Hannah Fry Wins the Leelavati Prize in 2026 for Mathematics Outreach
Professor Hannah Fry has been awarded the 2026 Leelavati Prize for her exceptional contributions to mathematics outreach and public communication. The prize recognizes her ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible and engaging to a global audience.
Why it matters
It highlights the importance of science communication in fostering public interest and understanding of academic disciplines.
Hannah Fry is Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP). She joined the University of Cambridge in January 2025, becoming the first person ever to hold the role.
As a broadcaster, author, podcaster and social media star she is one of the UK and world's most recognisable - and favourite - communicators of mathematics and science. The citation for the Leelavati Prize outlines her extraordinary impact:
"Hannah Fry is one of the foremost global ambassadors for mathematical thinking," the prize citation says. "She has become a voice for mathematics that resonates far beyond the public audience normally interested in science communication.
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