Academic Representatives Attend Online Forum

The next Academic Representatives Forum will be on Friday 27 June 2025 at the University of Greenwich. IMA members can book through myIMA.

New and returning Academic Representatives took part in January’s Online Forum to discuss the many ways that both students and academics can benefit from their IMA membership.

Jenny May Roberts opened the session by welcoming attendees and introducing the speakers. She also announced an updated online repository containing information and promotional materials to support representatives championing the IMA within their universities. Jenny highlighted that we are continuing to welcome new reps on board and that members whose universities are not yet represented should get in touch to find out more.

The first speaker was Professor Stephen Lynch FIMA, the new Chair of IMA Branches. He emphasised the importance of engaging with the IMA at a local level for Academic Representatives, teachers and their students. He also highlighted how supporting talks and events can be a rewarding part of a mathematician’s early career journey.

Next, Robyn Goldsmith, the outgoing Chair of the Early Career Mathematicians Committee, delivered an insightful and thought-provoking talk titled Breaking the (Mathematician) Mould: Removing Barriers to Mathematical Belonging Through Maths Outreach. She explored ways to dismantle stereotypes contributing to the gender gap in mathematics, shared lessons learned and discussed how everyone can help diversify perceptions of what it means to be a mathematician. This was followed by a lively discussion, including how mathematicians who appear to fit traditional expectations can contribute to the diversification process.

The final speaker was Dr Ioanna Papatsouma FIMA, Academic Representative for Imperial College London and a member of the IMA Higher Education Committee. Her talk, Transforming Education Together: The Journey of Students as Partners Projects, explored her leadership in the Mathematics Curriculum Mapping Tool project. A Q&A session followed her presentation.

Jenny May Roberts concluded the session with an interactive Menti quiz and feedback session.

The next event, an in-person Academic Representatives Forum, will be held on Friday 27 June 2025, at the University of Greenwich. Representatives can send up to two delegates per university, with travel expenses reimbursable post-event and lunch provided. Booking is available via myIMA.