From optimising ambulance routes to leveraging data and algorithms within organisations, mathematics plays a crucial role in how society functions. Mathematician Sandjai Bhulai, Professor of Business Analytics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, states: „Many people fear that their jobs will disappear due to technology and AI. For them, it is essential to understand how real that fear is and what role human expertise will continue to play.”
Many people see mathematics as something abstract and theoretical, but you apply it in practice. How do you see the role of mathematics in solving societal and organisational challenges?
„By working with organisations, we hear first-hand what issues they face. I could sit at the university, come up with a problem, and apply mathematics to it, but would that actually solve anything in society? My colleagues and I therefore provide in-company training to show organisations how they can responsibly use mathematics, data, and algorithms to significantly improve their services."
You have worked on various projects with a positive impact on society. Is there one you are most proud of?
„I am particularly proud of the ambulance project that mathematician Rob van der Mei and I undertook in 2013 with the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica. The GGD approached us because they wanted to reduce the number of times their ambulance response times exceeded the set norms. We started thinking about solutions, initially in a very academic way, but later by testing in practice as well. The solution we provided is now used in almost all of the Netherlands. That is truly incredible. Every time I see an ambulance on the road, I think: there’s an algorithm behind that, designed by our team. That is quite unique for a mathematician."
Technology and mathematics are increasingly shaping every sector. This brings opportunities but also raises ethical questions. How do you ensure AI and algorithms are deployed in a comprehensible and responsible way?
„I am part of an advisory committee at the Ministry of Finance, where we discuss the use of technology. There, it becomes clear how crucial it is to be able to explain what you are doing. As a government, you cannot deploy an algorithm and then tell citizens: ‘This works excellently, but we don’t actually know how.’ You don’t need to explain the full mathematics behind it, but you do need to clarify the underlying concepts. This is vital for collaboration and also for ensuring we operate ethically."
„That is something I also teach my Business Analytics students. They learn how to use technology responsibly in a personalised way. I always tell them: keep a critical mindset in everything you do."
At VU Amsterdam, you now offer postgraduate education in STEM subjects. Suppose someone has studied something completely different from mathematics - why should they consider enrolling in one of your programmes?
„Technology and AI are profoundly shaping society. No matter what you have studied, you will come into contact with them. Many people fear that their jobs will disappear. For them, it is crucial to understand how real that fear is. It is also important to learn what AI can do, as well as where it reaches a limit—where human expertise remains indispensable. You learn to articulate what your unique strengths are and what cannot be replaced by AI. In a world where technology is becoming increasingly dominant, it is crucial not only to understand where humans remain essential but also how we can use technology in a smart and responsible way."
