IMPRINTS: Issue 1 - May 2003

It is almost certain, if not axiomatic, that any institute worth its salt has its own newsletter whose main purpose used to be to remind the outside world that the institute is alive and ticking. Newsletters used to be distributed only as they appear in print on all sorts of paper ranging from the very basic to the sophisticated and glossy. This has changed dramatically with the development of information technology and of one of its most potent offshoots (aka the Internet). Newsletters can now be read even before they appear in print. Old issues are kept in archives and brought back to life at any time and at the flick of one’s fingers literally. Their actual distribution is no longer obstructed by physical, geographical or temporal barriers. Rather than being diminished in importance, the role of newsletters is being redefined in a more aggressive way. Like the cell phone which can now do all sorts of things in addition to what it is supposed to do originally, the scientific newsletter has become more than just a faithful depository of news and events. It now seeks to inform and influence, to form new views and change outdated ones without compromising the high scientific standards of truth and knowledge.

We have named the Institute’s newsletter “Imprints” firstly because we hope that it will give various facets of the Institute in print (whether virtual or real) and secondly because IMS is embedded in it linguistically and hopefully also imprinted in the reader’s mind. We will not be presenting the newsletter as an official mouthpiece of the Institute. We will air views expressed by others, without prejudice to them or to the Institute, and we state right from the start that unless explicitly and unequivocally stated, all views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and official policy of the Institute.

Since the activities of the Institute straddle so many disciplines, it is inevitable that views and decisions taken may occasionally touch on controversial issues and go against conventional wisdom. It is a risk that the organizers of the activities will have to take in order to break potentially new ground. It is a risk that will be taken in good faith. And it is in this spirit that we hope the newsletter will be launched.

My task as editor of this first issue has been greatly helped by the comments and suggestions of an ebullient director and his incisive deputy. Thanks to San Yee for her efforts in preparing the final copy. We would also like to thank World Scientific for providing the expertise of Aileen Goh and Ye Qiang in preparing the preliminary and final artwork for the newsletter. If there is something that can be done to improve the next issue and make it serve the scientific community better, please let us know and send your views and comments to me at matlyk@nus.edu.sg. Many thanks in advance.

Copyright © 2003 Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National University of Singapore.