About Numera Lab
Numera Lab is a cognitive and educational psychology research lab based at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Founded by Dr. Darren Yeo, the Numera investigates how people of all ages learn and engage with mathematics, and how we can better support that learning through research.
Our work lies at the intersections of numeracy, cognition and metacognition, brain science, and technology. We explore how people come to understand numbers and how they make strategic decisions as they learn. We examine how memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility shape mathematical thinkings, and how these processes unfold over time, across contexts, and within individual learners.
Math is woven into our daily lives: from estimating time and cost, to splitting a bill, to interpreting data, to navigating digital systems that increasingly rely on numbers and algorithms. At its core, numeracy is not just about solving problems on paper—it’s about thinking clearly, making decisions, and engaging meaningfully with the world. That’s why we believe research into how people learn math has broad human relevance, with implications for education, equity, and lifelong learning.
Numera Lab aims to:
- Understand how children think, learn, and reason with numbers
- Design evidence-based tools for teachers, students, and policymakers
- Use brain and behavioral data to identify early learning difficulties
- Build adaptive learning technologies grounded in cognitive science
- Show how numeracy shapes everyday life, not just classroom success
- Make math learning more equitable, effective, and engaging
Our Identity
The name Numera is a contraction of “Numeracy and Mathematics Education Research and Application”. It reflects our commitment to advancing foundational understanding and applying that knowledge in real-world settings—to design interventions, tools, and platforms that work for diverse learners.
Our logo features a stylised “N” formed by a grid of circular nodes—an abstract reference to the numerical keypad found on mobile phones. It’s one of the most familiar ways we interact with numbers in everyday life. Whether we’re entering a passcode, calling a friend, or transferring money, these everyday encounters with numbers are subtle reminders that numeracy is foundational to how we live and navigate the world.