New appointments signal expansion in Mathematical and Physical Sciences

New appointments signal expansion in Mathematical and Physical Sciences. The School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) will have 63 academics at the start of the 2013-14 academic year - an increase of 58 per cent from February, when only 40 were in post. The expansion follows a very successful few years for the School, during which the number of students starting degrees in physics and astronomy at Sussex has grown almost threefold. The department has also climbed to 5th in The Times Good University Guide 2013 and Mathematics was ranked in the top 10 for academic support in the 2012 National Student Survey (NSS). From September, Physics and Astronomy will have 40 academics, up from 25 in February. There are 12 new posts as well as three replacements, including the arrival in February of Professor Peter Coles, who replaced the late Professor David Axon as Head of School. Mathematics is increasing from 15 academics to 23, with five of these arrivals being new positions.