MERGA Conference 2021

Welcome to the 43^rd Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) Conference 2021. This conference will be a virtual one, hosted by the National Institute for Education (NIE), Singapore.

From the President of MERGA

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend the 43rd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this conference will be a virtual one, hosted by the National Institute for Education (NIE), Singapore from July 5 – July 8, 2021. We are particularly grateful to our colleagues at NIE and the conference organising committee for their commitment and flexibility during these uncertain times. Although we will be unable to meet face to face, we are very excited that a virtual conference will provide an opportunity for many more participants who may not ordinarily be able to attend our conferences. We particularly welcome teachers, early career researchers and experienced researchers who are new to MERGA. I am sure that they will feel very welcomed by the MERGA community. The theme for MERGA43 is Excellence in Mathematics Education: Foundations and Pathways. This theme provides an important platform for participants to consider the critical nature of our research and the ways we can use our findings to influence the field of mathematics education and educational policy throughout Australasia. I look forward to an exciting and enriching conference, and to welcoming you at MERGA43!

Professor Catherine Attard
President, Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA)

From the HEAD of MME (NIE)

The Mathematics and Mathematics Education (MME) Academic Group of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore is proud to host the 43rd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA). In a small testament to the indomitable human spirit, the debilitating separation of COVID has been ameliorated by COnference VIDeoing! We will continue to meet, share, challenge and enlighten each other with ideas and theories, research results and plans, innovations and insights for mathematics education. The plenary speakers have been specially chosen to inspire action in education and to provoke reflection on methods and theories underlying our actions and research. The wide range of talks also provide a platform for established and new researchers to present their work and obtain feedback and discussion. The theme of the conference Excellence in Mathematics Education: Foundations and Pathways reflect our desire to uplift society by providing quality education for all. Mathematics is an important vehicle for social mobility, not as an imposition by an elitist oligarchy but as a reality in an increasingly knowledge based economy. Alas, we cannot supplement this food for the mind with our world famous cornucopia of gastronomic delights but we look forward with hope that we shall meet face to face another time. Together with the excellent MERGA leadership, we will work hard to make this first virtual MERGA conference an enjoyable and fulfilling one. Welcome to MERGA 2021!

Associate Professor Tay Eng Guan
Head of Mathematics and Mathematics Education Academic Group