Meet the Maths Craft Team
Armed with knitting needles and origami paper, the Maths Craft team are on a mission to bring maths to the masses.
The Team
Dr Jeanette McLeod is the co-founder and Director of Maths Craft New Zealand. She has a PhD in pure mathematics from the Australian National University, and is currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury and a Principal Investigator in the New Zealand Centre for Research Excellence, Te Pūnaha Matatini. Jeanette carries out research in the areas of pure and applied graph theory. She also knits, crochets, and sews. In 2019, Jeanette was awarded the Cranwell Medal for Science Communication by the New Zealand Association of Scientists together with Maths Craft Deputy Director, Phil Wilson. The duo were also finalists for the 2019 Excellence in Science Communication Award from the Science Communicators Association of New Zealand. Jeanette was elected as a Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society in 2020 for her work promoting mathematics with Maths Craft New Zealand. In 2022, the NZMS awarded her the Gillian Thornley Award for outstanding contribution to the cause or profession of mathematics for her work on Maths Craft New Zealand.
Webpage: www.math.canterbury.ac.nz/~j.mcleod
Twitter: @GraphyJ
Ravelry: @jnet
Dr Phil Wilson is Deputy Director of Maths Craft New Zealand. He has a PhD in mathematics from University College London, and is now a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of Canterbury and a Principal Investigator in the New Zealand Centre for Research Excellence, Te Pūnaha Matatini. He does research in fluid dynamics, mathematical modelling, and the philosophy of mathematics, and really enjoys explaining the fun and beauty of mathematics to a general audience. There really is, he believes, no such thing as “too many books”. Phil was awarded the Cranwell Medal for Science Communication in 2019 by the New Zealand Association of Scientists, together with Maths Craft Director Jeanette McLeod. The pair were also finalists for the 2019 Excellence in Science Communication Award from the Science Communicators Association of New Zealand. In 2020, Phil was elected as a Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society for his work promoting mathematics with Maths Craft New Zealand. In 2022, the NZMS awarded him the Gillian Thornley Award for outstanding contribution to the cause or profession of mathematics for his work on Maths Craft New Zealand.
Webpage: www.math.canterbury.ac.nz/~p.wilson
Twitter: @FlowPhil
Dr David Pomeroy is a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education at the University of Canterbury. His research focuses on barriers to mathematical learning, particularly those related to socio-economic status and gender, and pedagogical practices and education policies that can address such challenges. David is also a keen knitter.
Dr Jo Bailey is a Senior Lecturer in design at Wellington School of Design, part of Massey University College of Creative Arts. She is a researcher and practicing designer with an interest in science communication and visual systems. A recovering maths-phobe, her knitting skills are very limited, but she does love making things.
Jayne Mark is the Coordinator of Maths Craft New Zealand. Jayne has a background in science and research and working with students who struggle with understanding maths. She has a love of the outdoors, enjoying tramping, running and biking, and her best craft skill is making cakes, but she also knits and crochets.
John McLachlan is an Accomplice of Maths Craft New Zealand. He is currently a postgraduate Mathematics student at the University of Canterbury. He loves applying his creative streak to solve puzzles and problems, and Maths Craft NZ has helped this blossom.
Friends of Maths Craft NZ
Kate learnt sewing, knitting and crochet from her mother and grandmother, and has a BSc in Mathematics and Mathematics Education from Victoria University of Wellington. She enjoys the creativity of maths and the mathematical structure of crafts, and sharing them both with others. Kate also enjoys modular origami and quilting, and has tried her hand at both spinning and paper weaving.
Twitter: @KateMathy
Dr Sarah Mark recently completed her PhD in Mathematics at the University of Canterbury. She greatly enjoys modular origami, crocheting, knitting, and many other crafts. Sarah has been a tutor at UC and loves showing people of all ages the wonders of maths.
Dr Nicolette Rattenbury is a Professional Teaching Fellow at The University of Auckland, where she runs the Science Scholars Programme. Her mathematical background is in the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. She has been involved in numerous outreach projects in both the UK and New Zealand, including the annual MOTAT Science Street Fair, the Auckland branch of MathsJam, and the Auckland MegaMenger event.
Webpage: www.physics.auckland.ac.nz/people/nmoi001
Twitter: @AklMathsJam
Terri Elder is currently the curator of the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities and the James Logie Memorial Collection at the University of Canterbury. She has worked in a variety of museums and art galleries throughout New Zealand, and has been lucky enough to care for some amazing artefacts. Terri holds a degree in Tertiary Teaching, and is passionate about using museum objects for teaching and learning. Along the way she has also dabbled with a number of crafts, including knitting, crochet and egg painting.
Webpage: www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/logie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teecemuseum
Dr Erik Brogt is an Associate Professor of Academic Development at the University of Canterbury. His research interests are the pedagogical thinking of expert practitioners who become teachers of the profession, and the application of educational psychology to teaching and learning of subject disciplines.
Lee Mauger founded the Space & Science Festival to help kids get excited about STEM. The M(aths) in STEM proved to be the hardest to find innovative and inspiring outreach for, until he found Maths Craft. Maths Craft have been a firm favourite at the festival now for several years in a row. Lee's kids are the biggest Maths Craft fans in the world, and like to volunteer as helpers now. One day they aspire to make a house out of Menger Sponges :)