Mathematicians from across Texas will be visiting the Texas A&M University campus this weekend for a two-day conference aimed at strengthening the network of women, gender minorities and allies working in mathematics while also encouraging the growth of related collaborations and relationships throughout the Lone Star State.
The 4th annual Texas Women In Mathematics Symposium 2020 (TWIMS) is set for February 1-2 in the John R. Blocker Building. The event is organized by the Texas A&M student chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics and sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Mathematical Association of America, the Texas A&M Department of Mathematics and the Texas A&M College of Science.
In addition to two plenary speakers, University of Texas at Austin mathematician Dr. Irene M. Gamba and Texas Tech University mathematician Dr. Raegan Higgins, the event will showcase six panelists: World Wide Technology’s Dr. Nicole Bridgland; the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Dr. Lauren Ferguson ’10; Shell Canada Limited’s Dr. Dinara Khalmanova ’99; St. Edward University’s Dr. Kaitlyn Phillipson ’12; Indiana University’s Dr. Julia Plavnik and the University of Chicago’s Dr. Fatma Terzioglu ’16. Both days will feature a plenary talk, breakout sessions and networking, while Sunday’s activities also include a professional development panel and mock interviews.
Texas A&M mathematician and event co-organizer Dr. Laura Matusevich says the annual symposium provides participants a unique opportunity to learn about the research of other female mathematicians in Texas while exploring a host of related issues along with national and even international perspectives on them within a supportive environment.
“We are very excited to host the fourth TWIMS and extend the reach of this conference series across the state,” said Matusevich, a member of the Texas A&M Mathematics faculty since 2005 who also serves faculty adviser for Texas A&M’s AWM chapter. “We are expecting more than 100 participants for an event that showcases the commitment of Texas A&M University, the Mathematics Department and the College of Science to a diverse and welcoming climate. TWIMS would not be possible without their support, or without the hard work, energy and dedication of the graduate student organizers: Priyanga Ganesan, Nida Obatake, Aleksandra Sobieska-Snyder and Elise Walker.”
Previous editions of TWIMS were held at the University of Texas at Austin, Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston.
Brief biographies of all panelists, four of whom received their graduate degrees from Texas A&M (Ferguson, Khalmanova, Phillipson, Terzioglu) as well as one who was a former postdoctoral researcher (Plavnik) and another who was the founding member and president of Texas A&M’s AWM chapter (Terzioglu) are available online along with the complete conference schedule.
Learn more about the Texas A&M student chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics, from upcoming events to peer mentoring and additional resources.
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Contact: Shana K. Hutchins, (979) 862-1237 or shutchins@science.tamu.edu or Dr. Laura Matusevich, (979) 845-7554 or laura@math.tamu.edu