The Thomas Stieltjes Institute for Mathematics is a Dutch
research institute in mathematics, in which participate the
University of Amsterdam, the Free University of Amsterdam, the
Delft University of Technology, the Eindhoven University of
Technology, the University of Leiden and the Erasmus
University of Rotterdam. The Institute collaborates with the Centre
for Mathematics and Computer Sciences (CWI) in Amsterdam. The
University of Leiden is administrator of the Institute.
The Stieltjes Institute was founded the 12th of November 1992
and carries out research in four main areas of fundamental and
applied mathematics: Algebra & Geometry, Analysis, Stochastics
and Operation Research. The Institute has a research training
programme for Ph.D. students, which started September 1, 1993.
In June 1994 the Institute received formal recognition as a
research school (onderzoekschool) from the Royal Netherlands
Academy of Sciences (KNAW).
Mathematics has many different branches and two different aspects: the fundamental and the applied. However, it is a single coherent body of knowledge. This is demonstrated time and again by sometimes unexpected links between the various parts of mathematics and by the possibilities to apply even the most abstract developments. Also, direct contact with fields of application often generate new challenges for mathematical research. For this reason the Stieltjes Institute does not stress the distinction between fundamental and applied mathematics, and encourages research that crosses the dividing lines between the various parts of mathematics. The Stieltjes Institute combines the expertise of three general, two technical and one economics and medical university. This provides an excellent opportunity for interaction between mathematics and its applications in the life sciences, the natural sciences and engineering, computer science and economics.