By Skylar Bell Brenner, Entertainment Editor
On Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, a group of female mathematics majors and minors from Hardin-Simmons University attended the Texas Women in Math Symposium at Texas A&M University for the first time. The conference consisted of two plenary talks, networking opportunities and talk sessions by female mathematicians.
Jessica Rieger, instructor of mathematics at HSU, sponsored the trip and brought HSU mathematics students Katherine Yarbrough, Samantha Snider, Keely Eshelman, Audrey Countess and Skylar Bell Brenner.
“My favorite part of the symposium was getting to spend time with the young ladies that went to the conference and get to know their interests. I found it interesting to learn more about their academic passions and what they plan to do in the future,” Rieger said.
According to the Association for Women in Mathematics website, “the goal of TWIMS is to strengthen the network of women, gender minorities, and allies in Texas working in mathematics, which will encourage collaborations and mentoring relationships.”
Female mathematicians from all over Texas attended the conference with groups including undergraduate and graduate students, professors and researchers. The two main plenary speakers were professor Irene M. Gamba from the University of Texas at Austin and professor Raegan Higgins from Texas Tech University.
There were six different panelists who shared their research in the field of mathematics with those who attended the conference. “We would consider going to the conference next year. It was a great opportunity to make professional contacts and for the ladies to hear academic presentations that involved mathematics,” Rieger said.
This was the fourth year of TWIMS with more conferences to come as female mathematicians work to encourage gender equality within STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
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