{"id":1019,"date":"2025-10-23T14:52:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T13:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/MathEd\/?p=1019"},"modified":"2025-10-23T14:52:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T13:52:29","slug":"black-history-month-celebrating-black-excellence-in-mathematics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/MathEd\/index.php\/2025\/10\/23\/black-history-month-celebrating-black-excellence-in-mathematics\/","title":{"rendered":"Black History Month – Celebrating Black Excellence in Mathematics\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

October is Black History Month. This year the theme is \u201cStanding Firm in Power and Pride\u201d, honouring the resilience, leadership, and cultural identity of Black communities while marking key anniversaries such as 60 years since the Race Relations Act and the death of Malcolm X.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Black History Month.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mathematics and Statistics are often thought of as neutral or objective subjects, but the way we teach, learn, and engage with them is shaped by our experiences, cultures, and opportunities. The act of doing mathematics is a human activity that is universal, shared, and <\/span>a<\/span>lso <\/span>deeply personal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We recognise the limitations of our mathematics and statistics curriculum, which draws on mathematical ideas from across the globe, but is rooted in Eurocentric traditions. As we celebrate Black History Month, it is important to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of Black mathematicians: those individuals whose brilliance and perseverance have shaped not only the field of mathematics but also the course of history.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One such trailblazer is Katherine Johnson, whose story reminds us that mathematics is not just about numbers, it’s about courage, precision, and breaking barriers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Katherine Johnson: The Mathematician Who Sent Us to the Moon<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Katherine Johnson working at NASA in 1966.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0(<\/span>Photo credit<\/span>: NASA<\/span>)<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Katherine Johnson (1918\u20132020) was a pioneering NASA mathematician whose calculations were critical to the success of major space missions. She performed trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard\u2019s 1961 flight, the first American in space, and famously verified the computer-generated calculations for John Glenn\u2019s 1962 orbital flight at Glenn\u2019s personal request. Her work also contributed to the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s career spanned over three decades at NASA, where she broke racial and gender barriers in a segregated America. Her story, along with those of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, was popularized in the book and film <\/span>Hidden Figures<\/span><\/i>, bringing long-overdue recognition to the Black women who helped launch the space age.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her legacy is not just in the missions she helped succeed, but in the inspiration she provided to generations of students, especially young Black girls, who saw in her a reflection of their own potential.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more about Katherine on Open Learn here: <\/span>Katherine Johnson: NASA mathematician and much-needed role model | OpenLearn – Open University<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr Nira Chamberlain: Modelling the Future of Mathematics<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE<\/p><\/div>\n

(Photo credit: Nira Chamberlain)<\/p>\n

While Katherine Johnson\u2019s legacy reminds us of the power of mathematics to break barriers and reach new frontiers, today we continue to see that same brilliance in mathematicians like Dr Nira Chamberlain, a leading figure in British mathematics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr Chamberlain is an award-winning mathematician known for applying complex mathematical modelling to real-world problems, from predicting the lifetime costs of naval ships to solving industrial challenges across Europe and Africa. He holds a PhD in mathematical modelling and was named one of the UK\u2019s top scientists by the Science Council. In 2020, he became President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. <\/span>Beyond his technical achievements, Dr Chamberlain is a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, regularly speaking to young people about the power of mathematics and the importance of representation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more about Nira\u2019s work here: Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE CMATH FIMA CSc \u2013 Professional Mathematician<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

A legacy of Black excellence in mathematics\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Katherine Johnson and Dr Nira Chamberlain offer powerful examples of Black excellence in mathematics from the past and present, they are part of a much wider legacy. From Benjamin Banneker, who predicted solar eclipses in the 18th century, to David Blackwell,\u00a0<\/span>a pioneer in statistics and game theory whose work led to the Rao-Blackwell theorem, Black mathematicians have made profound contributions across centuries and continents.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the UK, figures like Francis Williams, a pioneering mathematics scholar in the 18th century who taught mathematics, and <\/span>Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a space scientist and science communicator who uses mathematical modelling in her work today and inspires young people through outreach and media, show\u00a0<\/span>how\u00a0<\/span>mathematical thinking continues to shape our understanding of the world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This Black History Month, I invite you to explore these stories further. Whether you are an educator, student, or simply curious, take time to discover the lives and legacies of Black mathematicians whose work deserves to be known, celebrated, and taught.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An excellent pla<\/span>ce to start at would be The Open University Black STEM hub: created by and for Black STEM students<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> as <\/span>a dedicated space by and for\u00a0 Black STEM students<\/span>. You can find out more about the students and staff involved <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>: Black STEM Hub | Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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OU Black STEM hub<\/p><\/div>\n

Resources and further reading\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n