Renowned Mathematician Hannah Fry Joins Cambridge University Faculty

Award-winning broadcaster and mathematician Hannah Fry has been appointed as the first Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, effective January 1. Fry brings her exceptional experience in communicating complex mathematical concepts to diverse audiences, following in the footsteps of renowned figures such as David Spiegelhalter and Stephen Hawking.

As a best-selling author and host of popular podcasts and television shows, Fry has demonstrated her ability to make mathematics accessible to people from all walks of life. Her research focuses on patterns in human behavior, particularly in urban settings, and has been applied in various fields, including advising governments and police forces.

Fry’s appointment builds upon Cambridge’s strong tradition of sharing mathematics with the public, and she plans to continue the work of David Spiegelhalter in promoting mathematical communication as an essential part of the research process.

Professor Hannah Fry: A Champion of Mathematical Communication

Hannah Fry, a renowned mathematician, best-selling author, and award-winning science presenter, has joined the University of Cambridge as the first Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics. This prestigious appointment marks a significant milestone in the university’s long history of sharing mathematics with diverse audiences.

Fry brings an impressive track record of communicating complex mathematical concepts to people from all walks of life, including those who may not have previously been interested in maths. Her exceptional ability to engage and inspire has earned her numerous accolades, including the Christopher Zeeman Medal for promoting mathematics in 2018 and the Royal Society David Attenborough Award in 2024. As the current President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Fry is well-positioned to make a profound impact on mathematical communication at Cambridge.

In her previous role as Professor of the Mathematics of Cities at UCL, Fry has applied her research expertise to tackle a wide range of social problems, from urban crime and riots to shopping and transport patterns. Her work has involved collaborating with governments, police forces, supermarkets, and health analysts, demonstrating the far-reaching implications of mathematical modeling in real-world contexts.

The Importance of Mathematical Communication

Fry’s appointment highlights the critical role that communication plays in ensuring that mathematical research is accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences. As she aptly puts it, “When you create a mathematical model, it doesn’t really matter how beautifully crafted your equations are, or how accurate your simulations are… You have to think about how the work you’ve created is going to be seen and perceived by other people and how it’s going to be understood or misunderstood.” This emphasis on communication as an integral part of the research process resonates with the values of Cambridge’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP).

The new professorship builds upon DAMTP’s existing strengths in outreach and engagement, including the Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP), which is one of the largest subject-specific outreach projects in the university. Fry’s vision for her work at Cambridge involves building on the extensive public communication efforts initiated by David Spiegelhalter, a giant in the field of mathematical communication.

A Moral Duty to Engage

Fry’s commitment to mathematical communication stems from her conviction that researchers have a moral duty to engage with the people affected by their work. As she notes, “Communication is not an optional extra: if you are creating something that is used by, or interacts with members of the public or the world in general, then I think it’s genuinely your moral duty to engage the people affected by it.” This perspective underscores the importance of mathematical communication in fostering a deeper understanding of complex research and its implications for society.

Fry’s plans for her work at Cambridge involve establishing a community that excels in mathematical communication, with a focus on researching the most effective methods for engaging diverse audiences. Her appointment is expected to strengthen the existing excellent work being done at Cambridge in this area, as acknowledged by Professor Colm-cille Caulfield, Head of DAMTP.

A New Era for Mathematical Communication

The arrival of Professor Fry at Cambridge marks an exciting new chapter in the university’s long history of promoting mathematical understanding. Her deep commitment to sharing the excitement of maths with people of all ages and backgrounds will undoubtedly have a profound impact on mathematical literacy in the UK and beyond. As Professor Nigel Peake, Head of the School of the Physical Sciences, notes, “Her appointment will be an enormous benefit to Cambridge, and the UK as a whole.”