Author: Jennifer Gunn

The Council for the Mathematical Sciences (CMS) and the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences (AcadMathSci) are delighted to publish this landmark document which outlines our collective vision and priorities for the sustained growth and impact of mathematical sciences in the UK.

Mathematics plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and addressing the challenges of our rapidly evolving world and this Maths Manifesto is designed to highlight the value of mathematics to the UK and to present some key asks to politicians.* By embracing the principles outlined, we aim to foster a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem that propels the mathematical sciences to new heights of excellence, impact, and relevance.

Together, we will shape a future where mathematics is a powerful force behind progress, policy, and innovation in our society.

We call upon political parties, and all those with an interest, to play their part in creating this future.

Read the manifesto in full, including our vision, priorities, goals, and calls for action here .

* A note on devolution

This document was produced ahead of the forthcoming UK General Election. Some policy areas raised here are the responsibility of the Westminster government across the whole of the UK. Some other areas, particularly in education, are devolved. Where we make recommendations on devolved issues, this manifesto therefore refers specifically to England only. We intend to make similar policy proposals ahead of future elections for the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

We are delighted to share the output of a research report commissioned by HoDoMS and CMS analysing HESA data on the employment outcomes of mathematical sciences graduates from graduation years 2016 through to 2020 by entry requirement, social deprivation and sex.  

This report was commissioned to follow up observations of trends in recruitment to mathematical sciences degrees by entry requirement level.  Increasingly, institutions with the highest entry requirements are garnering a larger share of the total number of entrants to mathematical sciences degrees. Given that this could impact on the breadth of opportunities available to study mathematical sciences in the UK, with potential consequences for diversity of the student population, the report sought to explore the employment outcomes for mathematical sciences students from institutions across the sector. 

We envisage the report will be useful for universities and government policymakers.  As a next step we hope to convene round tables to distil policy recommendations from the report.  

The report is available here .

We are delighted that the government also wants to see the creation of a new National Academy to cover mathematical sciences, and announced funding of up to £6m to support it. The CMS (Council of Mathematical Sciences) gives strong support for the creation of such an Academy, recognising the important role it will play in the mathematical sciences community and the benefits to the economy and society that it will bring. We are ready to work closely with the government during the business case phase to ensure that these benefits can be fully realised.

Professor Alison Etheridge, Chair of the Council of Mathematical Sciences