Three UCL mathematicians have been elected as inaugural Fellows of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences (AcadMathSci), joining its very first cohort - and will be formally appointed today at the Royal Society in central London.
Three UCL mathematicians have been elected as inaugural Fellows of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences (AcadMathSci), joining its very first cohort - and will be formally appointed today at the Royal Society in central London.
The UCL professors are among 100 inaugural Fellows recognised for their leadership in the mathematical sciences, whether through fundamental discoveries, exceptional contributions to education, or advancing the application of mathematics across society as part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.
The national academy aims to unite the UK’s leading mathematicians across academia, education, industry, business and government to help address some of the country’s most significant challenges.
The new Fellows will contribute to projects of national importance - including strengthening maths education in the UK and the safe development of artificial intelligence - and will also collaborate on tackling challenges such as economic transformation, pandemic preparedness, climate change and national security.
Professor Dame Celia Hoyles (UCL Institute of Education) has been a Professor of Mathematics Education at UCL’s Institute of Education for over 40 years. She has taught mathematics across numerous London schools and universities and conducted influential research on students’ conceptions of mathematical reasoning, workplace maths and a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } the use of digital technologies in maths.
From 1987-1990, she co-presented the ITV prime time game show Fun & Games and has played a major role in shaping national maths education through her prominent leadership positions.
Among her many roles, she has served as the UK Government’s Chief Adviser for Mathematics and Director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM).
Professor Hoyles said: "I feel hugely honoured to be a founding Fellow of the new Academy for the Mathematical Sciences. It is an added pleasure to be able to work in Mathematics Education alongside wonderful UCL female professors from different parts of the mathematics spectrum."
Professor Elinor Jones (UCL Statistical Science ) is a Professor (Teaching) in the Department of Statistical Science at UCL. She is actively involved in international statistics education, helping to connect UK practice with the global community.
Her work centres on enhancing student learning through active learning approaches, particularly in large classes, and she is committed to supporting educators to share effective practice and to engage in scholarships and research in statistics education.
In addition to her role at UCL, Professor Jones is a founder and former Chair of the Royal Statistical Society’s Teaching Statistics Section and continues to serve on its committee. She is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Professor Jones said: "It is a pleasure and an honour to be part of the Academy’s inaugural cohort, and to do so alongside colleagues from UCL. It is especially encouraging to see strong representation of women and the breadth of the mathematical sciences from the outset."
Professor Helen Wilson (UCL Mathematics) is Professor of Applied Mathematics at UCL, where she has taught for more than 20 years and served as Head of the Department of Mathematics from 2018 to 2023. Her research centres on the modelling of complex fluids, including suspensions and viscoelastic materials.
She currently chairs the Nominating Committee for both the International Centre for the Mathematical Sciences and the London Mathematical Society, and she is also Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee for the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences.
In addition, she leads the mathematics judging panel for the annual STEM for Britain poster competition in Parliament and serves as an external member of the UKRI Oversight Committee for the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research.
Professor Wilson said: "The new Academy for the Mathematical Sciences is a fantastic opportunity for all’of us who are involved in mathematics to speak with a single, powerful voice, and I’m honoured and delighted to be one of the first cohort of Fellows."
Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement), said: "I am delighted to congratulate these three distinguished academics on being elected as inaugural Fellows of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences.
"This tremendous honour recognises their outstanding contributions to mathematical and statistical sciences, as well as their significant impact on education, research and society. Their achievements inspire our entire community and reinforce our commitment to excellence, collaboration and shaping a better future through mathematics."
Professor Dame Alison Etheridge, President of the Academy for Mathematical Sciences, said: "I’m delighted to welcome our inaugural Fellows - individuals of exceptional distinction who collectively advance the mathematical sciences through discovery, leadership, education and real-world application.
"As Fellows of the Academy, they will come together in service of the wider public good, bringing independent expertise to bear on national priorities, championing excellence in mathematics education, strengthening the UK’s research and innovation base and helping to ensure that mathematics continues to deliver opportunity, resilience and prosperity across our four nations."
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Nadine Palmer
Email: nadine.palmer@ucl.ac.uk
