In 1863 Jules Verne wrote a novel that painted such a bleak and shocking picture of the future that his publisher refused to publish it. Instead it was buried in a safe and didn’t reappear until 1994. Paris in the 20th Century presents a future in which technology dominates, and culture is suppressed . Verne’s horrific vision was accurate in part: he managed early predictions of the internet, high speed trains, and the calculator. But I would argue that he got their effects entirely wrong. For us in the 21st century, technology has unlocked countless possibilities – allowing a greater exchange of ideas, facilitating learning, and inspiring people to discover things for themselves. It has the possibility to release talent in every area imaginable – including mathematics.