Public Engagement Section How to Talk Maths in Public an IMA Conference on Public Engagement

摘要

The time is right - Mathematics is in vogue! It is talked about so much more in the media these days and we need to capitalise on this interest by taking maths out to the general public. However, we need to handle this carefully, as this is a public who have had, on the whole, a diet of sums and text book exercises, with little understanding of the wondrous beauty our subject has to offer. From a young age many have repeatedly been unable to understand or see its relevance in their lives causing them to switch off in maths lessons and not listen to new explanations. This has resulted in a downward cycle of confusion and fear of mathematics, to the extent that the phrase "I was never any good at maths at school" has become a frequent lament. The media propagates this portraying a public with a general lack of understanding and enthusiasm for mathematics. To survive in our technological world we need a population who feel comfortable with basic mathematical concepts. Public perception can be changed but to do this we need more people working on raising a positive public profile of mathematics.