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Dr
Penny Munn
We are sad to learn of the death of Dr Penny
Munn who died of cancer at the age of 57, in
June 2011. Penny worked in the School of
Education at the University of Strathclyde
in Glasgow, Scotland. She began her academic
career as a research assistant at Cambridge
University, moving in 1989 to the psychology
department at Strathclyde. After a brief
spell at the University of Central
Lancashire she returned to Strathclyde in
1999, this time to the department of primary
education, where she led research and
focused her own work on early-years literacy
and numeracy.
Penny was instrumental in the development of
the Maths Recovery programme in the UK, and
introduced the programme to Scotland. She
was also chair of the Maths Recovery Council
(UK and Ireland) and editor of the
International Journal of Early Years
Education, (Lio Moscardini & Sue Ellis:
University of Strathclyde Newsletter,
August, 2011).
We knew Penny’s research in mathematics in
early childhood, and particularly her
research into young children’s symbol use –
research that continues to be relevant
today. We were fortunate to have met Penny
on two occasions, allowing us opportunities
to discuss our shared areas of interest.
The deaths of both Dr Penny Munn and
Professor Martin Hughes in 2011 are a sad
loss to all working in the field of early
childhood mathematics. With the sad passing
of Chris Athey (also in 2011), the loss of
these three researchers leaves a
considerable gap early childhood education.
We were privileged to know all three people
and have valued shared dialogues and their
interest in our research. |
