Women in Math

Corinna Ulcigrai

Women in Mathematics

I would love to see more women among my colleagues. More and more young women are pursueing and succeeding in a mathematical career, but still too many give up too early despite their talent. We, as a community, are loosing so much unexploited talent and opportunities. I experienced in first person some of the difficulties that women encounter in their career paths, from lack of self-confidence and encouragement, to the challenges of maternity and the diffcult balance between reserach, committmens and family life. I was greatly inspired, during all stages of my mathematical path, by the examples of so many inspiring women, who were at the same time great matheamticians as well as wonderful persons and acted as role models to me. To give at least a little bit in return, I try as much as possible to encourage and support younger colleagues. Here below you will find some examples of activities I have engaged to. I plan to add in the future some ideas of what we can all do to support women mathematicians as well as links to organizations and data.

Selected ongoing activities:

• NEW: the ongoing MNF Women in Science Campaign highlights some of the leading female scientists in the past and female professors currently working at UZH. See also the exhibit on Mathematical Billiards and Slow Chaos at the Science Pavillon UZH for some examples of of female mathematicians who have been my role models and have influenced my own work.
• Member of the of the EMS/EWM Scientific Panel (since 2021): the panel, consisting of twelve leading women mathematicians, is an independent panel established jointly by the European Mathematical Society (EMS) and the association European Women in Mathematics. The panels remit is to provide advice to the EMS and EWM on scientific questions involving women and mathematics. It advises on scientific topics and speakers for events aimed at emphasizing womens scientific contributions, such as those organised separately or jointly by EWM and the EMS. It may also be consulted about women speakers for other mathematical meetings or scientific activities, and other similar matters.
• Organizer of the Women in Mathematics lunch at the University of Zurich, a regular (bi-weekly) networking opportunity for female mathematicians at I-Math, from PhD students to professors (from Sep 2018)
• ˆ Member of the Equal Opportunity Committee of SwissMAP (from Sep 2018) (The Mathematics of Physics National Centre of Competence in Research), a swiss national network in Mathematics and Physics)
• Mentor at the Mentoring Scheme of Swiss Map

Past events and activities:

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• Colloquium speaker at the W-Math organized by Politecnico di Torino; December 2022
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• Key note speaker of the E-event for the May12 Women in Mathematics day Celebrating Women in Math at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), 2020
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• Panel speaker of Scienza al femminile 2020: essere donna e essere scienziato (being a female scientists: open discussion between a group of female scientists and students of the secondary school of first and second degree) 31 Jan 2020)
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• Coffee Lecture with Prof. Dr. Corinna Ulcigrai, Discussions on gender equality and equity organized by the Phimale Association, ETHZ, 8yh May 2019
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• Australian Mathematical Society Meeeting Women in Mathematics Dinner (December 2019);
• ˆ Women in STEM: the advice I would give now to my younger self, Women lunch invited speaker, Institute for Computational Science lunch, University of Z¨urich, 2nd May 2019
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• Plenary speaker and Forum Panelist, GoMath Women in Mathematics Symposium, ETH Z¨urich (March 2018)
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• Exhibition profile at Portraits of women scientists exhibition in occasion of the Go Math Event at ETH Zurich (Mar 2018),
• ˆ Member of the Equality and Diversity Committee at the School of Mathematics, Bristol University (2014-2017)
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• Member of the EWM Standing Committee of the European Women in Mathematics Association (Sep 2011-Sep 2015)
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• Organizer of the Women in Mathematics: Opportunities for the Future event at the University of Bristol, to encourage more female undergraduates from across the UK to consider a Phd in Mathematics (November 2016 and November 2017; the last one had 50 female last year undergraduate participants from across the UK)