About UMERC

History

The mathematics education research activities at Umeå University were initiated in 1994 by Hans Wallin, Professor of Mathematics. At that time, it was Sweden's first subject didactic doctoral education at a subject department.

UMERC was established in 2006 by the Vice-Chancellor with the aim of facilitating the continued development of research and doctoral education in the field of teaching and learning in mathematics. UMERC has developed into one of the Nordic region's largest research environments in mathematics education, with around thirty participants, including several professors and associate professors, good publication levels and extensive external and internal grants received in competition. In 2018, UMERC hosted the world's largest annual international mathematics education research conference, PME.

Activities

The activities at UMERC are organized in a research program with several themes. The centre follows a plan of action which is founded on the following aims:

• Research environment: A creative environment for high quality research in mathematics education and high relevance for teaching and learning.
• Research projects: The research at UMERC is coordinated in a limited number of research themes, which are continuously revised.
• Cooperation: Development of the cooperation with schools, universities, and the international research society. Research results will be communicated through national as well as international channels.
• Succession: Recruiting younger researchers and continued engagement in local, national and international research education.

Director

Torulf Palm
Professor, Department of Science and Mathematics Education

The board

Chairman
Johan Lithner
Professor, Department of Science and Mathematics Education

Eva Lindgren
Representative for the Faculty of Humanities
Professor, Department for Language studies

Bert Jonsson
Representative for the Faculty of Social Sciences
Professor, Department of Applied Eduactional Science

Christina Ottander
Representative for the Faculty of Science and Technology
Professor, Department of Science and Mathematics Education

Ola Lindberg
Representative for Umeå School of Education
Professor, Department of Pedagogy

Kristoffer Arvidsson
Student representative
Doctoral student, Department of Science and Mathematics Education