| Human Profile | |
| Name: | Hannah Mary Fry |
| Birthday: | February 21, 1984 (age 41 years), Born in Harlow, United Kingdom |
| Height: | 6'0" (183 cm) |
| Subscribers: | 801K |
| Views: | 118,321,808 |
| YouTube Revenue: | $118.3K - $591.6K |
| Videos: | 73 |
| Channel Created: | November 2007 |
Overview
Hannah Fry is a British mathematician, professor, and science communicator known for her research applying mathematical models to human behavior and urban patterns, and for making complex mathematical concepts accessible through popular books like The Mathematics of Love and numerous television and radio programs.
Latest News (Feb 3, 2026): Released a new episode of the podcast *The Rest Is Science* titled "Can We 'Solve' Sports?" on February 3, 2026, where she and co-host Michael Stevens (Vsauce) explored how data optimization is transforming modern athletics. The hour-long discussion examined the impact of statistical analysis on the NFL, Formula 1, and Premier League football, questioning if "solving" sports through science reduces the human appeal of the games.
Early Life and Education
Hannah Mary Fry was born on February 21, 1984, in Essex, England, and grew up in Hertfordshire. Her father was a factory worker, and her mother was a homemaker of Irish Catholic heritage. She has two sisters. A teacher at Presdales School in Ware inspired her interest in mathematics. Fry went on to earn a degree in mathematics from University College London (UCL). In 2011, she completed her PhD in fluid dynamics at UCL.
Academic Career
In 2012, Fry became a lecturer at the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis. Her research focuses on applying mathematical models to understand patterns in human behavior, particularly in urban settings. She has studied a range of social questions, including shopping, transportation, urban crime, and terrorism. Over time, she was promoted to senior lecturer and then professor of the Mathematics of Cities at UCL. She remains a professor at UCL. In January 2025, Fry joined the University of Cambridge as the first Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics. She is also the president of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
Broadcasting and Public Engagement
Fry is a prominent science communicator, aiming to make mathematics more accessible and engaging to the public. Her public engagement work began to gain significant traction after she started performing stand-up comedy in 2015, which led to a TED Talk and subsequent television opportunities.
She has presented numerous television and radio programs for the BBC and other outlets. Some of her notable television work includes:
Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing (2015), a BBC Four film about Ada Lovelace.
Trainspotting Live (2016), a three-part series for BBC Four co-presented with Peter Snow.
City in the Sky (2016), a BBC Two series on the logistics of aviation.
The Joy of Data (2016), a BBC Four documentary about the impact of data.
Contagion! The BBC Four Pandemic (2018), which simulated the outbreak of a pandemic.
Magic Numbers (2018), a BBC Four series exploring the origins and nature of mathematics.
The Secret Genius of Modern Life, a BBC Two series revealing the stories behind modern technologies.
The Future With Hannah Fry, a Bloomberg Originals series.
On radio, she is known for co-hosting BBC Radio 4’s The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry, alongside Adam Rutherford and later Dara Ó Briain. She also hosts the podcast Uncharted with Hannah Fry.
Publications and Major Works
Fry is the author of several books that explore mathematical concepts in an accessible way. Her publications include:
The Mathematics of Love: Patterns, Proofs, and the Search for the Ultimate Equation (2015), which applies mathematical models to romance and dating.
Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms (2018), a critique of algorithmic decision-making.
In 2019, Fry delivered the prestigious Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, titled “Secrets and Lies,” making her the fourth mathematician to do so.
Personal Life
Hannah Mary Fry has two daughters. She married in 2013 and had separated from her husband by 2023. In 2021, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent treatment. She documented her experience in the 2023 television documentary Making Sense of Cancer with Hannah Fry.