diff --git a/src/underworld3/discretisation.py b/src/underworld3/discretisation.py
index a8fdfbef3..5bec47817 100644
--- a/src/underworld3/discretisation.py
+++ b/src/underworld3/discretisation.py
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ def view(self):
             else:
                 i = 0
 
-            ii = uw.utilities.gather_data(np.array([i]), dtype="int")
+            ii = uw.utilities.gather_data(np.array([i]))
 
             if uw.mpi.rank == 0:
                 print(
diff --git a/src/underworld3/maths/functions.py b/src/underworld3/maths/functions.py
index 599230cdd..720a4eda3 100644
--- a/src/underworld3/maths/functions.py
+++ b/src/underworld3/maths/functions.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from sympy import sympify
 from typing import Optional, Callable
 from underworld3 import function
+from underworld3.cython.petsc_maths import Integral
 
 
 def delta(
@@ -15,3 +16,52 @@ def delta(
     delta_fn = sympy.exp(-(x**2) / (2 * epsilon**2)) / (epsilon * sqrt_2pi)
 
     return delta_fn
+
+
+
+def L2_norm(U_exp, A_exp, mesh):
+    '''
+    Compute the L2 norm between the computed and analytical fields, both of which are sympy.Matrix objects.
+
+    The L2-norm is defined as:
+
+    .. math::
+        L_2\text{-norm} = \left( \int_{\Omega} |u_{\text{numeric}}(x) - u_{\text{analytic}}(x)|^2 \, dx \right)^{1/2}
+
+    Where:
+    .. math::
+        - \( u_{\text{numeric}}(x) \) is the numerical solution.
+        - \( u_{\text{analytic}}(x) \) is the analytical solution.
+        - \( \Omega \) is the domain.
+        - The integral computes the total squared error across the entire domain, and the square root is applied after the integration to give the L2-norm.
+
+    Parameters:
+    U_exp : sympy.Matrix representing a scalar (1x1) or vector field (Nx1 or 1xN)
+    A_exp : sympy.Matrix representing a scalar (1x1) or vector field (Nx1 or 1xN)
+    mesh : the mesh over which to integrate
+    
+    Returns:
+    L2_norm : the computed L2 norm
+    '''
+    # Check if the inputs are matrices
+    if isinstance(U_exp, sympy.Matrix) and isinstance(A_exp, sympy.Matrix):
+        # Ensure that the dimensions of U_exp and A_exp match
+        assert U_exp.shape == A_exp.shape, "U_exp and A_exp must have the same shape."
+        
+        # Initialize the squared difference
+        squared_diff = 0
+        
+        # Loop over the components of the matrices (scalar or vector case)
+        for i in range(U_exp.shape[0]):
+            squared_diff += (U_exp[i] - A_exp[i])**2
+
+    else:
+        raise TypeError("U_exp and A_exp must be sympy.Matrix objects.")
+    
+    # Perform the integral over the mesh
+    I = Integral(mesh, squared_diff)
+    
+    # Compute the L2 norm (sqrt of the integral result)
+    L2_norm = sympy.sqrt( I.evaluate() )
+    
+    return L2_norm
diff --git a/src/underworld3/utilities/_utils.py b/src/underworld3/utilities/_utils.py
index cc68c73e9..4c0c5675e 100755
--- a/src/underworld3/utilities/_utils.py
+++ b/src/underworld3/utilities/_utils.py
@@ -90,12 +90,14 @@ def mem_footprint():
     return python_process.memory_info().rss // 1000000
 
 
-def gather_data(val, bcast=False, dtype="float64"):
+def gather_data(val, masked_value=-999999, bcast=False):
 
     """
     gather values on root (bcast=False) or all (bcast = True) processors
     Parameters:
         vals : Values to combine into a single array on the root or all processors
+        masked_value : value to use as mask value
+        bcast : broadcast array/value to all processors
 
     returns:
         val_global : combination of values form all processors
@@ -106,12 +108,15 @@ def gather_data(val, bcast=False, dtype="float64"):
     rank = uw.mpi.rank
     size = uw.mpi.size
 
+    dtype = val.dtype
+
+
     ### make sure all data comes in the same order
-    with uw.mpi.call_pattern(pattern="sequential"):
-        if len(val > 0):
-            val_local = np.ascontiguousarray(val.copy())
-        else:
-            val_local = np.array([np.nan], dtype=dtype)
+    # with uw.mpi.call_pattern(pattern="sequential"):
+    if len(val > 0):
+        val_local = np.ascontiguousarray(val.copy(), dtype=dtype)
+    else:
+        val_local = np.ascontiguousarray([masked_value], dtype=dtype)
 
 
     comm.barrier()
@@ -127,14 +132,14 @@ def gather_data(val, bcast=False, dtype="float64"):
 
     comm.barrier()
 
-    ## gather x values, can't do them together
+    ## gather the data on the root proc
     comm.Gatherv(sendbuf=val_local, recvbuf=(val_global, sendcounts), root=0)
 
     comm.barrier()
 
     if uw.mpi.rank == 0:
-        ### remove rows with NaN
-        val_global = val_global[~np.isnan(val_global)]
+        ### remove rows with mask value
+        val_global = val_global[val_global != masked_value]  
 
     comm.barrier()