WIMSIG NEWSLETTER — April 2020

Advancing Women in STEM Strategy

Minister for Science, Karen Andrews, launched the Women in STEM Action plan on International Women’s Day in March. The launch of this plan created some media interest.

WIMSIG Mentoring Program

The WIMSIG Pilot Mentoring Program 2020 is up and running with 25 pairs of mentors and mentees. All mentees who applied have been paired with a mentor and we thank everyone who volunteered for the program. Supporting each other is crucial in these difficult times, and we look forward to hearing about the success of these (online!) meetings.

International Women in Mathematics Day Events

May 12 Women in Maths events have been postponed. We hope that these events will be able to be organised later in the year and we will keep you updated.

In light of the global situation, the IMU now have ideas for virtual events: https://may12.womeninmaths.org/ideas. People can also register for a free screening of the movie Secrets of the Surface about Maryam Mirzakhani.

Women in Mathematics Videos

As part of the 2020 Women in Maths celebrations across Australia this year, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS) is teaming up with WIMSIG to create video messages to share.

The aim is to share the messages with young women and girls across our and your social networks as a way of inspiring them to study the mathematical sciences as they more forward in their studies, and to even consider maths/stats as a career.

We are looking for as many women in maths and stats to be in the video and to share their ‘selfie’ messages. The messages should be short ‘sound bites’ answering one or more of these questions:

  • Why do you love maths and/or stats?
  • Why is maths/stats important?
  • Where did maths/stats take you? Or where do you hope it takes you?
  • Why is it important we have girls stay in maths/stats?
  • Who or what inspired you to go into maths/stats?
  • Do you have a message of encouragement for the next generation to stick with maths/stats?
  • Any other message you hope to communicate?

About your video:

Please include your name and university/organisation at the start of the video so you will be identified properly.

Your video should only be a minute or two. We will only select a ‘sound bite’ or two to use from the entire video you send.

  • Your message will be among others from women around Australia, so we can’t use any messages that are too long.
  • Please record the video ‘portrait’ style, not ‘landscape’.
  • Please include some type of “Happy Women in Maths Day” message.

Once you record your video, please send it to ACEMS Communications and Media Officer, Tim Macuga: timothy.macuga@qut.edu.au. You can use things like ‘maildrop’ on your phone, or Dropbox and Cloudstor to do this. Once you send it, it will be downloaded straight away so it won’t be taking up storage space if that’s an issue.

The deadline to submit videos is Friday 17 April.

This is the link to last year’s video: https://youtu.be/ymiJlIu0Bko. Unlike last year, though, we would like you to record the videos ‘portrait’ style, which is easier to share over social media channels.

Please don’t stress about doing a video. This is meant to be a fun and easy way to send some messages of encouragement. Only clips that make you look good will be used. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Macuga: timothy.macuga@qut.edu.au.

WIMSIG 2020 Conference Postponed

Due to travel bans and social distancing measures currently in place because of COVID-19, the organising committee for the WIMSIG Conference 2020 has made the decision to postpone the conference until 2021. We will keep you updated on the new details.

Vale Sue Wilson

Prof Sue Wilson passed away on 16th March 2020 in the Royal North Shore hospital. Susan was an Emeritus Professor in the Mathematical Sciences Institute at ANU and was a member of WIMSIG since 2014.

OPPORTUNITIES

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

MEDIA

Have you read an interesting article? Have some news? Have an opportunity available?

Please send items to WIMSIG-news@women.austms.org.au.

Note: Newsletters are published on the 1st day of each month (or soon after). The deadline for submitted items is the 27th day of each month.

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