The Third International Conference on the Teaching of Mathematics

In this issue you will find Mike McCabe’s report of the third International Conference on the Teaching of Mathematics (ICTM3) which was held recently in Istanbul. Well, this is another one - but much shorter! Mike - a typical, reasonably diligent(!), delegate – has given a very good overall impression of the conference and his thumbnail sketches of various sessions give an excellent flavour of the meeting. I have my own, similar, recollections of innovative approaches presented with keen enthusiasm that led to real debate. Only in a few sessions did I find myself succumbing to that peculiarly odd conference anxiety - should I have chosen more wisely among the “parallels”? As a general comment I would like to record the relatively high profile of our Network at ICTM3. Of course such comments must come with a caveat: I am an agent of the Network and am therefore far from being a disinterested, unbiased observer. Nonetheless, I still think it is worth noting how frequently the work of the Network was represented at this major international meeting. The discussion that was part of the opening plenary included a major reference to the work of the Network (not from me!); discounting my own session, I am aware of some seven or eight other presentations that contained similar references; and a major plenary workshop on professional development highlighted Network activity in this area, notably the event for new lecturers…