Julian Williams

Julian Williams is a Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Manchester, leading the Critical Pedagogies research group and the Socio-cultural interest group in Manchester. His research focuses on Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), mathematics teaching/learning/assessment, and interdisciplinary approaches to STEM education.

He has led major projects such as the ESRC Transmaths initiative and contributed to the Brit Academy review of math anxiety. His work addresses structural inequalities in education and community contexts, emphasizing collective action against racial, gendered, and class-based disparities. Notable contributions include co-editing interdisciplinary mathematics education volumes and organizing international conferences like ICME TSG on Interdisciplinary Mathematics Education.

Williams has received the Janet Duffin Award for his impactful research in mathematics education. His projects often bridge educational theory and practice, including work on learning gain metrics, blood culture quality in healthcare, and community responses to crises like the pandemic. He collaborates widely, with international networks addressing gender equality, health equity, and policy-driven interventions.

• Key Projects: CCoAct (Collective Community Action), HEFCE Learning Gain, EEF ICCAMS Evaluation
• Research Themes: CHAT, Assessment Design, Equity in STEM Education, Interdisciplinary Methodologies
• Recent Focus: Gender dynamics in mathematics, community mobilization for health equity, and anticapitalist educational frameworks