International Congress of Mathematicians: ICM 2010 opens new forum for women mathematicians

2010
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Aug 19: Women and mathematics is the favourite theme at the International Congress of Mathematicians, 2010 which began here on Thursday.
For the first time an International Conference of Women Mathematicians is being organised on the sidelines of the ICM 2010.
This year marks the first time that a separate conference is being held with a focus on women in mathematics.

Panel discussions on women in mathematics, their achievements, and the problems they face in the profession will be the highlight of this year's ICM.

Professor Shobha Madan of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, planned the agenda of the women mathematicians conference.
As many as nine colloquium style lectures are planned to enable participants to have an interaction with other women mathematicians.
According to Prof Shobha, it is an attitude problem of society in general that it does not accept the fact women doing mathematics.
"When I say society I am not speaking of the men alone; the society includes both men and women".
Prof Ragni Piene of Norway said women should be made to feel that the system wants them to continue and do well. "What most women mathematicians feel is that there is no reason that there should be an
under-representation."

She said on the contrary, mathematics ought to be a subject that is very suited for women. "I do not see any reason why it should be less suitable for women and it can be done and it is easy to combine the subject with any kind of course," Prof Ragni added.