How often do we read that 'maths is in everything in the world around us' or 'maths affects everything that we do'?

And yet, it is often extremely difficult to find a good example of mathematics to communicate with a general audience. A key problem is the perception of mathematics. Many people think maths is just too difficult and are put off before even starting to try to understand. Secondly, much cutting edge mathematics research is too difficult to understand, even for those with a quite advanced level of mathematics.

A further issue when trying to communicate mathematics is that there is no 'end product' as with much science research. The mathematics is the process by which a hypothesis is proven or disproven and unless an audience can follow this process, there really isn't much to see.

The Mathematics Promotion Unit, which is directed by a joint committee of members of the London Mathematical Society and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, discussed how we could get more mathematics 'out there'.

We realised that mathematics is very often hidden. We wanted to come up with a way of drawing attention to the mathematics inside other research, predominantly in science but without forgetting that mathematics can be the basis for research in many other subjects.

We came up with the 'Maths Inside' project, something like the 'Intel inside' stickers that draw ones attention to the chips that power many of our computers yet are hidden away deep inside the box.

For the pilot of this project, the Mathematics Promotion Unit worked with one of the most prestigious annual science events. The Royal Society allowed the MPU to contact exhibitors at its Summer Exhibition. Three research teams enthusiastically agreed to join in and all were very helpful in putting forwards their mathematics.

The CLEVER project (University of Bath) had created a space-saving three wheeled car designed to use less fuel and to be suitable for city use. To do this, the car had to be able to go round corners safely, and the Maths Inside looked at how this had been done.

The other projects were the Stereo Mission (Imperial College London, University College London, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory et al), which had sent satellites to produce pictures of the sun's activity from two angles to create three dimensional images and another research team (Queen Mary, University of London) which was using the Menger Sponge as a demonstration of their three dimensional printers.

With the help of members of both the IMA and the LMS, the MPU produced the three leaflets, which sat on the exhibits and were given to visitors by the exhibitors.

Feedback has been excellent and next year we are hoping that the Maths Inside will be working with a greater number of exhibitors and incorporated into the Royal Society's overall fact sheet for the event next year.

The MPU is hoping that the Maths Inside project will be working with a variety of other events. It has advised the British Association on content for a leaflet highlighting mathematics themed events at this year's Festival of Science at York and is currently looking for other opportunities.