Women in Mathematics

Entering the  male dominated field of mathematics can be tough for women, who often encounter specific obstacles. The particular situation of women in mathematics is reflected in a series of exhibitions, talks and discussions.

This winter marks the second anniversary of the start of the Corona pandemic. Everyone's daily life continues to be strongly influenced by this exceptional situation. In this regard, the pandemic acts as amplifier of social and societal inequalities and threatens movement towards gender equality.

The higher education sector also underwent drastic adjustment processes that continue to this day. The switch to teaching online and working from home are probably the most prominent examples of the radical changes in campus and work life, which also impact private life.

We are taking the "International Day of Women and Girls in Science" as an opportunity to illuminate precisely these processes of adaptation and change, including their effects on all involved parties at University (especially, but not limited to the female perspective). This also includes space to describe experiences.

Detailed information on the event

Video recording of the event

The  video "Words of women in mathematics in the time of Corona" collects   words of some 86 women in mathematics   from 37 countries telling us about their experience in the time of Corona in 25 different languages.

It will be launched on May 12th, date of the anniversary of Maryam Mirzakhani's birthday, which celebrates worldwide women in mathematics (https://may12.womeninmaths.org/)

This project emanates from a group of mathematicians, Sonia Mahmoudi (Tohoku U., Japan), Claudia Malvenuto (U. di Roma La Sapienza, Italy), Sylvie Paycha (U. Potsdam, Germany) and Eriko Shinkawa (Tohoku U., Japan) after informal conversations about their experiences during the pandemic. This video is a  follow up of the film "Faces of  Women in Mathematics” (https://vimeo.com/259039018) with whose  authors, the mathematician Eugenie Hunsicker (U. of Loughborough, England) and the filmmaker Irina Linke, we have brought this new project to life.

If you wish to plan a screening on May 12th, please fill in the following form mentioning the title, local time and location (including the country) of the event, as well as the necessary information related to the organizer(s).

https://forms.gle/c2WEbiU9t4d83NAP9

We will get back to you if further details are needed. The video will also be available after that date so that you are welcome  to screen it  at a later date. Please do not hesitate to contact us: wwmtc2021@gmail.com

On behalf of the team:

Sylvie Paycha, Eugenie Hunsicker, Claudia Malvenuto, Eriko Shinkawa, Sonia Mahmoudi and Irene Linke

A journey through the sciences with female PhD students

For this third edition (this time online) at the University of Potsdam of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 seven female PhD students of the Faculty of Science and the Digital Engineering Faculty will take us on a journey through their discipline and career, might it be chemistry, data science, environmental science, mathematics or nutritional science. They will provide an insight into their research work in the form of 10-minute presentations in either English or German.

Detailed information on the event

Abstracts of the talks

Recordings of the presentations:

Sany Chea (Chemie): Zucker zur Behandlung von COVID-19

Undine Falkenhagen (Mathematik): Using mathematical modelling and model reduction to understand individual drug response

Alyna Lange (Chemie): Ionic Liquid based 3D printable Electrolytes for Energy Applications

Marta Lemanczyk (Data Science): Identifizierung von Interaktionen in genomischen Sequenzen durch künstliche neuronale Netze

Lisa Luna (Umweltwissenschaften): Today's forecast: rainy with a 40% chance of landslides

Elisabeth Schönfeldt (Geowissenschaften): Fließen, Flutschen, Fallen - Warum sich Hänge bewegen

Tanja Mutschler (Physik): Impulsvortrag

At the international day of Women in Science this interdisciplinary event shall increase the visibility of women in the sciences. To this end, students will introduce important female scientists and highlight their contributions to their field in short talks of 15 minutes. mehr erfahren

The exhibition "Women of mathematics thoughout Europe. A gallery of portraits" is displayed in various parts of the world and offers a glimpse into the world of mathematics through photographs by Noel Tavia Matoff and excerpts of interviews by Sylvie Paycha und Sara Azzali of thirteen women mathematicians throughout Europe.

On the occasion of the international Women in Science day - which aims to make the achievements and specific challenges of female scientists more visible - we invite all interested to join us in a cozy atmosphere with snacks and drinks.

Students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences will give short talks about their conversations with women scientists from around the world. What motivated these women to go into science? How do they go about their daily lives? What specific challenges have they experienced along the way?

We look forward to exchange our experiences! Please let your colleagues and fellow students know! You can find more information here.