A new network for women in mathematics
The first Asian and Oceanian Committee for Women in Mathematics (CWM) of the International mathematical Union ambassadors meeting was held on-line on June 25th and 26th, 2021. It was organized by Sanoli Gun (India), Kyeown Koh Park (Korea), Polly Sy (Philippines), Dongmei Xiao (China), Motoko Kotani (Japan, Chair).
Its purpose was to discuss how to build a network of women mathematicians working in Asian and Oceanian countries, and to discuss initiatives on the gender issue. All CWM ambassadors in Asia and Oceania were invited, with 40 participants on each day.
Plenary scientific talks
There was a keynote talk by Marie-Francoise Roy on the Gender Gap project, and plenary scientific talks by Ayesha Asloob (Pakistan, working in Turkey), and Yongwimon Lenbury (Thailand). An important component was a series of presentations by CWM Ambassadors from 20 countries, each of which involved:
- an introduction of herself and fellow ambassadors from her country;
- a summary of the academic situation of women mathematicians in her country and existing national initiatives for women in mathematics;
- suggestions for possible regional activities for women in mathematics and ideas for better communication between CWM ambassadors, and from ambassadors to their communities.
Connect and strengthen linkages
Those presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Polly Sy about information exchange concerning the current situation, challenges and opportunities, experienced by Asian-Oceanian women in mathematics; and finding ways to connect and strengthen linkages among Asian-Oceania women in mathematics.
The meeting resolved to form the “Asian-Oceanian Women in Mathematics” (AOWM) and to establish a working group charged with producing draft AOWM guidelines.
This content has first been published by IMU News.
