Hannah Fry
Hannah Fry is an award-winning science presenter, public speaker, bestselling author, mathematician and academic. She is Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics at University of Cambridge, where she works alongside a unique mix of physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, architects and geographers to study patterns in human behaviour, particularly in an urban setting. Her research also applies to a wide range of social problems and questions, from shopping and transport to urban crime, riots and terrorism. Prior to joining Cambridge, she was Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis at University College London, where she utilized mathematical models to study patterns in human behavior. Fry also hosts numerous podcasts and television shows and has received critical acclaim for her BBC documentaries, including "The Secret Genius of Modern Life," "City in the Sky," "Magic Numbers," "The Joy of Winning," "The Joy of Data," and the 2018 film "Contagion - The BBC Pandemic."
Hannah Fry Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics
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Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis
Academic History
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Ph.D., Fluid Dynamics
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B.S., Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Fry's research revolves around the study of complex social and economic systems at various scales, particularly those with a spatial element.
Her research uses dimensional and asymptotic techniques, spectral methods and numerical approaches alongside tools originating from chaos theory, game theory and fluid dynamics.
Her work has included studies of patterns of human behavior, such as interpersonal relationships and dating, and how mathematics can apply to them, the mathematics behind pandemics, and scientific explanations of modern appliances.
RECOGNITIONS
2024 Royal Society David Attenborough Award
2020 Asimov Prize, Gran Sasso Science Institute
2020 Honorary Fellowship, Institution of Engineering and Technology
2018 Christopher Zeeman Medal, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
BOOKS
Rutherford & Fry’s Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything (Abridged)
Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine
The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus: The Mathematics of Christmas
Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms
The Mathematics of Love: Patterns, Proofs, and the Search for the Ultimate Equation
MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS
Fry is known around the world for her joyful ability to bring mathematical ideas to life for audiences of all interests and abilities.
Her TEDx talk was featured on the front page of TED.com and has amassed millions of views. She has fronted TV documentaries for the BBC and PBS.
Her series The Future with Hannah Fry on Bloomberg brings her signature intellectual heft and insight but is peppered with her imitable wit to American audiences.
Her critically acclaimed BBC documentaries include ‘The Secret Genius of Modern Life’, ‘Horizon: Diagnosis on Demand? The Computer Will See You Now’, ‘Britain’s Greatest Invention, City in the Sky’ (all BBC Two), ‘Magic Numbers: Hannah Fry’s Mysterious World of Maths’, ‘The Joy of Winning, ‘The Joy of Data’, ‘Contagion!’ The BBC Four Pandemic and Calculating Ada (BBC Four).
She is also Host of long-running radio series The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry (BBC Radio 4) and The Maths of Life with Lauren Laverne (BBC Radio 6).