Laura Black

Laura Black is a Professor of Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester. Her research focuses on inequalities and social justice in education, particularly within mathematics education. She employs frameworks like Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Bourdieu’s concepts of capital to examine how pedagogical practices reproduce or challenge educational disparities.

Her current projects include the Very Local Maths project, which explores community-based mathematics through art collaborations, and the Nonbinary Mathematics Project, addressing gender nonconformity in STEM education. She has supervised over a dozen PhD students, many focusing on issues of equity, pedagogy, and marginalized communities.

Key research themes include:

• Mathematical identities in schools and universities
• Gender and non-binary experiences in mathematics education
• Funds of Knowledge approaches to curriculum design
• Home-school relationships and class dynamics

Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education (SDG 4) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10). Recent publications analyze caregiver perspectives on school mathematics and queer students’ experiences in mathematical spaces.