A professor of mathematics education at the University of Oxford said he is "delighted and honoured" after being elected to a prestigious fellowship.

Professor Gabriel Stylianides, who works at the university's Department of Education, has been recognised for his international contributions to mathematics education and teacher education.

He is now part of the Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship, a group of 1,600 leading social scientists from various sectors.

Their expertise covers the breadth of the social sciences, and their practice and research address some of the major challenges facing communities, society, places, and economies.

Professor Stylianides said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been elected a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

"I have been fortunate and privileged to work with many incredibly talented and wonderful colleagues and students over the years, both in the UK and overseas.

"This recognition would not have been possible without them."

All academy fellows are elected for excellence in their fields and their contributions to social science for public benefit.

Selection is through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact.

Professor Stylianides's research primarily focuses on designing effective classroom-based interventions.

He targets academically important practices that are challenging for teachers to teach and difficult students to learn, such as problem-solving, argumentation, reasoning, and problem posing.

He said: "These practices are important not only in mathematics but also across the social sciences and beyond, applying to both life and work.

"Also, they span all levels of education, arguably from cradle to grave."

His work has not only influenced academic theory and research but also educational practice at different levels of education.

Professor Stylianides and his collaborators are currently exploring the effectiveness of a new online model they developed for training Year 2 teachers to implement an intervention in their classrooms aimed at improving children's mathematical reasoning skills.

The new model aims to facilitate, through an efficient and easily accessible way, the large-scale use of this intervention in schools across England.

Professor Stylianides said: "Learning to think mathematically, tackle mathematical problems effectively, and pose meaningful new problems to explore should not be reserved for an elite few.

"These are essential skills for life and work, and with appropriate teaching, they can be made accessible to everyone.

"What inspires me in my work is finding effective ways to equip teachers with the tools they need to help all students develop these skills, regardless of their socioeconomic background or the school they attend."

Professor Stylianides has authored more than 110 publications and his research projects have been supported with more than £4.5 million by various funding bodies.