Issue 45 – March 2023

Welcome to our email roundup of all things Cambridge Mathematics

Dear reader,

Marhaba,

This is our first newsletter in 2023, and a lot has happened since our last edition. My message to you will not be limited to wishes of happiness and prosperity in the new year as was intended, but it will mainly be a call for solidarity. It will not simply be a message to celebrate the connectedness of mathematical ideas, but it will be above all a call to strengthen our human connections. Undoubtedly, mathematics brings us together, but humanity is always the common factor, and if we keep striving for a better world, guided by our goodness and sound principles, then we will always rise and emerge stronger. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by pain and sorrow, and despite the chaos that reigns at times, our call to all decision makers is to keep an eye on education and its continuity as it will always be the beacon for a better tomorrow.

Much has changed for me since last year, as I recently started a new job at a new institution in a new country. Such changes usually bring mixed feelings: the excitement for a new adventure and the doubt from an unfamiliar environment; the joy of a fresh start and the fear of uncertainty. But isn't it the same with new topics we learn and new subjects we get introduced to? Isn't it the mixture of feelings a student experiences when a new mathematical theorem is written on the board or a new chapter is introduced? How do we ensure that we cultivate the excitement and joy in our students so they overcome their doubts and fears? Mathematics is beautiful and exciting, and the same could be said about learning it, even if at times it can feel daunting and scary for some (or many). Our role as educators is to ensure that our students see the beauty in mathematics and realise that they are all capable of learning mathematics and even excelling at it. It is not a subject for the elite or a few chosen ones; it is for us all. Everyone deals with and needs mathematics daily: when they shop, when they evaluate the time to get to their destination, when they estimate the shortest path to catch a bus, when they calculate the number of extra likes they need on a post to reach a new milestone, etc. Most of the time though, appreciating and enjoying mathematics require time, effort, persistence and, more than anything else, patience, as the late Prof. Maryam Mirzakhani beautifully pointed out one day. Maryam performed poorly in mathematics for a couple of years in middle school (she was not even interested in the topic for a while), only to become several years later, in 2014, the first female Fields medallist – the equivalent of a Nobel Laureate in mathematics. I remember the ceremony vividly and the reaction of the audience, as I was one of the lucky few to witness it at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Seoul, ROK. Maryam never called for every student to become a mathematician but asked them all to give mathematics a real chance. In 2023, let us abide by these messages ourselves and be patient with our students – all our students. Let us allow them enough time to enjoy mathematics. Let us provide them with the support they need to appreciate mathematics. Let us give them the chance they deserve to unlock their hidden potential and explore the beauty of mathematics, regardless of whether they grow up to become mathematicians or not. 

This newsletter brings you two blogs from team members: Darren Macey finds good use of data everywhere, even in the recent COVID-19 pandemic, while Lynn Fortin shares her thoughts on assessment in view of how schools get assessed; can we come up with a better model for assessing our kids and reporting their performance? In addition, Eirini Geraniou and Rina Lai answer our seven questions and share with us their stories with mathematics and more. Overall, a rich newsletter to celebrate mathematics.

A new year brings new starts with new mistakes and new learning opportunities, new challenges and new achievements, new sorrows and new dreams, new questions and (maybe) new answers. These are all parts of a world that is governed by variables, but if there is one constant to have in our lives, let it be to care – always.

Best wishes,

Rachad 

P.S. Please send us your comments and suggestions on our blogs, Espressos and on this newsletter by replying to this email, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!

Mathematical Salad

These are the most recent items we have released since our last newsletter, in order of publication on our website: