The government is in danger of undermining its own efforts to boost the science base in the UK, according to the group which represents the mathematics and statistics community.
The newly appointed chair of the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, Sir David Wallace, warned that by underestimating the contribution made by mathematics across science, technology and engineering, the strategy which the government published this week could fail.
Whilst Sir David welcomed the publication of The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Programme Report by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Trade and Industry, he said that the strategy set out by the report fails to fully integrate mathematics into its plans.
He explained, “The report is absolutely right to point out that a good supply of scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, engineers and technologists are vital to the UK’s future prosperity.”
“But throughout the report, mathematics is considered separately, when in fact it is the core of most science, technology and engineering. Mathematical skills and fluency in young people are a crucial prerequisite to delivering any of the targets in STEM.”
Sir David called for the government to include representatives from the mathematics community at the heart of its strategy in order to truly serve the UK science base.
In its current form, the government strategy would have a separate Maths Programme Board alongside the School Science Board, suggesting that the new National STEM director and Chief Advisor for Mathematics would work separately.
A statement issued by the CMS this week recommended that the government’s Chief Mathematics Advisor is included in the Strategy Group to ensure that mathematics is not separated from science education particularly at school level. The strategy names the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and SETNET as principal organisations with co-ordinating roles and went on to suggest a list of other stakeholders.
The CMS called on the government to ensure that mathematical organisations are brought in as equal stakeholders to the project and that those organisations with STEM remits ensure that they are effective in recognising the role of mathematics in their work.
Sir David took up the chair of CMS earlier this year. As the first independent chair of the CMS, his role will be to raise the profile of mathematics in the UK and to ensure policy makers are aware of the issues faced by the subject.
Alongside his role at CMS, Sir David is Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at Cambridge University. He is treasurer and vice president of the Royal Society. Vice chancellor of Loughborough University between 1994 and 2005, he has also served as president of the Institute of Physics and is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
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Notes for Editors
1. The Council for the Mathematical Sciences (CMS) was established in 2001 by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, the London Mathematical Society and the Royal Statistical Society to provide a forum for the three mathematical societies. Its purposes are:
- to be proactive in representing the interests of mathematics to government, research councils and other public bodies;
- to seek to promote good practice in the mathematics curriculum and its teaching and learning at all levels and in all sectors of education;
- to respond coherently and effectively to proposals from government and other public bodies which may affect the mathematical community;
- to work where relevant in consultation and co-operation with other bodies
2. The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications is the professional and learned society for qualified and practising mathematicians. Its mission is to promote mathematics in industry, business, the public sector, education and research. Founded in 1964, the Institute now has 5500 members. Ten percent of members live outside the United Kingdom. Forty percent of members are employed in education (schools through to universities), and the other 60% work in commercial and governmental organisations. In 1990 the Institute was incorporated by Royal Charter and was subsequently granted the right to award chartered mathematician status.
3. The London Mathematical Society was founded in 1865 for the promotion and extension of all branches of mathematics and its applications. It is an independent and self-financing charity, with a membership of over 2600 drawn from all parts of the UK and overseas. Its principal activities are the organisation of meetings and conferences, the publication of periodicals and books, the provision of financial support for mathematical activities, and the contribution to public debates on issues related to mathematics research and education. It works collaboratively with other mathematical bodies worldwide. It is the UK adhering body to the International Mathematical Union.
4. The Royal Statistical Society, founded in 1834, is one of the UK’s oldest learned and professional societies, with some 7200 members based in the United Kingdom and overseas. The purpose of the Royal Statistical Society is to develop, foster and disseminate statistical knowledge, methodology and good practice for the benefit of all society. As such it acts as valuable resource for consultation and analysis, recently on such issues as National Statistics, Risk, Performance Monitoring , the Research Assessment Exercise and, through the Sally Clark case, the use of statistical evidence in court cases. It publishes the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society and awards professional qualification of Chartered Statistician (CStat) to those who meet its stringent criteria for academic achievement and professional experience in statistics. It also organises an annual conference and over 150 meetings nationwide each year.
5. For further information contact:
Caroline Davis (Mathematics Policy and Promotion Officer, LMS/IMA) De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS. Tel: + 44 (0)20 7927 0804 caroline.davis@lms.ac.uk
Martin Smith (Secretariat, CMS) De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, London, WC1B 4HS. Tel: + 44 (0)20 7927 0803
