The challenges posed by identifying synergies in mathematical sciences is the subject of a report released by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) on 27 February 2017.

The report reflects the proceedings of a two-day workshop attended by representatives of higher education institutions and held in September last year. 

The workshop explored synergies and an inclusive approach to mathematics across all the scientific disciplines and the adoption of a broader, more integrated vision of the role of mathematics in education and society.  

South Africa’s National Development Plan projects that the number of school-leavers, who should qualify for entrance to a Bachelor’s degree for which mathematics is a prerequisite, will more than double by 2024 and will treble by 2030. At the same time, the relationship, or lack of one, between mathematics and mathematics education represents a matter of concern, potentially exacerbating the limited performance of South African pupils and students.  

The workshop sought to address these significant capacity challenges and the increasing permeation of mathematics across academic disciplines by exploring potential synergies and collaborations among the mathematical sciences, with the interconnected goals of improving educational and research outputs and supporting the country’s development and transformation. Click here to access the report.