The honour is recognition of Dr Smith’s work in organising Royal Institution Maths Masterclasses over the past 20 years.
The classes are hands-on, interactive extracurricular mathematics sessions led by top experts from academia and industry for keen and talented young people all around the UK.
Through the organisation Wessex Maths Masterclasses, Geoff helped to found and run these classes in the south west along with colleagues here in the University. The department now arranges events at Higher Education institutions across the region.
Many members of staff from the University have taught classes during this time, and around 5,000 children have benefitted from the scheme.
Geoff said: “I am thrilled to receive this MBE. I regard it as public recognition for the enthusiastic support for mathematics outreach given both by university colleagues and local teachers over the past 20 years.”
Professor Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said: “I wish to congratulate Geoff on being made an MBE on behalf of everyone at the University of Bath.
“Geoff has inspired thousands of children in the field of mathematics through a number of fantastic initiatives. This is a highly deserved recognition of the excellent outreach work that both he and his colleagues have engaged in.”
Geoff is also involved in other mathematics outreach work, including chairing the British Mathematical Olympiad since 2006. The Olympiad forms part of the selection process for the UK International Mathematical Olympiad team, an annual international mathematics competition entered by teenage teams from more than 100 countries.
Dr Geoff Smith MBE holds an MA from Oxford, an MSc from the University of Warwick and a PhD from the University of Manchester. He joined the University in Bath in 1985, having completed postdoctoral research positions at All Souls College, Oxford, and in the University of Manchester.
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