Modern life is rooted in mathematical science – we must remain a global leader
4 min read
The House of Commons chamber was rightly packed last Monday as the Government announced its Strategic Defence Review. Defence of the realm is the Government's first and truest duty.
It’s fair to say I didn't expect Westminster Hall to be similarly packed on the Thursday when I led a debate on the contribution of mathematics to the UK, and that did indeed prove to be the case. But while the topic may have drawn fewer speakers, it's certainly no less vital to our national security and prosperity.
The mathematical sciences are key to cryptography and the cybersecurity that increasingly defines modern defence. GCHQ in Cheltenham is one of the biggest employers of mathematicians in the country. The satellite technology vital to our defences runs on mathematics, while the cyber warfare the Defence Secretary rightly highlighted on Monday is fought with equations and algorithms. The elements that will define the future of warfare – quantum computing and AI – are both underpinned by mathematical sciences.
But the value of mathematics extends far beyond defence. It is woven into our everyday lives in ways we don’t always see.
Mathematics modelled the Covid pandemic and enabled the epidemiology that led to lifesaving vaccines. Climate science harnesses mathematical methods to understand our warming planet and develop solutions. GPS and Wi-Fi rely on sophisticated algorithms, while the CGI that creates Woody and Buzz in Toy Story depends on topology to model surfaces and linear algebra to transform 3D objects – complex mathematics hidden behind every frame of animation.
And of course, AI is fundamentally rooted in the mathematical sciences. The government's enthusiasm for AI is welcome, and they are right that success in this field will bring rewards of greater security and prosperity.
However, there appears to be a disconnect between these aspirations and recognition of the mathematical foundations that make them possible. As the esteemed mathematician Marcus du Sautoy has observed, “the UK government wants a Ferrari but doesn't want to buy the fuel that drives it.”
Recent decisions raise questions about the long-term strategy. Funding for the Academy of Mathematical Sciences has been discontinued, the exascale computer planned for Edinburgh has seen funding paused, and the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme – vital to nurturing our most talented young mathematicians – has been significantly reduced.
Meanwhile, universities across the UK are closing or cutting mathematics provision, creating what some call 'maths deserts' where young people cannot pursue the subject as far as their talent might take them.
This trend particularly affects post-1992 universities, which play a crucial role in training mathematics teachers. Seventeen percent of mathematics graduates from these institutions go on to teaching, compared to just five percent from Russell Group universities. When these departments close, we lose not just degree places but the next generation of mathematics teachers.
Encouragingly, solutions exist. The Campaign for Mathematical Sciences' Maths Degrees for the Future scheme demonstrates how targeted grants can help universities reimagine mathematics provision and showcase the breadth of careers mathematics offers. But piecemeal initiatives, however well-intentioned, cannot address the scale of the challenge we face.
The interconnected nature of the problems – from school teaching shortages to university closures to research funding cuts – suggests we need a more coordinated response. What would make the difference is a National Strategy for Mathematics that provides a comprehensive framework for nurturing mathematical talent from primary school through to cutting-edge research.
Such an approach would demonstrate that government truly grasps the contribution of mathematical thinking to every aspect of our future success, whether measured in the £495 billion it already contributes to our economy or in the everyday conveniences it enables, from the contactless payments powered by centuries-old algorithms to the smartphones in our pockets.
I was proud to lead Parliament's first debate on this vital topic, but words alone won't secure our mathematical future. We have the talent and expertise to maintain our position as a global leader in mathematical sciences. The government now needs to show its working and prove its commitment to our mathematical future.
