Dr Barnett began the post earlier in September as the Lecturer for Northern England, where she will focus on enriching mathematical education both within and beyond the curriculum for primary school-aged children, and encouraging those children to see a future for themselves within the world of mathematics. This year is the inaugural year of the LMS Outreach Lecturer positions, and Dr Barnett joins seven colleagues based at universities from across England, Wales, and Scotland to deliver a portfolio of workshops and talks to schools within their designated region. With a focus on promoting mathematical studies to children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and lower levels of mathematical attainment, Dr Barnett and her peers will be working to ensure that their programme showcases that maths is accessible to all, regardless of where they come from. The process to becoming an Outreach Lecturer was both rigorous and competitive, with prospective lecturers undergoing an extensive selection processes and interviews to ensure that they were the right candidate for such important and impactful roles. Dr Barnett and her peers will serve as Outreach Lecturers for two years, before a new cohort will be selected by the Society.

The London Mathematical Society has a long and prestigious past; first founded in 1865, the Society’s primary mission has been the advancement and dissemination of mathematics both through its members, and to the broader scientific community and general public. It has a rich history in the promotion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion within mathematics, and the new Outreach Lecturer positions join the Women and Diversity in Mathematics Council and the Levelling Up: Maths scheme as the latest in a line of initiatives intended to broaden the pool of those entering into higher and further mathematical education, and ensuring that mathematicians of every identity or walk of life are represented and heard.

On her appointment to Outreach Lecturer, Dr Barnett commented: "I'm really excited to be taking up this position. We don't get to do a lot of work with primary schools at University level, so I'm very thankful to the LMS for the opportunity to inspire children at that crucial age where they start building their sense of self. I hope that this scheme will encourage more young learners to engage with maths in an enjoyable way, and that they will continue to do so beyond school - maths really is for everyone!"