Think education: the use of history for inclusion

Equality, inclusion and diversity (EDI) is a widespread concern in the mathematics education community. However, addressing EDI in mathematics requires a culture shift and development of significant expertise. Despite the stress that QAA benchmarks and the National Academy for Mathematical Sciences, put on inclusivity, it is seldom obvious how to teach mathematics in a way that addresses EDI, let alone improves inclusion.

Careful use of the History of Mathematics (HoM) within the mathematics curriculum is often proposed as one way of promoting EDI. However, the complex interaction of factors in doing so effectively is not yet understood. Since 2023 the History For Inclusion & Diversity in Mathematics Network (HIDIM, https://mathshist4edi.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/), funded by the Isaac Newton Institute and EPSRC (grant: EP/V521929/1), and led by St Andrews, Oxford, and the Open University, has explored the ramifications of using HoM within mathematics teaching in higher education. It has sought practical steps to support mathematics educators in developing understanding, expertise and confidence in trialling HoM. This article reflects on our experience and on where the network might go next.