2021 winners of the Mathematical Sciences Sponsorship Fund
This year Elsevier has reworked how they choose the beneficiaries. Instead of asking mathematicians to apply with their initiatives, we have chosen to seek out exemplary institutions that they believe have greatly contributed to the pursuit of a common goal or ideal. This year that goal is ‘diversity within mathematics’. We are proud to support the below organization.
National Association of Mathematicians (NAM)
The National Association of Mathematicians is a non-profit professional organization in the mathematical sciences with membership open to all persons interested in the mission and purpose of NAM which are to promote excellence in the mathematical sciences and to promote the mathematical development of all underrepresented minorities. NAM was founded in 1969 and has sustained the following goals over the last 52 years:
To engage in activities, projects, programs, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc. which are designed to inspire, motivate, promote, and assist persons of all ages to seek, embark or maintain an active interest/career affinity in some area(s) of the mathematical sciences.
To promote and assist in the continued professional development of practicing mathematical scientists and educators, especially those groups that are underrepresented in the mathematical sciences.
To support the continued development of excellence in teaching and curriculum enhancement in the mathematical sciences, especially at Historic Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions.
To advocate, promote and support research in the mathematical sciences, especially for underrepresented minorities.
To increase the mathematical sciences community and general public's awareness of issues of importance in areas of the mathematical sciences, especially those that are of great interest to underrepresented minorities.
For more information on NAM membership, programs, and activities go to www.nam-math.org.
Women in Combinatorics
Women in Combinatorics was first formed in 2019 as the result of the women’s lunch at CanaDAM. We began as a database of nearly 300 women from around the world to provide a comprehensive list of over 250 women who are willing to be conference speakers and organizers, grad student and postdoctoral supervisors, and interested in potential collaboration.
In early 2020 we began a weekly virtual colloquium, and we have now hosted over 50 colloquium talks from researchers at all levels in nearly every area of combinatorics from matroids to enumeration. In the upcoming academic year, we will we will begin a mentorship network that connects young mathematicians with senior researchers as a formal assignment of mentorship to support women navigating this male-dominated field. Our next initiative is to begin a scholarship program in Mexico and across Africa. We will be providing need -based scholarships to exceptional women who are pursuing graduate education in combinatorics.