Page 5 - Careers in Mathematics

FOREWORD

More than ever, South Africa needs more graduates with an
Gateways and Options…
ability to solve complex problems – critical thinkers who are
What does quantum physics have in common with DNA, or
in a position to support us in resolving long standing issues
with the Manhattan project for building the nuclear bomb?
of health, climate, technological and social inequalities.
What do these have in common with fractional dimension or
with Monte Carlo simulations? Or with computing, quantum
extract trends and guide our public and private sector
logic, mathematical economics, game theory or statistics……? Young people who have the ability to synthesise information,
colleagues in building solutions that have far reaching impact
Perhaps I should have rather asked “who” they have in on every South African citizen.
common, rather than “what”.
South Africa needs you to bring your passion to the table and
John von Neumann, like Alan Turing, who became well known consider studying one of the many higher education options
for his role in deciphering the decoding of the Enigma coding available in Medicine, Engineering, Mathematical, Computer or
machine in the end of World War II, has been involved in Business Science.
every single field mentioned above. He was a mathematician This is where gateway comes in – if you love mathematics, this
in the first half of the 20 century, who not only made
th
is the entry point you need for success.
substantial contributions all the areas mentioned, but also in
many others that affect the way we live and the way we There are so many ways you can contribute – and that is
understand the world around us today. Climate change? Yes! where options come in. If you have a view on exactly what
Investments? Yes! Nano medicines? Yes! Economics? Yes! Your you are interested in – you are so fortunate. But if you don’t,
computer? Yes! Your cellphone? Yes! you cannot go wrong with seeking out a degree that has a
combination of mathematics, statistics and perhaps
If you understood the technical terms above and knew
something else that you may be interested in – be it
without the aid of Google or Wikipedia who Von Neumann and
psychology, economics, computer science and the many other
Turing were, the chances are that you already have a certain offerings available in our wonderful institutions. We mention
level of passion for mathematics. Mathematicians like John
a few possible options:
von Neumann showed us how mathematics touches on so
much of what we take for granted in everyday life. Every Risk Analyst:
aspect of our modern life is touched by mathematics in some Mathematics is widely used in the financial field.
way or form. In most fields, mathematics forms the
Mathematicians build models to help explain and predict the
foundation of that field and for young bright minds, many of
behavior of financial markets in order to minimise a
these fields offer opportunities to study, to work and to
companies’ exposure to financial risk.
develop. Today, like never before, there are endless
opportunities to combine an affection for mathematics with
real skills and exciting work opportunities.

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