'How to Talk Maths in Public' a Conference on Public Engagement

数学正受到越来越多的公众关注。从学者的讲座和学校的大师班到报纸、电视纪录片、流行书籍中的数学特征——甚至数学家在男性杂志上为设计师服装做模特——从未有过如此多的数学展示。对许多人来说，数学具有一种内在的魅力，无论他们是否觉得自己能理解它，还是觉得自己感到困惑。然而，数学是一门支撑我们在现代社会中认为理所当然的大部分东西的学科。当考虑到数学自然地融入到它所提供信息的学科中时，这种普遍性意味着数学的基本作用仍然没有得到充分的重视。因此，数学缺乏政治影响力，资金不足，普遍被社会低估。因此，数学家和公众之间的专业接触是至关重要的。然而，尽管如此，社区作为一个整体在这项任务上相当差，只留下了少数熟练的个人扮演这个重要的角色。我们必须解决这个问题，以帮助吸引未来的数学家来满足工业、商业和公共部门日益增长的需求，特别是填补那些将在学校和财经学院任教的人的巨大缺口。本次会议为期两天，旨在召集已经积极参与公共活动的数学家（学术界、数学推动者、教师、在广播、电视、报纸和杂志以及其他媒体工作的个人）与希望被授权成为变革大使的下一代数学家。领先的数学传播者将发言，然后为代表们提供互动研讨会。主题将包括：-一个受人尊敬的专业数学家能与公众接触吗？-与新闻界和媒体合作-写一本受欢迎的数学书-多少数学算太多？-为公众参与提供资金的途径-一个选秀节目：“e to the x factor”。曼彻斯特市将为一系列街头数学活动提供一个完美的场地，这些活动将在城镇周围的一系列地点举行。这些链接将与会议联系起来，既有助于宣传会议，也为与会者提供额外的数学交流实例。“街头数学”活动将由经验丰富的组织委员会成员协调，包括Steve Humble，又名Northern Echo的数学博士和Chris Budd，他们在世界各地举办过许多此类活动，他们将由当地志愿者，代表和/或学生组成。预计这一因素将鼓励BBC曼彻斯特报道为期两天的活动，采访一些贡献者，甚至可能参加小组讨论。

Mathematics is receiving an ever increasing public profile. From academics' lectures and school masterclasses to mathematical features in newspapers and television documentaries, popular books - even mathematicians modelling designer clothes in men's magazines - there has never been more mathematics on display. Mathematics holds an intrinsic fascination for many people, whether they feel they can understand it or whether they feel they are left baffled. However, mathematics is a subject which underpins most of what we take for granted in modern society. This ubiquity, when taken with the way that mathematics naturally becomes incorporated into the disciplines that it informs, means that the fundamental role of mathematics is still under-appreciated. As a consequence, mathematics lacks political punch, is under-funded and generally undervalued by society. The need for professional engagement between mathematicians and the public is therefore crucially important. Despite this, however, the community as a whole has been rather poor at this task, leaving this essential role to just a few skilled individuals. We must tackle this problem in order to help attract future mathematicians to meet the growing demands of industry, commerce and the public sector, and especially to fill the massive shortfall of those going on to teach in schools and FE colleges. Funding is requested for a two-day conference, which aims to bring together mathematicians already active in public engagement (in academe; math promoters; teachers; individuals working in radio, television, newspapers and magazines; and other media) with next generation mathematicians who want to be empowered to be the ambassadors for change. Leading mathematics communicators will speak and then offer interactive workshops for delegates. Topics will include: - Can a respectable professional mathematician engage with the public? - Working with the press and media - Writing a popular maths book - How much maths is too much? - Routes to funding for public engagement - A talent show: 'e to the x factor'.The City of Manchester will provide a perfect venue for a number of street maths events which will be set up in a range of locations around the town. These will link to the conference, helping both to publicise it and also to give additional hands-on examples of maths communication to the participants. The 'Maths in the Street' events will be coordinated by members of the highly experienced organising committee, including Steve Humble, aka Dr Maths of the Northern Echo and Chris Budd who have run many such events around the world, and they will be staffed by local volunteers, delegates and/or students. It is anticipated that this element will encourage BBC Manchester to cover the two-day event, to interview a number of the contributors, and perhaps even to join the panel discussion.