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Mathematics For All

Professor Hannah Fry at the INI Communicating Mathematical and Data Sciences event, November 2024

The breadth of research 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.

Our Faculty researchers work to share cutting-edge ideas with everyone, in public talks and festivals, in books and newspapers, on social media, and through podcasts, radio and TV. In January 2025, further developing the Faculty's strengths in this area, Hannah Fry joined the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics as Cambridge's first Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics.

The Mathematics Faculty is also the home of one of the largest subject-specific outreach programmes in the University of Cambridge. Through our family of complementary outreach, education, and engagement activities (maths.org) we offer a huge programme of free online mathematics education resources for schools, communicate mathematics research for everyone, and work with school students, teachers, families and the general public through a range of innovative activities and events.

Read more at: Public engagement - sharing ideas with everyone
Universe Unravelled documentary series publicity image, featuring researchers from the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology

Public engagement - sharing ideas with everyone

Staff in both Mathematics departments engage with diverse audiences in a wide range of ways. To get a taste, explore:

Find out more
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 (maths.org). The MMP consists of a family of award-winning outreach, education and engagement 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, developed Maths and Sport activities as part of the official London 2012 education programme, and worked with BBC Bitesize during the COVID-19 pandemic to support learning at home. 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 publishes free online resources to give 3-18 year-olds the widest possible opportunities to experience a rich, imaginative and challenging mathematical education. NRICH reaches an audience of millions of students and teachers worldwide.

NRICH's curriculum-linked resources focus on problem-solving skills and take a low-threshold high-ceiling approach, building mathematical thinking and reasoning, perseverance, ability to apply knowledge creatively in unfamiliar contexts, and confidence in tackling new challenges.

Explore Plus

Communicating mathematics research for all

Plus publishes online articles, podcasts and videos to provide a gateway to mathematics and related sciences for non-expert audiences (including 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. 

Plus content ranges from short introductions of mathematical 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.

STEP Support Programme
Hand writing mathematical equation on blackboard

Supporting access to university - developing advanced problem-solving

STEP Mathematics is an additional examination 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 advanced problem-solving skills and prepare for sitting STEP. For Y12 and Y13 students, it includes a structured course of online self study modules, accompanied by support and guidance material, as well as additional targeted webinars to provide extra support.

Events for potential applicants
Open knot gates leading to Centre for Mathematical Sciences

Widening access to university - events for school students

The Mathematics Faculty works with the Cambridge Admissions Office to run events for school students encouraging applications to study mathematics at university, including the Sutton Trust Summer School. 

The University and colleges also run a wide range of other events including webinars and residential study schools - details of events are regularly updated throughout the year on the Admissions Office events listings.

Explore our next 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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