Dr Brian Williamson

Brian is a Lecturer in the Mathematics department at the University of Bolton. He is the group’s statistician, involved in all statistics modules from year one up to master’s level. Despite having such a depth of knowledge, he recalls not always being so proficient in mathematics:

“At primary school in Liverpool, I was in the very bottom class for everything except drawing pictures!”

Fortunately, Brian was able to turn this around and acknowledges it was due to individual support that he was able to not just learn the material, but flourish:

“One-to-one maths support helped me to find a way to understand and I developed a love of number and algebra through picture, sound and movement; this changed my life!”

Such an experience is reflected in the department’s open-door policy: one-to-one support for any student at any time on anything! It also gave Brian first-hand experience of creative education and motivates him to develop his lectures to recognize the many different learning styles his students possess. This interest in mathematics education has developed into one of scholarly study for Brian, from its delivery to students at primary school to adults to those with additional needs. He remains active in mathematics research, putting the skills he developed during his PhD at the University of Wales, Bangor to good use:
“I really enjoy criticizing statistical models and trying to make them fit reality. If one can master such techniques, they can be employed on such a diverse array of problems.”
Such models and techniques can be explored during Brian’s lectures on the Mathematics degree.