Hannah Fry
Hannah Fry is an award-winning mathematician, bestselling author, public speaker, and acclaimed science communicator. She is Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, where she collaborates with physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, architects, and geographers to analyze patterns in human behavior, particularly in urban environments. Her research applies to diverse social challenges, including transportation, shopping, urban crime, riots, and terrorism. Prior to her role at Cambridge, Fry was Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis at University College London, where she used mathematical models to explore human behavior and urban dynamics. She is also a celebrated broadcaster and podcaster, known for her BBC documentaries such as 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, earning widespread critical acclaim for making complex mathematical concepts accessible to global audiences.
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
RESEARCH EXPERTISE
Hannah Fry’s research focuses on complex social and economic systems, particularly those with spatial and urban dimensions.
She applies advanced mathematical techniques including dimensional and asymptotic analysis, spectral methods, and numerical approaches, alongside tools from chaos theory, game theory, and fluid dynamics.
Her studies have explored patterns in human behavior, from interpersonal relationships and dating to the dynamics of pandemics, as well as the mathematics underlying everyday technology and 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
MEDIA PRESENCE & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Fry is a globally recognized science communicator known for her ability to make mathematics engaging and accessible.
Her TEDx talk featured on the front page of TED.com has garnered millions of views. She has hosted critically acclaimed TV documentaries for the BBC and PBS, including The Secret Genius of Modern Life, Horizon: Diagnosis on Demand? The Computer Will See You Now, Britain’s Greatest Invention, City in the Sky, 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.
Her series The Future with Hannah Fry on Bloomberg showcases her insights on technology, science, and society, blending intellectual rigor with her signature wit.
Fry also hosts long-running radio programs, including The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry (BBC Radio 4) and The Maths of Life with Lauren Laverne (BBC Radio 6).
She frequently speaks at international conferences, TED events, and corporate engagements, inspiring audiences with her research and storytelling.
BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
Hannah Fry is the author of several bestselling books that explore mathematics in everyday life and societal systems.
Her works include The Mathematics of Love, which applies mathematical modeling to human relationships, Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms, exploring the impact of algorithms on modern society, and The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, a children’s book combining storytelling with mathematical concepts.
Fry’s publications have received international acclaim for making complex mathematical ideas approachable for both academic and general audiences, reinforcing her status as a leading voice in public understanding of mathematics.