About

The Scottish Mathematical Council is a charitable body, registered in Scotland. Our aims are to foster and improve mathematical education at all levels, and to encourage the advancement and application of mathematics throughout Scotland. The current Chair of the SMC is Dr Andrew Wilson, who is supported by the members of the SMC, all of whom are volunteers.

The Scottish Mathematical Council held its first meeting on 25 September 1967. Initially the Council had 15 members of whom six were nominated by the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, six by the Glasgow Mathematical Association and three by the Scottish Branch of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. The size of the Council has remained essentially unaltered, although members are no longer externally nominated, and the membership spans the full range of Scottish mathematical education as well as including representation from industry. All SMC members provide their time and experience to the Council on a voluntary basis, and most do so in addition to their roles within Scottish education.

Our activities are governed by our Constitution and by our financial procedures policy.

Current Members

Mr Allan Duncan

Retired Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education at Aberdeen University, Allan keeps himself busy proofreading Mathematics in School and editing our own journals. He has a particular interest in the use of technology to deepen mathematical understanding. He still enjoys dog walking, occasional hill walking and reading crime novels and travel literature.

Mr Chris Smith, MBE

Chris Smith started teaching Maths at Kilmarnock’s Grange Academy back in 2006. He joined the Scottish Mathematical Council in 2014 and currently is an Associate Member, responsible for liaising with the secondary Enterprising Mathematics in Scotland team. Chris is involved in various Maths Week Scotland initiatives: filming the Daily Challenges with the BBC and running…

Mr Bill Richardson, MBE

From 1973 to 2000, Bill was Principal Teacher of Mathematics at Elgin Academy. He was also an assessor with the Scottish Examination Board. Since his retirement he has continued to be involved in school mathematics across the UK and managed to attend quite a few overseas conferences over many years.

Dr Paul Argyle McDonald

Paul is an Associate Tutor at Moray House and an approved SQA marker for Advanced Higher Mathematics. He joined the council in 2019 and recently became a journal editor. As a former engineer, Paul seeks to promote problem-solving with all young people in his care.

Previous Chairs

1967-73
Professor R.A. Rankin, University of Glasgow

1973-74
Professor W.D. Collins, University of Strathclyde

1974-80
Professor E.M. Patterson, University of Aberdeen

1980-84
Professor A.G. Mackie, University of Edinburgh

1984-87
Professor J. Hunter, University of Glasgow

1987-93
Professor J.M. Howie, University of St. Andrews

1993-96
Professor D.A.R. Wallace, University of Strathclyde

1996-2001
Professor A.C. McBride, University of Strathclyde

2001-06
Dr I. Anderson, University of Glasgow

2006-09
Professor T.A. Gillespie, University of Edinburgh

2009-11
Eddie Mullan

2011-14
Professor Rob Archbold, University of Aberdeen

2014-19
Dr Chris Pritchard, McLaren High School

2019-22
Mrs Carol Lyon

2022 - 2024
Dr Alan J. Walker, University of the West of Scotland

2024 - Present
Dr Andrew Wilson, University of Glasgow