math education

The world's leading mathematicians have penned an open letter to Australian Prime Minister John Howard, urging him to act immediately to prevent Australia losing its mathematics capability.Experts are concerned about a shortage of maths teachers, a decline in the number of high school students studying maths to a senior level, and shrinking maths departments at universities.Three months ago a national review of mathematical sciences found Australia was starting to lose its edge in industries such as mining and biotechnology, as the shortage of statisticians and mathematicians became critical.The letter, signed by 110 of the world's leading mathematicians and almost 400 Australian academics, urged the government to act in response to the report.