Millennium Mathematics Project

The Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP) is a maths education and outreach initiative for ages 3 to 19 and the general public.

What we do

The MMP is the flagship outreach and engagement initiative within the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, and is active nationally and internationally. Our focus is on increasing mathematical understanding, confidence and enjoyment, developing problem-solving skills, and promoting creative and imaginative approaches to maths.

The project consists of a family of complementary programmes, including the very successful NRICH website, Plus online mathematics magazine, and face-to-face work with schools and the public. In the 2022/23 school year our web-based mathematical resources attracted more than 7.5 million visits from users worldwide and over 20 million page views, while more than 3,000 teacher interactions and around 13,000 school students were involved in our face-to-face activities and online webinars and events.

NRICH

The NRICH website publishes thousands of free resources designed to challenge, inspire and engage ages 3 to 19. Teachers' resources support planning and help teachers promote rich mathematical thinking in the classroom. NRICH resources focus on problem-solving and take a low-threshold high-ceiling approach, building students' confidence, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and ability to take the initiative.

Plus

Plus is a free online maths magazine aimed at the interested and intelligent general reader, including older students (16+). Lively, accessible and in-depth articles and podcasts explore all aspects of maths, ranging from what string theory predicts about hidden dimensions to mathematics in medicine. Meanwhile news items uncover the hidden maths behind media headlines and report news from the world of research.

STEP Support Programme

Our free online STEP Support Programme helps potential university applicants develop their advanced problem-solving skills and prepare for STEP Mathematics exams, which form part of conditional offers for Mathematics at a number of universities including Cambridge. The programme includes a course of online modules for individual study, and the resources are free and open to everyone.

Related activities and events

Related activities include hosting the East of England Advanced Mathematics Support Programme - teaching, support and promotion of maths beyond GCSE, especially Maths and Further Maths A-level.

We also run mathematics events for schools, families and the public, and teacher professional development.

The MMP’s various programmes have won many awards and our resources have been repeatedly commended by the UK Government’s Department for Education. In 2006 the Queen presented the project with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, honouring ‘outstanding achievement and excellence’ at world-class level.

Our Latest News

Voices of Maths: celebrate the Cambridge Festival with our podcasts

To celebrate the annual Cambridge Festival, we have selected some of our favourite podcasts featuring discussions with researchers from our home in the Faculty of Mathematics.

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Plus Editors organise landmark conference on mathematics communication

In November 2024 the Plus Editors, Dr Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, organised a groundbreaking conference exploring evidence for effective strategies in mathematics communication. We were also delighted that Hannah Fry chose the event to announce her imminent move to Cambridge as the University's first Professor for the Public Understanding of Mathematics.

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Government Chief Scientific Adviser maths challenge for National Numeracy Day

To celebrate National Numeracy Day in May 2024, we were delighted to support the UK Government Office for Science (GO-Science) and Government Chief Scientific Adviser with an Olympics-themed maths challenge.

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NRICH launches new Problem-Solving Schools initiative

Our NRICH programme has launched a new initiative to help schools prioritise problem-solving in maths. The NRICH Problem-Solving Schools programme will offer free resources, advice and teacher professional development training.

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