Name:
Daniel Chapman-Harris
What's your job role?
Secondary School Maths Teacher
What got you interested in maths?
Maths has always been a subject that I have enjoyed and have done well in. At primary school I was given the opportunity to join selected students from higher classes once a week to do higher level problems and learn about fun quirks in maths, written by Johnny Ball!
Who are your role models?
Johnny Ball is influential in how he made Maths fun. My GCSE maths teacher is also a powerful role model for me and I incorporate much of them both into my own practice. I have come to respect those LGBT mathematicians who made incredible contributions to the world, such as Alan Turing, G.H. Hardy and Florence Nightingale.
Why do you think itâ¬"s important to celebrate the contribution that gay people have made to maths and science?
It is important to remember the staggering contributions that gay people have already contributed to maths and science. By celebrating their contributions we can hopefully ensure that the persecution which some of these people suffered is never experienced again. Imagine what a great mind such as Alan Turing's could have achieved if he had not lost his career when outed!
What advice would you give to people who are considering going into careers in maths or science?
Although maths has always been a passion of mine, so history, art and drama have been too. My advice would be to follow a career path which you are passionate about! Retirement is a long way away and passion helps you get through difficult days. Bringing Arts into mathematics and science, and vice versa, is in my view most successful! (For example, Escher or Leonardo da Vinci!)
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