The Education of Mathematicians

Extract

A significant modern trend is the increased use which industry makes of mathematicians. Only twenty years or so ago almost all university graduates in mathematics had to find careers in teaching, in schools, technical colleges or universities; a few became actuaries or entered the Civil Service. To-day the situation is appreciably changed, many more of the new graduates in mathematics enter industry or research establishments. (This is one reason why there is a shortage of mathematics teachers in schools). In 1959, just over three thousand graduate mathematicians were employed in industry, public corporations and in central and local government. Nearly eleven thousand others were employed in some kind of teaching. Although more than three quarters of all mathematics graduates are still to be found in education, the number of those who are not has increased by nearly two-fifths in the last three years. This increase is likely to persist in the future as the complexity of industrial research and development grows. It is significant that recently there have again been moves to establish an Institute of Mathematics, on the lines of the professional organisations for scientists and engineers.