Comments on: Maths in the UK http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/maths-in-the-uk/ Discussions of issues facing mathematics research and education in Australia today Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:08:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Peter Hall http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/maths-in-the-uk/#comment-38 Peter Hall Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:46:04 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-38 On 18th June the BBC discussed the impact that shortages of mathematics, physics and computer science skills is having on the UK video games industry: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7460870.stm In a section headed "Death of maths," the article noted that: "Fewer people are taking maths degrees. The games developers say that they are struggling to find in the UK the kind of high-powered mathematicians and computer scientists that they need to build increasingly sophisticated products." A spokesman for the industry commented that "The dearth of maths, physics and computer science graduates is hitting us hard." The article implies that this is an industry where, if the mathematics skills are not present, then neither are jobs for many other people. Indeed, "Britain...slipped from third to fourth position behind Canada...and thousands of jobs are moving from Britain to Canada." On 18th June the BBC discussed the impact that shortages of mathematics, physics and computer science skills is having on the UK video games industry:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7460870.stm

In a section headed “Death of maths,” the article noted that:

“Fewer people are taking maths degrees. The games developers say that they are struggling to find in the UK the kind of high-powered mathematicians and computer scientists that they need to build increasingly sophisticated products.” A spokesman for the industry commented that “The dearth of maths, physics and computer science graduates is hitting us hard.”

The article implies that this is an industry where, if the mathematics skills are not present, then neither are jobs for many other people. Indeed, “Britain…slipped from third to fourth position behind Canada…and thousands of jobs are moving from Britain to Canada.”

]]> By: Terence Tao http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/maths-in-the-uk/#comment-24 Terence Tao Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:58:12 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-24 There was also an article in the Times yesterday on Stephen Hawking speaking out against the effects of a recent merger of two UK government research funding bodies on physics (due, apparently, to accounting miscalculations): http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4138240.ece There was also an article in the Times yesterday on Stephen Hawking speaking out against the effects of a recent merger of two UK government research funding bodies on physics (due, apparently, to accounting miscalculations):

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4138240.ece

]]> By: Terence Tao http://austmaths.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/maths-in-the-uk/#comment-23 Terence Tao Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:31:19 +0000 http://austmaths.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-23 It does unfortunately seem that many of the issues facing Australian mathematics are also appearing in other countries. There is a nice article in the Guardian by Marcus de Sautoy commenting on the Reform report at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/03/maths.education It does unfortunately seem that many of the issues facing Australian mathematics are also appearing in other countries.

There is a nice article in the Guardian by Marcus de Sautoy commenting on the Reform report at

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/03/maths.education

]]>