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WIMSIG NEWSLETTER - November 2016


Women in STEM Roundtable Meeting

Report by Amy Glen

On Tuesday 11 October, Amy Glen (WIMSIG Webmaster, Murdoch University) attended a Women in STEM Roundtable Meeting and Morning Tea at Government House in Perth at the invitation of Professor Lyn Beazley AO FTSE (Science Ambassador and WA Australian of the Year 2015) and Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC (Governor of Western Australia).

The meeting was organised by Marjolein Towler, Chair of Women in Technology WA (WiTWA, a Perth-based not-for-profit organisation), and was attended by representatives from Women in Astronomy, Women in Mathematics, Women in Mining & Resources WA, Women in Technology WA, American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Australian Computer Society, Australian Oil & Gas Women, BubDesk, Curtin University, Department of Education, Department of Local Government and Communities, Engineers Australia Women in Engineering, Fogarty Foundation, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Murdoch University, National Women in Construction, PRISM Alliance, Robogals, Scitech, and TradeUp Australia.

The group exchanged information and discussed their future shared aspirations and ideas for making positive change and progress when it comes to attracting and supporting girls and women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In particular, there was wide-ranging discussion on key issues in attracting girls and young women to careers in STEM and strategies for addressing these issues. Participants also shared examples of initiatives that are currently in place to encourage (and support) greater representation of women in STEM.

It was a most valuable experience to engage with others who are working to make a difference for women in STEM across academia, education, community, government, and industry sectors. There are plans for the group to meet again in the New Year to continue the conversation, with the aim of setting up several working parties to push forward initiatives that have the potential to evoke real change in WA.


Women-in-STEM-Government-House-Perth-Oct11-2016.jpg

https://twitter.com/LynBeazley/status/785728257588998144


R-Ladies Melbourne

On October 18, the R-Ladies Melbourne launched with a meetup focussing on the topic "The Role of R and Data Visualisation in Understanding Our World".

R-Ladies Melbourne is part of a global community called R-Ladies and aims to create a friendly community for women in Melbourne who are interested in the R statistical programming language.


LMS awarded the Royal Society Athena Prize

The inaugural Royal Society Athena Prize has been awarded to the London Mathematical Society (LMS).

The Women in Mathematics Committee of the LMS was established in 1999. Two major impact projects of the WiM Committee are the Good Practices Scheme and a UK wide benchmarking data gathering scheme. The Committee has been driving the gender equity agenda in the UK for many years.


WIMSIG Rules of Procedure

The WIMSIG Executive Committee has drafted some changes to the Rules of Procedure. These changes bring the process for the appointment of the chair of WIMSIG in line with the process for the appointment of the Chair of AustMS.

We propose that the election for the Chair of WIMISG is held one year before they take up the position. In this way an elected chair spends one year as Incoming Chair, two years as Chair, and one year as Immediate Past Chair.

Over the past four year, WIMSIG has had some successful projects and has become more well known amongst the community. These successes and notoriety have lead to more invitations for the WIMSIG Chair to attend events, speak at events, meet with industry people and give media interviews. The Chair of WIMSIG is a high profile role, one that may benefit from a shadowing period.

In order to amend the Rules of Procedure, a vote must be held. This vote will take place at the same time as the election of the 2017 WIMSIG Executive Committee. Members of WIMSIG who are current members of AustMS will receive a separate invitation to vote on this matter.

Note that nominations for positions on the WIMSIG Executive Committee close on November 30. Please email the Returning Officer, Birgit Loch, by that date and have someone second your nomination. For further details, see the Opportunities section below.


EVENTS

Women in Mathematics Gathering in Brisbane

  • Friday 18 November @ 10:30am
  • Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
  • Room Q228, QUT Gardens Point Campus
  • Topic: "Overcoming an obstacle in my mathematical career"
  • RSVP to Catherine Penington


Women in Mathematics Dinner at the 2016 AustMS Meeting

The 60th Annual Meeting of the Australian Mathematical Society will be held at Australian National University from December 5-8, 2016.

There will again be a Women in Mathematics Dinner.

The dinner will feature speeches and Q&A from some prominent women, including plenary speakers.

Register for the dinner via a check box on the last page of the conference registration form.


WIMSIG General Meeting

At the 2016 AustMS meeting in Canberra, WIMSIG will have a general business meeting before the Women in Mathematics dinner.

This meeting is a chance for members and friends of WIMSIG to meet the Executive Committee and discuss things of interest.

If there is an item you would like put on the agenda, please contact the WIMSIG Secretary.


WIMSIG Conference 2017

Celebration of Women in Mathematics

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

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)


Swinburne University of Technology

Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellowships – Women in STEM

  • 5 x ongoing appointments in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) disciplines
  • 3-year research-only fellowships, transitioning to standard academic research & teaching careers
  • Academic Level B/C, plus 17% superannuation
  • Supported with research funding and mentorship by leading researchers

Closing date: 5:00pm (AEDST) on Friday 11 November, 2016


National Science Week Grants

The National Science Week Grants is an annual open funding round that supports the delivery of science engagement activities during National Science Week. The next National Science Week will be held from 12-20 August 2017. Applications close on November 9, 2016.


University of Bristol - Research Fellowships

The University of Bristol and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research (http://heilbronn.ac.uk) invite applications for several Heilbronn Research Fellowships, to start in October 2017. 

The School of Mathematics at University of Bristol is a supporter of the LMS Good Practice Scheme aimed at advancing the careers of women in mathematics, and therefore applications from women are particularly welcome. Applications close on November 30, 2016.


Call for Nominations: The 2017 E.O. Tuck Medal 

In honour of the late Ernest Oliver Tuck (FAustMS, FTSE, FAA), ANZIAM has instituted a mid-career award for outstanding research and distinguished service to the field of Applied Mathematics.

Details of the application process and the award criteria can be found on the ANZIAM website at http://www.anziam.org.au/The+EO+Tuck+Medal.

Nominations close on November 30, 2016.


WIMSIG Executive Committee

At the end of the year, all positions on the WIMSIG Executive Committee will be declared vacant, and an election will be held for office bearers. The positions that will be open are:  

  • Chair
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Ordinary Member (two positions)

The Executive Committee consists of the elected committee members and the Immediate Past Chair.

Members of WIMSIG who intend to nominate for Chair, Secretary or Treasurer must also be members of the Australian Mathematical Society.  Only members of WIMSIG who are also members of the Australian Mathematical Society have voting rights.   

The Returning Officer is Birgit Loch. 

Nominations for any or all of the Offices and Seats to be filled may be made by any two Members who are entitled to vote at the ensuing election, provided that the persons nominated are entitled to vote at the ensuing election and that the nominations are received by the Returning Officer no later than November 30.

Please consider nominating. Several members of the current Executive Committee, including the Chair and Secretary, are stepping down, so there is a real opportunity to support and strengthen the Australian mathematical community.

People considering nomination are welcome to discuss the committee roles with current members of the Executive Committee.


MEDIA


RESEARCH


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: 02 Nov 2016
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