Black Heroes Of Mathematics Conference
An Interview with Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE, one of the founders of the annual Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference.
It is great to speak with you today about the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference, can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Prof Nira Chamberlain, and my day job is Technical Fellow for Mathematical Modelling with AtkinsRéalis. I’m also a past President of both the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the Mathematical Association. I am known for my work in Maths Communication and in 2022 I was awarded an OBE for services to mathematical sciences.
Interesting Fact: In 2018 Nira was voted as the inaugural ‘World’s Most Interesting Mathematician’!
Tell us about the origins of the annual Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference – how did this event first start?
Back in 2016 the film Hidden Figures told the story of Katherine Johnson, an African American mathematician who had played a key role in the Apollo missions. It was fantastic that Katherine Johnson’s work was becoming so well known, but I was also left wondering why we only knew about one or two black mathematicians – there must be more ‘hidden figures’ that we should know about!
Katherine Johnson, Mathematician who featured in the film Hidden Figures
I developed two talks, one of which had the title ‘Black Heroes of Mathematics’ and the other which focused on my own story as a mathematician. I gave my first Black Heroes of Mathematics talk back in 2017 and it went from strength to strength, with my social media campaign going viral.
Then in 2020 there were the Black Lives Matter Protests in response to the death of George Floyd. I was simultaneously approached by a number of mathematical organisations and asked to develop an event that would be more sustainable in the long run than my existing Black Heroes of Mathematics Talk. This was the birth of the conference, and we have never looked back since.
What was your initial vision for the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference
Right from the beginning I wanted to develop a conference that would embrace a wide variety of different speakers and perspectives. Talks focus on technical mathematics, or on testimonies and stories, there really is an incredible mix. Over the years we have had over 40 different speakers and panellists, and it has been amazing to hear their unique stories. Our formal vision is ‘To celebrate the inspirational contributions of black role models to the field of Mathematics and Mathematics Education’.
Organising the conference is very much a team effort, and over the years the number of organisations which are involved has grown. In 2024 the conference was organised by eight different mathematical organisations, it is amazing to see the support and cooperation within the mathematics community.
Organisations formally involved in the Black Heroes of Mathematics (BHoM) Conference 2024:
Why should maths teachers attend the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference?
I was really impacted by this quote from one of our speakers:
‘You can’t say that mathematics comprehension and aptitude is so important to health of a nation and have so many underrepresented populations and not label it a crisis’
The Black Heroes of Mathematics conference allows teachers to see that maths is for everybody and to meet a wide range and diversity of mathematicians. Many schools will highlight role models such as Katherine Johnson in Black History month, but in reality, there are so many other black mathematicians doing so many different things and this type of representation should be seen all year round. Another big part of the BHoM conference is networking in the breaktimes and getting to speak with Black Mathematicians who are at a variety of different stages in their careers, I think this can give an incredibly fresh perspective to teachers.
The conference is also suitable for A Level Maths students and is an amazing opportunity to meet such an inspirational group of black mathematicians. The conference is open to everyone to attend, everyone is welcome.
Does the Black Heroes of Mathematics conference have any talks specifically aimed at teachers?
Every year there are several talks directly focused on maths education; this year we had:
- Robin T Wilson - ‘Bob Moses and the movement for math literacy as a civil right’.
- Teresa Senyah - ‘Representation in Mathematics Education’.
- Flavia H. Santos – ‘Scoping Maths Anxiety in Our Community’.
Teresa Senyah talking on ‘Representation in Mathematics Education’.
The other maths talks are very applicational, for example this year we had a talk which explored the spatial mapping of malaria risk. There is also a panel event where you can ask questions of the speakers. Occasionally you might get one or two talks that are very technical, but I would say the vast majority are highly accessible and useful for teachers.
Are there different ways teachers can access the conference?
We understand that not everyone can get to London for the in-person conference which is why we offer an online option and record the talks and place them in an archive. You can watch the 2024 Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference Archive here on YouTube. There is however an amazing buzz at the in-person conference, it is pretty special to get to talk with the speakers and panellists, so I would also recommend attending in person if possible.
Do you have any other reflections on the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference?
When I was the President of the IMA, I wanted to leave a legacy which would make a long-term impact. I feel that the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference is going from strength to strength and that this will be a great outcome from my time as President.
Looking back over the list of speakers we’ve had delegates from France, Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana, USA, the West Indies and the Netherlands, there is a huge diversity of nationalities but also of age and career stage. Many of our speakers have gone on to do some really impressive things, including one who became a United Nations representative on its ‘Global Peace through Innovation, Education & Technological Advancement’ initiative. The BHoM conference is not just about showcasing black mathematicians, it is also about looking forward to seeing their future impact!
Tell us about the 2025 conference
The year 2025 will see a special edition of the conference, as it will be the 100-year anniversary of the first black person to get a mathematics PhD, Elbert Cox. Booking will open in 2025, and can be found on the events page of the London Mathematical Society. The conference will take place in October 2025, and we hope you’ll sign up!
Professor Elbert Cox, first black person to gain a maths PhD
2024 Poster
Speakers Flavia H. Santos and Teresa Senyah at the 2024 Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference
The Maths Scholarships Team would like to thank Professor Chamberlain for his time in giving this interview.
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