26/04/2022

Students from the IMPA Girls' Olympics program visit the institute.

Lectures with renowned professionals, playful activities involving mathematics and a visit to the famous IMPA library. These are the activities planned for the first visit of the students who are part of the IMPA Girls Olympics program to the institute, next Friday (29). The initiative seeks to encourage the participation of girls between 14 and 17 years old in mathematics olympiads and in the field of exact sciences in general, with the aim of increasing the female presence in areas such as mathematics, computing and engineering.

During the visit, the 53 female students, coordinators, and undergraduates participating in this year's project will talk with mathematician Diana Sasaki Nobrega about the profession and the challenges of the career for women. Currently a researcher and professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (IME/UERJ), Diana was one of the winners in the Mathematics category of the "For Women in Science" program, a partnership between L'Oréal, UNESCO, and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC). In addition, undergraduate students from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Unirio) and the Federal Fluminense University (UFF) will conduct workshops and activities with the students.

This is the second edition of the IMPA Girls' Olympics program, which began in 2019. The novelty this year is that the project has doubled in size and is present in 10 schools in different regions of Rio de Janeiro and in Niterói. The objective is to combat gender inequality in science and encourage girls to explore and choose careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

“The project takes place throughout the year in schools, with activities involving gender issues and mathematics labs. But the literature proves that these visits are essential for girls to learn where science is done and to have contact with professionals in the field. This helps to break stereotypes and bring a sense of belonging to these students,” explains Letícia Rangel, retired professor from the UFRJ Application School and coordinator of the project.

In each participating school, the project is developed under the responsibility of a teacher from the unit and the supervision of a mathematics undergraduate or a graduate student in the exact sciences. Among the activities planned for this edition, supported by Faperj (Rio de Janeiro State Research Foundation), are laboratories, discussion groups, panels, Olympiad challenges, and workshops in mathematics, computing, and robotics, as well as debates on gender issues. The students also participate in lectures with professionals in the field and visits to renowned teaching and research institutions. The project participants will develop workshops for the National Mathematics Festival, held by IMPA in September and October, in order to share the knowledge acquired with other students.

The participation of women in STEM fields is a global problem. UNESCO data estimates that only 30% of scientists worldwide are women. In Brazil, they represent less than a third (26%) of professionals in the STEM market, according to a study coordinated by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV).