May 2009: Tony Guttmann

Professor Tony Guttmann, Melbourne University.

Professor Tony Guttmann, editor and author of Polygons, Polyominoes and Polycubes was kind enough to write a few words for us about his career and interests: Like most professional mathematicians, I loved numbers as a child, but a practical streak saw me enrol in electrical engineering, before switching to physics and mathematics halfway through my undergraduate studies at The University of Melbourne. I completed a Masters degree in physics, then went to the University of NSW for my doctoral studies in mathematics. After two years at King’s College, London, I returned to Newcastle (Australia), and eventually became Dean of Australia’s only Faculty of Mathematics there in 1985. I quickly concluded that the practice of mathematics was more rewarding to me personally than the administrative role of Dean, and moved back to the University of Melbourne in 1987, where I remain still. For the last 7 years, I have been Director of an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems (MASCOS), a role that allows me a good mixture of administrative and mathematical challenges.

Triathlon world championships in Lausanne.

While at Newcastle I supervised a PhD student who was a talented runner, and with his encouragement I took up jogging, which I found an enormous stress reliever at the end of a day of administrative frustration. Despite having little genetic advantage, I was quickly hooked, and within a year ran my first marathon. I subsequently enjoyed running marathons around the world, in Boston, London, Exeter, Bordeaux as well as several in Australia. They say wisdom comes with age, and in 1996 I decided that they were too far, so switched back to triathlons, in which I’d dabbled earlier. As an age group triathlete, I am becoming increasingly competitive, as the attrition in the ranks means that those of us who are not dead or injured can enjoy a disproportionate level of success. Every few years I compete in the World Championships in duathlon or triathlon, which is always a fascinating experience—and sounds much more impressive than it actually is. As one of my compatriots remarked as we strolled to the start line: ”at our age, all you need to compete is a pulse.”

Tony completing a triathlon.

Having limited natural talent is an advantage, as I can enjoy the sport for its own sake, and for the enormous benefits it brings to personal and professional life. I think almost all the good mathematical ideas I’ve had I got while running, and whenever I’m stuck in a calculation, I go for a slow run and just churn over the problem in the background. Almost invariably I’ll come up with a new approach to my problem (which may or may not work). Additionally, I believe regular training, swimming, cycling, running, provides a level of energy which is necessary for sustained intellectual work. This viewpoint is beautifully argued by Haruki Murakami in his book What I talk about when I talk about running. I hope to continue to enjoy mathematics and triathlons for many years to come.