WIMSIG NEWSLETTER - February 2017
New WIMSIG Executive Committee
Following an election held in December, the 2017-2018 WIMSIG Executive Committee is as follows.
- Chair: Yvonne Stokes - The University of Adelaide
(WIMSIG-chair@women.austms.org.au) - Immediate Past Chair: Lesley Ward - University of South Australia
- Secretary: Catherine Penington - QUT
(WIMSIG-secretary@women.austms.org.au) - Treasurer: Giang Nguyen - The University of Adelaide
(WIMSIG-treasurer@women.austms.org.au) - Ordinary Members:
- Deborah Cromer - UNSW
- Ngamta (Natalie) Thamwattana - University of Wollongong
We congratulate the new committee on their election. We also thank the Returning Officer, Birgit Loch (La Trobe University), for overseeing the election, and everybody for voting. WIMSIG is stronger for all of your support.
Amendments to the WIMSIG Rules of Procedure
The new WIMSIG Executive Committee role of Incoming Chair will begin from 2018 following a ballot held in December. There were 50 votes in favour of this rule change and 1 vote opposing it. The amended Rules of Procedure are available to download from the WIMSIG website at http://www.austms.org.au/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=418 (PDF, 48 KB).
WIMSIG Newsletter and Website
We have had comments from many of you saying that you like receiving the monthly newsletter and the resources available on the WIMSIG website. These great projects will continue.
Amy Glen (Murdoch University) is continuing in the role of WIMSIG Webmaster. Please send website comments and content to
WIMSIG-webmaster@women.austms.org.au. Amy will also be involved in an overhaul of the AustMS website that will be happening in the near future.
Joanne Hall (RMIT University) is continuing in the role of Newsletter Editor. Please send newsletter articles, comments and media links to
WIMSIG-news@women.austms.org.au.
The Newsletter deadline is the 27th day of each month.
EVENTS
ANZIAM 2017 Women in Mathematical Sciences Lunch
- Date: Tuesday 7 February, 2017
- Website: http://www.maths.adelaide.edu.au/anziam2017/events/
The Women in Mathematical Sciences Lunch is held at national ANZIAM conferences to promote and celebrate the contribution of women to the mathematical sciences.
In 2017 the event will feature the female invited speakers at ANZIAM 2017: Dr Claire Postlethwaite, Associate Professor Maria Vlasiou, and Dr Martine Woolf. For information on (and some advice from) these speakers, please see the question-and-answer interviews on the AustMS website.
Conference delegates of any gender are welcome to attend the Lunch, which will be chaired by Associate Professor Lesley Ward.
The Lunch will be held in parallel to the main conference lunch on Tuesday 7 February. Tickets are free but must be booked through the conference registration system.
The 2017 Lunch has been organised by Gobert Lee, Giang Nguyen, and Yvonne Stokes on behalf of the AustMS Women in Mathematics Special Interest Group (WIMSIG). Information on WIMSIG is available from the WIMSIG website. The Lunch is supported by ANZIAM, WIMSIG, and the Australian Research Council through Professor Nalini Joshi's Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship.
WIMSIG Conference 2017
Celebration of Women in Australian Mathematical Sciences
- SAVE THE DATE: September 24-26 in 2017
- University of South Australia, Adelaide
- Call for Expressions of Interest
If you are considering going to the WIMSIG Conference 2017, then register your interest. This is the first event of its kind in Australia, so we don’t know just how popular the event will be. The expression of interest form also gathers information about potential childcare and lactation space requirements. If there are any other services that may enable your attendance, then please ask Lesley Ward. We want this event to be as inclusive as possible.
OPPORTUNITIES
Macquarie University
- Lecturer in Applied mathematics (full-time, continuing)
- Lecturer in Pure Mathematics (full-time, 4 years)
Closing date for applications: 11:55pm AEDST on Sunday 12 February, 2017
The University of Melbourne
- Reserach Fellow in Mathematical Physics
Closing date: Sunday 12 February, 2017
Flinders University
- Senior Lecturer / Assoc. Prof. / Prof. in Mathematics (Vacancy 17010)
Closing date: 11:00am CDST on Monday 13 February, 2017
Homeward Bound
In December 2016, the Homeward Bound project sent 76 female scientists on an adventure to Antarctica. The aims of the project include developing leadership skills in female scientists.
An interview with one of the participants is available here.
The project will have its second voyage in 2018. To apply, go to https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/application/.
Applications close on Monday 20 February, 2017.
The University of Adelaide
- Lecturer in Applied Mathematics (full-time, continuing)
Closing date: Thursday 23 February, 2017 - Lecturer in Applied Mathematics (full-time, until December 21, 2020)
Closing date: Thursday 23 February 2017
MEDIA
Gender stereotypes about intellectual ability emerge early and influence children’s interests
- This study, published in Science in January, indicates that 6 years old is the critical age in which gender stereotypes about intelligence begin to influence girls' choices.
- Below are some press articles discussing the study.
- Girls begin to doubt their own intelligence at age 6, study shows, The Age - Jan 28, 2017
- By age 6, gender stereotypes can affect girls’ choices, National Science Foundation (US) - Jan 26, 2017
Barbie STEM Kit
A recent launch of the Barbie STEM Kit has led to some discussion about the limited range engineering projects included - all are related to fashion or domestic chores. What STEM project would you like Barbie to undertake?
- Why 'engineering Barbie's' pink washing machine defeats the point, The Guardian - Jan 27, 2017
- Sexism row over 'Engineering Barbie' - which encourages girls to build washing machines and clothes rails, The Telegraph (UK) - Jan 24, 2017
Other articles of interest in the past month
- A story of a designer conquering mathematics, Framer blogger Jinju Jang - Jan 20, 2017
- Sexism is rife in the science, technology, engineering and maths sectors, The Daily Telegraph - Jan 26, 2017
- An interview with Professor Nalini Joshi, SBS TV - Jan 24, 2017
Have you read an interesting article? Have some news? Have an opportunity available?
Please send items to WIMSIG-news@women.austms.org.au.
Note: Newsletters are published on the 1st day of each month (or soon after). The deadline for submitted items is the 27th day of each month.
