Writing in Scotland’s Press and Journal, Professor Rachel Norman expressed her disappointment that the UK Government again failed to deliver the balance of promised research funding for mathematics in its “mini budget” at the end of September.
“The programmes of study that have been begun using the additional funding will yield results, even if we can’t tell yet where the impact will be. It could be the key to tackling the climate crisis, it could be the answer to clean and cheap energy, it could be quantum computing that unlocks new realms of knowledge”, she wrote.
Professor Norman, who is president of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society and chair in food security and sustainability at the University of Stirling, noted the importance of events like Maths Week Scotland for ensuring that the mathematical sciences are accessible to and valued by all.
The “missing millions” for maths refers to a 2020 pledge from Westminster to deliver £300 million in research funding for the mathematical sciences. However, over the summer it was confirmed that just £124 million of the promised funds has been delivered so far, with the remainder unaccounted for.
“That’s bad maths, and bad for maths”, Professor Norman wrote.
“Maths matters, and maths’ missing millions must be forthcoming if Scotland and the UK are to remain at the forefront of the subject, of technology and of progress.”
Read Professor Norman’s full article here.
