12/03/2018

Video reveals the faces of female mathematicians.

In a world where the gender disparity in mathematics is striking, it is inspiring to hear women from all over the world, of diverse races, creeds, and ages—mothers or not—proudly say, "I am a mathematician."

Inspired by the work of the Committee for Women's in Mathematics (CWM) of the International Mathematical Union (IMU), Eugenie Hunsicker, a professor in the Department of Mathematics at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, decided to invite her sister, Irina Linke, a filmmaker, to produce a video in honor of International Women's Day.

To accomplish this, they requested a home recording through the CWM Ambassadors list, which supported the production. And the response was immediate: 243 mathematicians from 36 countries sent in a short presentation.

In addition to highlighting women's participation in the field, the video helps broaden perspectives on peripheral countries, which are usually reported on in crisis contexts, says Eugenie in the text promoting the initiative. "I want that, the next time people hear about Nigeria, Nepal, or the Philippines, they think: Ah, yes, that's where all those fantastic women mathematicians are!"

The video also emphasizes the international nature of mathematics, says Irina, noting that the production brings together 31 languages: "There are women who speak Chinese in the United States and Greek in the Netherlands. And in a single clip, sent from the United Kingdom, there is Hebrew, Portuguese, German, and English."