title: Mathematics summer schools for acoustics research training.
abstract: Mathematical methods are important for research in many aspects of acoustics. Most researchers in acoustics in the United Kingdom do not have access to master level courses to broaden their postgraduate study, so they advance their fundamental mathematical methodologies taught at undergraduate level through independent learning. They develop their mathematical skills as appropriate rather than being made aware of the potential of advanced mathematical tools at the onset of their research career. Attempts to improve this situation were made through summer schools held in 2003 and 2005 at Southampton University and in 2007 at Salford University. The background to these Summer Schools, their content and structure, recruitment figures and student feedback are reported together with conclusions about their performance and role particularly in respect of PhD completion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Design, Development, Environment and Materials, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom. k.attenborough@open.ac.uk
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Attenborough
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Umnova