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WIMSIG NEWSLETTER - April 2016


National Press Club: Women of Science

On March 30, the National Press Club in Canberra held its weekly lunch address on the theme "The Future of Science: Women". The three panelists were Prof Nalini Joshi (Mathematics, USyd), Prof Emma Johnston (Ecology, UNSW) and Prof Tanya Monro (DVC Research, UniSA).

A recording of the full event is available through ABC iView.

The event generated some articles across several of the major media outlets, including the following.

Top Sydney University mathematician Nalini Joshi laments gender discrimination - Sydney Morning Herald, March 30, 2016

Professor Nalini Joshi, mistaken for wait staff at functions, highlights gender bias in Australian science - ABC News online, March 30, 2016


The Mathematical Sciences in Australia: A vision for 2025

The Australian Academy of Science has released the Decadal Plan for Mathematical Sciences (2016-2025). WIMSIG wrote a submission to this plan in 2013 and also sent representatives to the plan workshop.

The three ‘priority’ recommendations are professional development for school teachers, reintroduction of university mathematics prerequisites and collaboration on a national research centre.

The issue of gender is examined in participation in undergraduate and postgraduate course completions.

"If more female students were to pursue higher education in the mathematical sciences, Australia would benefit from a substantial increase in the mathematical capability of its labour force." - page 22

Download the full report from the Academy of Sciences website.


Australia’s STEM Workforce

Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel has released a report on Australia’s STEM workforce. Chapter 13 focuses on the Mathematical Sciences. Of particular note is page 155 which displays data on the gender pay gap.

Download the infographic and full report from the website of the Office of the Chief Scientist.


EVENTS

STEMed

This is a one day festival of education for the future.

rOpenSci Hackathon

The rOpenSci Hackathon will bring together researchers, developers, data scientists and open data enthusiasts from industry, government and university to develop R-based tools that address current challenges in data science, open science and reproducibility.


OPPORTUNITIES

AMSI: Choose Maths Gender Researcher

The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) has expanded its schools outreach program and is seeking a researcher to manage a research agenda which will inform AMSI programs and policies with respect to gender in mathematics. An experienced researcher, accustomed to managing a research portfolio, with a strong interest in gender and/or mathematics/statistics and mathematics education and expertise in writing scholarly publications is needed as a key component of a new and exciting project aimed at increasing female participation in mathematics.

Applications for part-time or other flexible working arrangements will be welcomed and will be fully considered subject to meeting the inherent requirements of the position.

Applications close April 17, 2016.


The University of New South Wales

MEDIA

Below are two recent articles about the reintroduction of maths prerequisites for university entry - one of the priority recommendations of the Decadal Plan for Mathematical Sciences (2016-2025).

There has also been some recent discussion around the gender pay gap, with particular reference to STEM.

Lastly, an article on parenting whilst pursuing a scientific career:


Have you read an interesting article? Have some news? Have an opportunity available?

Please send items to the WIMSIG Secretary.

Note: Newsletters are published on the 1st day of each month (or soon after). The deadline for submitted items is the 2nd last day of each month.


Updated: 04 May 2016
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