Mathematics PhD student Karrie Liu

Karrie (bottom row, 2nd from right) attending the inaugural event in London.

Mathematics PhD student Karrie Liu is among 100 Fellows recently appointed by the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences, to collaborate on tackling challenges including pandemic preparedness, economic transformation, national security, and safe AI.

On 29 January, an inaugural event was held at the Royal Society in London, bringing together the UK’s strongest mathematicians across academia, education, business, industry, and government, including winners of the Fields Medal (the mathematics equivalent of a Nobel Prize), leading business people, distinguished teachers and academics, science communicators, and pioneers of computing and machine learning.

The Academy for the Mathematical Sciences, established in 2023 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), will contribute to projects of national importance—such as strengthening maths education in the UK, supporting responsible AI, addressing the UK’s under-retention of mathematical talent, and leveraging the mathematical sciences to tackle climate change.

The appointment of the Academy’s inaugural cohort of Fellows therefore marks a historic milestone for an organisation set to play a critical role in the UK’s future.

Karrie said: “I hope this Fellowship highlights that mathematics and operational research thrive through many pathways across industry, academia, and public service, where good modelling helps people, not just papers.”

Karrie is an analytics consultant, entrepreneur, chartered mathematician/statistician, and public speaker.

Her PhD focuses on Women’s Health Hubs (WHH) in Sussex; using mathematical modelling and operational research to improve health inequalities. She is supervised by Dr James Van Yperen, Dr Marianna Cerasuolo and Dr Elizabeth Ford.

Since 2019, when she founded Hypatia Analytics, her work has influenced decision-making processes in both corporate and nonprofit sectors.

She aims to improve the world through the insightful use of data science and technology, and to be a role model for young women entering the STEM sector. She has mentored several women over the years to help their career progression.

Karrie has been recognised publicly for her outstanding work, winning numerous awards including winner of Princess Royal's WISE Outstanding Woman in Science Award 2024, She Inspires Awards (Women in STEM) 2024, The Innovation Award - Global Boehringer Ingelheim Award 2020 and Top 100 Women in Tech 2019 #TechWomen100.