Undergraduate Students
Mathematrix, Mathematical Community set up by Dr Lillian Pierce is a forum to discuss issues that are typically a concern to female mathematicians. However, the discussions will be relevant to all types and ages of mathematicians, and everyone, from undergraduate to graduate to postdoc to faculty, is welcome.
Mathematrix lunches take place every Friday 1-2 pm at The Higman Room, St Giles Building. Bring your own lunch, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
Mathematrix Lunches in Trinity Term 2013:
April 26 - Defining success
May 3 - Imposter Syndrome
May 10 - Stereotype Threat
May 17 - Solo Status
May 24 - Implicit Bias
May 31 - Dual-career families
June 7 - Role Models
June 14 - Long term goals
The Women in Mathematics Day is an annual event organised by the London Mathematical Society for women in mathematics to meet together, usually at De Morgan House in London for a day of talks and discussion groups. The talks are given by women mathematicians from a range of disciplines and who are at various stages in their careers. The event is aimed in particular at women postgraduates, final year undergraduates and those at an early stage in their career. The Mathematical Institute encourages attendance and can provide travel funding; contact the Chair of the Good Practice Steering Group for more details.
In 2013 there was a special two day event (April 18-19) hosted by the Newton Institute in Cambridge.
On April 30th the Royal Society hosted a Diversity Day: a one-day conference where the Royal Society showcased their activity to date in this area and provide more information on their research and events. The programme included:
- Women in science Wikipedia edit-a-thon
- An Oral History of Science Lives in the UK: a project exploring ethnicity and science
- Findings from research on socio-economic status in the scientific workforce
- STEM-Disability Committee projects
- Launch of the new diversity pages on the Royal Society website
The Emmy Noether Society is a recently established society for women undergraduates studying mathematics at Cambridge. They promote women studying mathematical sciences by hosting talks from female mathematicians and informal events between students and academics. If any current women undergraduates at Oxford would like to set up a similar society here then the Good Practice Steering Group would be happy to support this initiative.
The Mathematical Institute Careers Event: Jobs for Mathematicians took place on Tuesday 22 January at the Mathematical Institute. It is expected that this event will be held every year http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/our-services/events-for-all/careers-fairs/
Some good news:
Josephine French, who recently completed her undergraduate degree in Mathematics at Oxford has been named the national "Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Student of the Year" as well as being awarded the title of "Best Mathematics Student", judged by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the London Mathematical Society. Josephine's project was on differential operators on base affine space.
The SET awards are Europe's most important and prestigious awards for science and engineering undergraduates. They are sponsored by a range of the UK’s largest companies and judged by panels drawn from the professional scientific institutes and societies around the country. The awards were presented on 26 September at a lavish ceremony at Kensington Town Hall in London, before a large audience of technology students, academics, senior industry executives, and senior figures from government, the scientific and technical bodies and the media.
Jo has been a member of Keble College since 2008, after graduating from Eastbourne Park Further Education College. She is staying at Oxford to pursue her doctoral studies.
10 things I wish I had known before my Maths DPhil
by Ornella Cominetti, former DPhil student at the Centre for Mathematical Biology.
The advice shared above was drawn from Ornella Cominetti's perspective having an applied mathematics background, and some of it may not be relevant to students pursuing a degree in pure mathematics. We welcome your feedback.
Here are some funding opportunities for female and disabled students. These are not comprehensive lists, and we welcome suggestions of new funding opportunities which might be added.
Funding opportunities for female students
- Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowships. For women from developing countries or emerging economies.
- FFWG Funds for Women Graduates. Foundation grants (academic excellence) and emergency grants (for unforseen financial difficulties) for women studying or researching in Great Britain.
- International Fellowships and Grants. For female graduate students or postgraduate researchers pursuing their research at a different country than their undergraduate studies.
- The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship. For women studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Informatics, or a closely related technical field.
- Women’s Careers Foundation. For women over 21 years, citizens of the United Kingdom. Grants of around £250 are additional funding to that already secured by the applicant. Preference is given to applicants who are hoping to find employment at the end of their course. Applications for help with a second degree are not considered.
- The Broadlands Home Trust. Grants for young girls under the age of 22. Applications welcome from parents on behalf of daughters or from girls themselves. Grants are usually for educational purposes but also help young women starting out on their careers.
Funding opportunities for disabled students (For additional information, including funding, alternative examination arrangements and discussing and assessing your needs, go to the University's Disability Advisory Service website)
- The Mike Devenney Scholarship helps talented and independent minded disabled students, both undergraduate and postgraduate with some of the costs of studying at higher education institutions. They may be able to assist with fees, equipment and/or accommodation costs.
- The Snowdon Trust assists physically and sensory disabled people to access vocational and academic courses in the UK by awarding grants. These can be for equipment and essential study needs which cannot be met through other funding channels.
- Google Europe & Israel Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. Funding for disabled students studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Informatics, or a closely related technical field.
- Disabled students' allowance. Non means-tested allowance aimed at helping people with a disability or learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia) to study on the same basis as other students.
- SpLD (Specific Learning Difficulties) Fund. The SpLD fund can help towards the cost of a diagnostic assessment for dyslexia, dyspraxia or another specific learning difficulty carried out by an educational psychologist on the Proctors’ Panel. It may also be used to provide two sessions of specialist study skills tuition, which can help with strategies for addressing some of the difficulties associated with having an SpLD. (The SpLD Fund Form).
- AG Bell College Scholarship Awards Program for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. International scholarship several scholarships for full-time students who are deaf and hard of hearing and who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited mainstream college or university. This is a merit-based scholarship program with award selection being extremely competitive. The number and value of awards varies from year to year.
- Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired Ltd. Offers financial grants to young people who have a hearing impairment and are residents of the UK.
For more specific good practice resources follow these links:
Resources for Women - Parents and Carers - Disability - Harassment - Sexual Orientation - Race
Prospective Students - Undergraduate Students - Graduate Students - Postdoctoral Researchers - Staff