Through the research project “Diagnose to Act ,” Pierre-Michel Menger, full professor of the Chair of Sociology of Creative Work , analyzes the school and college trajectories of French students in mathematics. His work, which draws on thirty years of data, seeks to identify the shortcomings of the current system and compare it with countries that have overcome similar challenges in order to develop new models and implement effective educational initiatives. The project has three main research areas, conducted in collaboration with Colombe Saillard, a researcher working alongside Prof. Menger:
- Quantifying performance gaps among students in mathematics and analyzing their causes.
- Mathematics track selection in high school, as the education sector has observed a decline in the number of high school students specializing in the sciences, as well as an increase in social and gender inequalities in access to mathematics in high school.
- The study of students’ mathematical practices in non-academic settings, with a focus on math contests and competitions: who participates, prepares for, or succeeds in them, and what are the consequences for their academic and professional trajectories?
This project is part of the Collège de France’s “Agir pour l’éducation” initiative.
The “Agir pour l’éducation” initiative is supported by the Collège de France Foundation and its patrons.
