The three-day event took place on 8-11 December with school teachers invited to attend the Education Afternoon session as per long-standing tradition. The session brings together school teachers and mathematicians to engage in content and conversation about maths and the future of teaching maths particularly in regional settings.
Although it is the fourth time UNE has hosted the long-running event it was the first time the university did so virtually.
“Preparation for the event began a few year ago but it was well worth it. We had a busy but fruitful three days with 316 talks held across 20 sessions,” lead organiser and Convener of Mathematics at UNE Professor Gerd Schmalz said. “I am very pleased with how the event unfolded as well as the feedback we got from participants.”
Professor Vladimir Ejov, AusMS Vice-President Annual Conferences, in closing also emphasised the effort, quality, creativity and taste with which the meeting was organised.
“You have set a standard that I hope we won’t need to resort to again, but if we need to, this is the example to follow. You have made UNE and the Australian Mathematical Society proud,” Professor Ejov said. “I hope, that you would agree to share your experience if it appears to be useful for future organisers in similar circumstances.”
The annual meeting is the main conference of the Society, and has been held annually since its inception in 1956.UNE hosted its first, but the Society’s fourth, annual meeting in 1960.
“We also hosted the 16th meeting in 1972 and, as an outlier, the 38th in 1994. One could say that it almost goes by powers of four,” Professor Schmalz joked. “With more outliers we may even host it earlier than the 256th meeting in 192 years.”
UNE has a long and proud history in mathematics, especially pure mathematics, a field that has been assessed as well above world standard by the Australian Research Council’s Excellence in Research for Australia program in 2015 and 2018.
The Australian Mathematical Society is the national society of the mathematics profession in Australia. Its members comprise professional and industrial mathematicians, statisticians, actuaries, mathematics teachers, and undergraduate and postgraduate students.
