stanford University, and Kavita Ramanan from Brown University.The institute will address complex challenges in areas like infrastructure, healthcare, and economics, where advanced mathematical approaches like data science, machine learning, operations research, and optimisation can play a transformative role, according to the press statement issued by the institute.“India has strong and abundant mathematical talent, but many young people feel compelled to pursue engineering as the only option,” said Manjul Bhargava, who will teach the first course at LMSI. The institute will attempt to change the situation and provide an ecosystem where mathematics can truly flourish, he said.“Our aim is to bring together stellar faculty and visiting scholars, and encourage the best minds to pursue foundational research,” Bhargava told HT.Abhishek Lodha outlined similar plans for the institute.“Our focus over the next three years will be on producing the best research possible,” he said. “In a couple of years, we hope to go beyond mathematics, and perhaps even establish another institution for similar research pursuits.”

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LMSI hopes to bridge gap between maths research and application

The institute will draw on best practices of leading mathematical institutes worldwide while fostering an open and welcoming environment, said founding director Dr Vijaya Kumar Murty

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LMSI hopes to bridge gap between maths research and application

The institute will draw on best practices of leading mathematical institutes worldwide while fostering an open and welcoming environment, said founding director Dr Vijaya Kumar Murty