As world celebrates mathematics on Pi Day, UK mathematicians call on Rishi Sunak to deliver promised funding.
UK mathematicians are ‘counting on the chancellor’ to use his Spring Budget statement next week to confirm extra funding promised to the sector by this government.
Pi Day is internationally recognised as a day to celebrate maths. Written US-style the date March 14 looks like the first three digits of Pi, 3.14. Pi is one of the most well-known mathematical constants, and is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to deliver his Spring Budget statement next week on March 23, the date of World Maths Day when schoolchildren and students are encouraged to take part in maths activities.
Maths underpins much of our modern lives including the AI in computers and mobile phones and the encryption that facilitates credit card payments and electronic banking. Maths was crucial in modelling the Covid pandemic and in both developing and distributing Covid vaccines.
Programmes and PhD courses funded by extra government funding may yet yield solutions to some of our most pressing policy issues including climate change, the energy crisis and quantum computing.
In January 2020 the government promised an extra £300 million for the mathematical sciences. Some of this funding has already been distributed and is having an impressive impact, but the maths community is waiting on delivery of the rest. That’s why the Protect Pure Maths campaign is calling on Rishi Sunak to confirm the balance will be forthcoming when he gives his Spring Statement next week.
Professor Ulrike Tillmann, spokesperson for the Protect Pure Maths campaign and President of the London Mathematical Society, said, “We’re counting on the Chancellor to deliver for the mathematical sciences.
“This government deserves credit for its foresight in recognising the value maths can bring in making the UK a STEM superpower. However, it’s crucial that they now confirm that the entire sum will be delivered so that programmes of study already begun can be seen through and new streams can go ahead that could deliver solutions to our most pressing policy problems and could even answer questions that we haven’t thought to ask yet.
“With the Spring Statement scheduled for World Maths Day there would be no more appropriate moment for the Chancellor to recognise maths. We’re counting on Rishi Sunak to rededicate this government to preserving and supporting this country’s maths expertise and pushing on to ensure we lead the world when it comes to the mathematical sciences.
“Pi Day is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the mathematical sciences. We hope it’ll put maths at the forefront of Rishi Sunak’s mind as he puts the finishing touches to his Spring Statement. After all, what is the spring Budget but an exercise rooted in maths and numbers?”
President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) Professor Paul Glendinning said,
“Pi day is chance to celebrate all mathematics. Investment in mathematical science research has impact on innovation, health, security, education and culture, so we are counting on the Chancellor to deliver next week.
“As the spring statement coincides with World Maths Day, this is a timely opportunity to invest in mathematics to maintain the UK’s place as a ‘Maths Superpower’”
