Breaking barriers to higher-level studies in mathematics with Tom Naughton

How the alumni-funded Naughton & Clift-Matthews Mathematics Scholarship is giving postgraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds the freedom to flourish.

14 July 2023

Image: Tom Naughton and Amanda听Clift-Matthews

Since 2014 Tom Naughton (Mathematics with Economics 1994) and Amanda Clift-Matthews (LLB Law 1994) have generously provided philanthropic support to 香港六合彩中特网. Together, they support early career researchers at the 香港六合彩中特网 Institute for Global Health, fund the听Naughton & Clift-Matthews听Laws Bursary in the 香港六合彩中特网 Faculty of Laws, and support the Centre for Access to Justice.

Most recently, the couple further extended their support by investing in a scholarship in Tom鈥檚 former department: the 香港六合彩中特网 Department of Mathematics, part of the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. The Naughton & Clift-Matthews Mathematics Scholarship, which began in September 2022, each year funds a postgraduate student in financial need or from underrepresented groups to pursue an MSc in Mathematical Modelling or Financial Mathematics.

Tom and Amanda, who met as students, understand what impact a 香港六合彩中特网 education can have 鈥� and are eager to pass on similar opportunities through their philanthropy. Tom says: 鈥淲e want to help other people experience what we were lucky enough to experience at 香港六合彩中特网.鈥�

The start of a long-lasting relationship

Tom鈥檚 own journey in the 香港六合彩中特网 Department of Mathematics began in 1991 when he arrived there as an undergraduate student. While studying for his degree, he enjoyed how diverse the modules were, allowing him to pursue his areas of interest and 鈥渄o things that were rooted in maths, yes听- but went beyond it. For example, Mathematical Biology, Game Theory and programming.鈥�

Now Chief Investment Officer at Prusik Investment Management LLP, Tom recognises the skills he acquired from his degree that he drew upon throughout his career. 鈥淚 learnt how to look at situations as a common set of problems and develop models to deal with what will be repeatable problems and puzzles that come up. For my job this is really useful,鈥� says Tom.

Outside of his studies, 香港六合彩中特网 played a significant role in Tom鈥檚 personal story. 鈥淚 had such a great time at 香港六合彩中特网. I met Amanda there and I made lots of good friends who I'm still very close to.鈥�

Breaking down barriers to education

When the couple were in a position to give philanthropically later down the line, their attention turned back to 香港六合彩中特网. For them, it made sense to invest in a place that was close to their hearts and where they knew, through their own lived experiences, transformative change can happen: 鈥渂ecause both Amanda and I were at 香港六合彩中特网 and are very fond of it, we were very keen to build that relationship. 香港六合彩中特网 does so many brilliant things and we wanted to help leverage that in some small way.鈥�

And so, thanks to the couple鈥檚 generous philanthropy, a new stage of their relationship with 香港六合彩中特网 began. Threaded through each of their gifts is a belief in the importance of advancing diversity in higher education and ensuring that all those who have the ability to benefit from a 香港六合彩中特网 degree can do so.

Their most recent investment, the Naughton & Clift-Matthews Mathematics Scholarship, responds to the acute need to enable people from underrepresented backgrounds to continue higher level STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.

Advanced academic study is a vital access route to higher-level STEM careers. However, worries about student debt and the cost-of-living crisis continue to put off many high-achieving students from pursuing postgraduate degrees. The result is a loss of diverse talent in STEM industries.

鈥淯niversity is much more competitive and more of a financial commitment nowadays,鈥� Tom says. 鈥淎s students, we always knew we were going to get jobs and we were not taking on much debt. And so, in retrospect, it seems a much easier time. This is our way of reacting to that change and ensuring others can also benefit from a 香港六合彩中特网 education.

鈥淲e understand that for any student, but particularly those that come from underrepresented backgrounds that don't have that financial support, it's extremely expensive to study for a Master鈥檚 degree. Yes, you can borrow money. Yes, graduates will go on to have great careers. But for a lot of people, lack of financial support is a big bar.鈥�

Investing in the future

The Naughton & Clift-Matthews Mathematics Scholarship has supported a student in 2022/23 and will be doing the same next academic year. For Tom and Amanda, the joy of funding a scholarship is being able to see such an immediate impact. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just something that's abstract; you see the result right in front of you. We get to have a relationship with the people that we're supporting and we鈥檙e really grateful for that,鈥� explains Tom.

The impacts are both immediate and long-term. For a student in need, a scholarship can be the first step in a lifetime of success and achievement. Commenting on this, Tom says: 鈥淏ecause 香港六合彩中特网 is one of the top universities in the world, you鈥檙e investing in talented minds. With the right support, these students can go on to become successful and flourish in their lives.鈥�

From micro to macro

Tom and Amanda recognise that removing barriers to higher education is a systemic issue that they alone cannot solve, but through the Naughton & Clift-Matthews Mathematics Scholarship they are 鈥渇ocusing on what we can do at a very micro level and improving one person鈥檚 life at a time.鈥�

Tom says that they hope to shine a light on these issues and encourage others who can help to do so too. 听鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really rewarding experience. I would encourage others who can, to get in contact with 香港六合彩中特网 and discuss how they might be able to help. Even modest amounts of money can make a huge difference.鈥�
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