♾ Women in Math ♾
"It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in
soul"
- Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850-1891)
Many women throughout history have contributed substantively to the
field of mathematics, yet young women often encounter fewer examples of
female mathematicians in books and pop culture than their male
counterparts. It is important to share the stories of these women in
math in order to inspire and motivate the next generation of female
mathematicians.
Name, enjoy learning about some of these fantastic women!
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Sophie Germain
1776 - 1831
Sophie Germain's love of math began during the French Revolution when she immersed herself in books. Her parents considered math inappropriate for young women, and in an attempt to stop her studies, they took away her light, clothes, and ink. However, Sophie continued to find ways to study her passion and make signifcant contributions to the field of number theory.
Learn more about Sophie Germain -
Maryam Mirzakhani
1977 - 2017
Maryam Mirzakhani's mathematical curiosity first developed when her brother shared his own enthusiasm for the subject with her. In high school, she became one of the first women to compete for Iran's International Mathematical Olympiad Team. Maryam Mirzakhani continued to break barriers by becoming the first woman to win the Fields Medal in 2014 for her work in hyperbolic geometry.
Learn more about Maryam Mirzakhani -
Trachette Jackson
1972 -
Trachette Jackson demonstrated her mathematical talents in high school when she attended a math-science honors program at Arizona State University. After earning her doctorate in applied mathematics, Trachette used mathematical modeling to further research and understanding of tumor growth. She currently serves as a professor at the University of Michigan and continues to receive honors for her work in mathematics.
Learn more about Trachette Jackson
Resources for further learning:
Coded by Jackie Kearney ✿