We are excited to invite you to the WORAN Land Lecture in celebration of Ada Lovelace Day. This year, we are privileged to host Professor Dame Celia Hoyles, Chair of Mathematics Education at University College London as our distinguished Land Lecturer.

Most operational researchers have reached the profession through studying mathematics or mathematical sciences, at least to first degree level. And operational research implementations are often most successful where the people responsible for their commissioning and use, themselves have enough mathematical understanding to recognise the value of an OR solution. So the mathematical literacy of the population is of crucial importance to our discipline. And this all begins with mathematics education. Yet still, in the UK, too many people emerge from school believing that maths is not for them; and despite increasing female success at A-Level, there remains a gender divide.

Dame Celia Hoyles is uniquely well-qualified to comment on this: in her outstanding career, she has worked as maths teacher, communicator, maths education researcher, adviser and influencer, at levels from classroom to government. In this talk, she will be reflecting on mathematics in education through the lens of her personal history. What do we know? what is changing? and what are the lessons for widening participation in, and understanding of, OR and other mathematical sciences?

The WORAN Land Lecture is named for leading OR scientist Professor Ailsa Land. It is presented by an eminent female guest speaker, on a topic that has particular resonance for women and for anybody who is concerned about female representation in OR and analytics. Its aim is to inspire, inform and support by making women visible as role models and contributors to science, exploring issues affecting women, and ensuring that women’s voices are heard. It is usually held on/around Ada Lovelace Day (2nd Tuesday in October), the day for celebrating the achievements of women in STEM. Having moved online in 2020, we have continued to hold it online to maximise accessibility. 

About the Speaker 

Dame Celia Hoyles' roles have included president of the Institute of Maths and its Applications, chief adviser for mathematics to the government of the United Kingdom, and director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). She is currently Chair of Maths Education at UCL's Institute of Education and member of the Advisory Board of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences.