Mathsci-comm Network
Connecting people who communicate complex mathematics and data science to non-expert audiences

About us

Hannah Fry, Marianne Freiberger, Rachel Thomas at Mathsci-comm meeting
Grace Merton, INI

What we do

The Mathsci-comm network brings together people who communicate, or have a stake in communicating, complex mathematics and data science to a variety of non-expert audiences. The network comprises over 100 members who are mainly based in the UK. Members include researchers in academia and industry, media and communications professionals, and those working in policy in government and non-government organisations. 

Our key aims are:

  • Share best practice in the communication of mathematical and data science and exploit synergies.
  • Establish an evidence base for what communication strategies work.
  • Produce practical guidelines for how to best communicate
  • Engender a culture change, embedding communication as an integral part in the academic landscape.

The network is stays connected via an online platform and monthly online meetings. The first in-person Mathsci-comm workshop took place in November 2024 at the INI, entitled Communicating mathematical and data sciences — what does success look like? Another in-person event is planned for early 2026.

Mathsci-comm is funded by a Network Grant from the Isaac Newton Institute (INI) and EPSRC (Ref: EP/V521929/1).  Our work is facilitated by plus.maths.org and the Millennium Mathematics Project, both based at he University of Cambridge, and we are very grateful for the ongoing support of the Newton Gateway to Mathematics.

Why we do it

Climate change, artificial intelligence, individual and public health – these are just a few of the huge societal issues that mathematical and data sciences are key to understanding and addressing. It is vital that those outside the research community – including policy makers, mainstream media, and the wider public – are informed about advances in these areas and are part of the discussions about such research. 

There is also a need to communicate to policy makers the importance of curiosity driven research across the mathematical sciences, particularly in pure mathematics, and the role this research has in driving forward the development of fundamental science that will underpin future advances in applied mathematics and data science, and innovations in technology.

At the same time mathematics and data science remain two of the hardest subject areas to communicate to non-experts. Those who are engaged with the communication of research in these areas  stand to benefit from a linked-up community, which enables sharing of best practice, exploitation of synergies, and the production of practical guidelines specific to the communication of research in mathematics, statistics and data science.

How we started

A crucial first step was taken in January 2023 with the highly successful Communicating Mathematics for the Public event. It was developed and organised by the Newton Gateway to Mathematics together with Kevin McConway (Open University) and Tom King (Royal Statistical Society). 

The extraordinary group of people that came together for this event inspired maths communicators Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas. Freiberger and Thomas are Editors of plus.maths.org, a free online platform about mathematics aimed at non-expert audiences that is part of  he Millennium Mathematics Project based at he University of Cambridge. They applied for a Network Grant from the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences (INI) to grow this community and keep it connected. Freiberger and Thomas launched the Mathsci-comm network in early 2024  and continue to run the network together with Maha Kaouri from the Newton Gateway to Mathematics. 

The image above shows Hannah Fry, Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas at the first in-person event of the Mathsci-comm network, held in November 2024. Credit: Grace Merton, INI