Protect Pure Maths releases #MathsManifesto

Protect Pure Maths is calling on Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to sign up to our “maths manifesto” and put their money where their mouths are on maths if the UK is to be a “science superpower”.

Mathematics enables today’s most exciting and urgent technological developments, including artificial intelligence, driverless cars, the development of quantum computers, and superfast broadband. Maths underpins national security and the finance sector, and it has been vital to modelling the Covid-19 outbreak and the rollout of vaccinations. Without explicit support for all the mathematical sciences, this will be at risk.

The manifesto has six key asks:

Commenting on the release of the manifesto, London Mathematical Society President Professor Ulrike Tillmann said:

“It’s heartening to hear both candidates to be our next Prime Minister grasping the importance of maths, and we can only hope that in government this translates into action.

“Back in January 2020, the Government announced £300m in additional funding for the mathematical sciences but most of that has yet to be delivered. Some may point to all that has occurred to the nation and its finances in the intervening time but do not forget maths helped illuminate the path out of the Covid crisis via its use in modelling the pandemic, underpinning the science behind the vaccines and informing the rollout of those vital medicines.

“We can't fail to recognise that there are great pressures on the public finances now. But we have no doubt that investment in the mathematical sciences is paramount and will pay back pay many times over. Mathematics will be essential to solve the massive and complex problems in cyber security, to help us with the climate crisis, and for the government to comprehend and tackle the cost of living crisis.”