Mpumelelo Mandyoli highlights the importance of making mathematics accessible to everyone, emphasizing its role in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By promoting inclusivity and innovation, we can ensure that all individuals benefit from the wonders of mathematics.
Ruth Albertyn highlights the need to broaden research education and support. She proposes conceptualising doctoral intelligence and developing higher levels of thinking to produce quality research.
Prof. Jonathan Jansens identifies key challenges in South African mathematics education, including teaching without meaning, fear of failure, curriculum constraints, teacher content knowledge, pedagogical shortcomings, poor numeracy foundations, and lack of educator enthusiasm. He urges mathematicians to engage in early-grade teaching to enhance mathematical competence and address these issues.
We spoke to Professor Ellen Langer, mother of mindfulness, about all things mindful in this time of uncertainty. This discussion focusses on coping with the current COVID-19 pandemic and accepting the uncertainty that comes with the disease. She also discusses how mindfulness relies on the appreciation of uncertainty and that by recognizing this we become more mindful. She highlights the current ‘crisis’ as the time to find new opportunities, conduct our affairs in new ways and explore what works for us. Lastly, she emphasizes making peace with where we are at, and refraining from approaching numbers and statistics as absolute.
