🏆 Celebrating Excellence: Professor Hannah Fry Honored with the 2026 Leelavati Prize

The University of Cambridge is proud to announce that Professor Hannah Fry has been awarded the prestigious Leelavati Prize for 2026. This accolade recognizes her extraordinary contributions to mathematics outreach, bridging the gap between complex academic research and public understanding.

"Mathematics is not just for the few in ivory towers; it is a universal language that describes the very fabric of our existence." — Reflecting the spirit of the Leelavati Prize.

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🏛️ Inside the Faculty of Mathematics

The Faculty of Mathematics at Cambridge provides a comprehensive ecosystem for learning and discovery. The structure of their offerings is designed to support students at every stage of their journey.

Academic Pathways

The university offers a diverse array of programs:

• Undergraduate Studies: Including the Natural Sciences Tripos (NST) and various undergraduate courses.
• Postgraduate Excellence:
  • Part III (MMath/MASt): A world-renowned advanced course.
  • Doctoral and Master's research opportunities.
• Continuing Education: Professional and executive education for lifelong learners.

Organizational Structure

The following diagram illustrates the interconnected nature of the Faculty's administration and academic focus:

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📈 Recent Achievements and Faculty News

The Faculty has seen a surge of recognition and breakthroughs. Below is a summary of recent honors and milestones.

🎖️ Major Awards Table

🔬 Research Frontiers & Insights

The faculty is currently exploring a vast array of topics, ranging from the cosmic to the microscopic:

• Artificial Intelligence:
  • Using AI to accelerate research and improve medical diagnoses (e.g., leukaemia).
  • Teaching AI the "language of science" and training models for "what if?" medical scenarios.
• Cosmology & Physics:
  • Exploring Boson stars and the nature of Dark Matter.
  • The appointment of the first Hawking Professor of Cosmology (Daniel Baumann).
  • Insights into the "Origin of Time" and the legacy of Stephen Hawking.
• Climate & Environment:
  • Establishing new institutes to combat climate change.
  • Researching melting ice, rising seas, and utilizing AI supercomputers for climate modeling.
• Pure Mathematics:
  • The discovery of the aperiodic monotile.
  • Advancements in Number Theory and the election of Jack Thorne to the Kuwait Professorship.

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🛠️ Technical Corner: The Math of the Faculty

Whether it is calculating the dynamics of numbers or the stress of quantum physics, the faculty utilizes rigorous LaTeX notation for their work. For example, the study of tensor networks often involves complex transformations:

$\mathcal{T}_{i j k l} = \sum_{m, n} A_{i m} B_{j n} C_{k m} D_{l n}$

To manage these complex computations, the faculty utilizes advanced Computing and IT infrastructure. A simplified logic for tracking award winners might look like this in Python:

def check_award_winner(name, prize_list):
    if name in prize_list:
        return f"Congratulations {name}! You have won a prize."
    return "Keep researching!"

winners = ["Hannah Fry", "Perla Sousi", "James Fergusson"]
print(check_award_winner("Hannah Fry", winners))

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📅 Outreach and Future Goals

The Faculty is committed to making mathematics accessible to all. This is not just a goal, but a continuous process.

Current Outreach Initiatives:

• Launch "Mathematics for All" overview.
• Host Cambridge Conversations with Hannah Fry.
• Expand "Contagious Maths" into more classrooms.
• Increase support for the African Olympiad Academy (AIMS).

Old Goal: Establish basic web presence $\rightarrow$ New Goal: Integrate AI-driven research tools for public engagement.

Final Notes

From the appointment of Professor Sir John Aston as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research to the landmark £6m gift from XTX Markets, the Faculty of Mathematics continues to push the boundaries of human knowledge.