Department of Applied Mathematics

In 1945 the decision was made to invite applications for a new Chair of Applied Mathematics and a graduate of Auckland University College, K E Bullen was appointed in 1946. He and Room clashed over the teaching of their separate fields and in 1953 the Department of Mathematics was divided into two sections; a Department of Pure Mathematics and a Department of Applied Mathematics.

A further Chair was also added in 1959 for Mathematical Statistics and a new Department was created. It was very successful and grew quickly until, by 1970, there were 6 full time members of staff.

The departments grew considerably during the 1970s and 1980s as did the number of available courses. Many of these courses crossed over between the two fields and extended into other subjects such as engineering and physics.

From 1 January 1991 the three Departments were merged to form the School of Mathematics and Statistics.