A shot of Pedernales Falls on July 4, 2004.
Women in Mathematics
There are so many programs out there now specifically for women in mathematics and the sciences. I have participated in several programs and benefitted from each. I belive that it is important to be able to see yourself in the positions you want to one day hold. I have had the opportunity to meet many dynamic, exciting women making a difference in mathematics, that not only made me more excited about my choice to pursue math, but also made me realize that there are people just like me who are successful in math.
I recommend all of these programs, particularly for undergraduate women who are making the transition to graduate school. It is refreshing to know other women in your field and to see what they are doing around the world. Below I have listed programs in which I have participated and appropriate links.
Pictured above are my roommates and I during our semester in India on Kerala Day. All of us have gone on to pursue careers in the social, laboratory or mathematical sciences.
EDGE - Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education
The opening statement on the EDGE website reads: "The Mission of the EDGE program is to strengthen the ability of women to successfully complete graduate programs in the mathematical sciences." Unconciously, I guess I was noticing that the farther I went in my mathematical career, the fewer women I encountered. If not for the EDGE program, I may never have completely taken notice of the apparant imbalance, nor have understood the part that I would need to one day play in order to help remedy the situation."The EDGE Program, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Science Foundation, is designed to strengthen the ability of women and minority students to successfully complete graduate programs in the mathematical sciences.
The summer program consists of two core courses in analysis and algebra/linear algebra. There will also be minicourses in vital areas of mathematical research in pure and applied mathematics, short-term visitors from academia and industry, guest lectures, graduate student mentors, and problem sessions. In addition, a follow-up mentoring program and support network will be established with the participants' respective graduate programs." (Taken from The EDGE Program.)
EDGE was an intense, four week summer program designed to help better prepare women entering grad school. The EDGE program was the combined effort of Sylvia Bozeman of Spelman College and Rhonda Hughes of Bryn Mahr College, and was their attempt to thwart the high attrition rates among women in PhD programs.
Sylvia and Rhonda have several articles on the program, all of which are available on the EDGE website, detailing their goals and the results of the program. Finally, a few interesting articles were written by journalists visiting the program and can also be accessed from the site.