Plus Editors organise landmark conference on mathematics communication
In November 2024 the Plus Editors, Dr Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, organised a groundbreaking conference exploring evidence for effective strategies in mathematics communication which brought together 100 participants from across academia, industry, government and the public sector. The impact and reach of the discussion was underlined when Hannah Fry chose the event to announce her imminent move to Cambridge as the University's first Professor for the Public Understanding of Mathematics.
The need for the communication of mathematical and data sciences has become ever more acute. Climate change, artificial intelligence, disease modelling and public health are just a few of the societal issues that mathematical and data sciences are key to understanding and addressing. It is vital that those outside the research community – including policy makers, mainstream media, and the wider public – can access and engage with information about advances in these areas and are part of the discussions about such research.
There is also a need to communicate the importance of curiosity driven research across the mathematical sciences, particularly in pure mathematics, and the role this research has in driving forward the development of fundamental science that will underpin future advances in applied mathematics and data science, and innovations in technology.
Alongside their work as Editors of Plus (plus.maths.org), which provides a gateway to explore the mathematical sciences for non-expert audiences, Rachel and Marianne have taken an active and leading role in building a UK community of mathematical and data science communicators. These include researchers, media and communications professionals, those working in policy in government and NGOs. To bring together and support this community the Plus Editors launched the Mathsci-comm network in March 2024, funded by a Network Grant from the Isaac Newton Institute.
The November event, called Communicating mathematical and data sciences — what does success look like?, was organised with the Isaac Newton Institute and was the first in-person meeting of the Mathsci-comm network. Around 100 participants attended in person, with many more watching the live stream online. Attendees represented a wide range of academic institutions, industry and public sector organisations, including the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, DSTL, the UK Health Security Agency, the National Cyber Security Centre, and Sense about Science.
Speakers presented on a wide range of areas, including behaviour science, the communication of complex economic information, co-production of mathematical models and communicating uncertainty. Hannah Fry's announcement and Q&A session with the audience were a particular highlight.
The event was an important milestone in building a linked up community of communicators of mathematical and data sciences. The Plus Editors are now building on its momentum to further expand the Mathsci-comm network and its activities. Our hope is that the network will have the power, not only to support individuals in their communications work, but also to engender a culture change within the UK around such communication, ultimately enabling the public to understand, engage with, and help to direct the mathematics and data science research that impacts their lives.
