Speaking with regional BBC radio stations last week, Professor Marcus du Sautoy spoke about the importance of mathematics and his concern that not enough students are going on to study the subject at university.
Professor du Sautoy, a mathematician and the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, explained that he didn’t fall in love with mathematics until he started to learn the more abstract principles in secondary school. While maths is the most popular A Level subject, Professor du Sautoy noted that not enough students are going on to study maths at university.
He explained that “maths is a driving force of our economy”, citing a report from Deloitte which found that mathematical science research contributed over £200 billion to the UK economy. “If we lose university-trained mathematicians, there’s a chance the country will fall behind,” he said.
Professor du Sautoy also discussed the need to celebrate the beauty and magic of mathematics, particularly at the school level. Maths underpins so much – it’s in music and in nature, and it also is the foundation for AI and even architecture.
Listen to Professor du Sautoy’s full interviews on BBC Cumbria, BBC Hereford and Worcester and BBC London below.
BBC Cumbria:
BBC Hereford and Worcester:
BBC London:
Learn more about why Professor du Sautoy supports the Protect Pure Maths campaign here. Read and our #MathsManifesto calling on the Conservative Party leadership candidates to support mathematical sciences here.
