The MEI 7 Organising Committee (L-R): Siún Nic Mhuirí, Paul Grimes, Aisling Twohill (Chair), Fiona Giblin, Fionnnán Howard and Lorraine Harbison (Thérèse Dooley is missing from the photograph)

Seventh Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI 7)

16/10/2019

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On October 11th and 12th, 2019 the Seventh Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI 7) took place in the Institute of Education, DCU. The conference organisers were delighted to welcome almost 100 delegates from Ireland, the US and across Europe. The conference theme focused attention on mathematical literacy, and a presentation of mathematics that is inclusive and relevant to all. The conference also marked the beginning of Maths Week 2019 in Ireland. The opening keynote address by Paola Valero provoked our thinking and inspired us to rigorously question how our global society is evolving, and the role that mathematics plays in development, both economic and societal. Two dynamic symposia took place where different perspectives on the theoretical construct of efficacy, and the evolving curricular landscape were interrogated by contributors and attending delegates. The conference concluded with a stimulating keynote from Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai on the use of literature in the teaching of mathematics to children in senior primary classrooms (http://www.mathsthroughstories.org/).

Along with invited speakers, a range of research papers were presented by authors across the two days of the conference. The Irish Independent highlighted one such paper. Furthermore, a series of podcasts featuring interviews with established contributors will be carried on the Teaching and Teacher Education website. All papers, and a PDF of the entire proceedings, are available to be downloaded from Zenodo.

We are all looking forward to the next conference in this biennial series which will take place in 2021.