Who we are

The Adams Society is the mathematical society of St John’s College at the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1923, we are one of the oldest undergraduate societies. We are named after the Johnian mathematician John Couch Adams, who is famous for predicting the existence of the planet Neptune using nothing but its gravitational effects on the orbit of Uranus.

The rear side of New Court and the Fisher Building, where many of our talks take place.

What we do

Throughout the year we organise mathematical talks, free to all members of the University. Our speakers have included many famous mathematicians such as Fields Medallist Timothy Gowers and Lucasian Professor Michael Green. In a typical year, our talks take place in the Fisher Building, St John’s College (see map), although in this unusual time, we have continued to deliver talks online.

Our members, the mathematics students and fellows of St John’s College, are also invited to a number of social events such as a Freshers Squash, a Desserts Party, our Annual Dinner and a Garden Party (see Events pages). Once a year we compete in a traditional Cricket match against the Trinity Mathematical Society (TMS), and in a Football match against the Hyperbolics (Catz mathmos).

Our Logo

Our logo features (from left to right) a dodecahedron, a Calabi-Yau manifold, a hyperbolic disc, and an image of Neptune.

We are proudly sponsored by:

Prospective sponsors may wish to look at the Adams Society Sponsorship Booklet.