Women in Mathematics Project

Aim:

What are women's contributions to the world of mathematics?

Journal Writing:

1) How do you feel about math?
2) Have you ever thought about a career that involves mathematics?  Why or why not?

Learning Activities:

1) What is a mathematician?

2) Who can be considered mathematicians?

3) Can you be a mathematician?  Why or why not?

Exploration:
Part 1
Use the following web pages or find some on your own to research some women mathematicians from the past and some current ones:

http://agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm

http://awm-math.org/biographies.html#mathbios

Pick 5 women you find interesting (They may include Theano, Hypatia, and Florence Nightingale.)  Use the following questions as a guideline to research about them:

1) When did this person live?  Where did this person live? Why was her achievement important to the     
     advancement of math?

2) What is her educational background?  Her personal background?

3) What did she discover or contribute to the world of math? Why was her achievement so amazing

4)  Did she make any contributions to the topic we are currently studying?  (i.e. statistics, algebra,     
     geometry proofs)

5) What are some similarities that all these women share? What are some differences?

6) Why was her accomplishments so unique for her time?

Part 2
Find a woman mathematician who is willing to be interviewed.  (Check the web pages of college professors.) Use the following questions as a guideline for interview questions:

1) What is your field of study?

2) When did you first become interested in mathematics?

3) Who influenced you the most?

4) Have you ever felt discouraged?  What did you do?

5) How is your research/study advancing the field of mathematics?

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