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Outreach

 

Mathematics For All

The breadth of research areas within the Faculty of Mathematics is huge, and Cambridge mathematicians, statisticians and theoretical physicists are passionate about engaging with the public to share the importance, excitement and impact of the subject.

Faculty researchers actively contribute to public discussion and enable wide access to cutting-edge ideas, giving talks everywhere from museums to music festivals, writing books and newspaper articles, connecting via social media, and appearing on podcasts, radio and TV.

The Mathematics Faculty is also the home of the largest subject-specific outreach programme in the University of Cambridge. We offer a huge programme of free online mathematics education resources for schools, communicate mathematics research to the public, and work with school students, teachers, families and the general public through a range of innovative activities and events.

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NRICH hands on maths activity - Nine Colours cube

Encouraging inspiring, imaginative mathematics for all ages

The Faculty's flagship outreach initiative is the Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP). The MMP consists of a family of award-winning outreach and education activities, including the very successful NRICH and Plus websites, the STEP Support Programme, and online and in-person events for students, teachers and the public.

These activities have a wide impact. The project was presented with the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2006, and developed Maths and Sport activities as part of the official London 2012 education programme. Currently, the MMP's free online mathematics resources attract over 20 million pageviews a year.

Explore NRICH

Working with schools - rich maths education for ages 3 to 18

The NRICH website provides thousands of free online mathematics resources designed to challenge, inspire and engage ages 3 to 19. NRICH reaches an audience of millions of students and teachers worldwide.

NRICH resources focus on problem-solving and take a low-threshold high-ceiling approach, building students' confidence, mathematical reasoning, and creative thinking skills.

STEP Support Programme

Supporting access to university - widening participation

STEP Mathematics is an additional examination, taken at the end of Y13, which forms part of conditional offers to mathematics applicants by Cambridge and some other universities. Our free online STEP Support Programme helps potential university applicants develop their advanced problem-solving skills and prepare for sitting STEP.

The Mathematics Faculty works with the Cambridge Admissions Office to run study schools and access events for school students and prospective applicants, such as the Sutton Trust Summer School.

The MMP also hosts the East of England regional co-ordination for the Further Mathematics Support Programme, supporting and promoting A-level Further Maths.

Explore Plus

Promoting the public understanding of maths

Plus publishes online articles, podcasts and videos to provide a gateway to mathematics and related sciences for non-expert audiences (including a wide range of general readers, educators and older students). Plus articles, videos and podcasts cover a huge variety of topics, ranging from cosmology or quantum information to climate change modelling and the applications of mathematics in fighting epidemic disease. 

The content ranges from basic explainers of particular concepts to in-depth explorations of particular areas or applications, and is produced in direct collaboration with researchers. Plus articles have also been used as ‘explainers’ by policy makers, for example in UK government advice for the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Explore our outreach events
Y12 student workshop

Maths events for the public and schools

We organise and host events for schools, ranging from maths enrichment days held in Cambridge to online webinars and workshops. We also run occasional mathematics events for families, and public lectures.

A highlight of the Faculty's public events calendar is the annual Cambridge Festival - one of the biggest free science festivals in the UK - each March.

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