Recent remarks of the President of Harvard University have led to media
speculation that innate differences in the mathematical abilities of men
and women make it less likely that women will succeed in science and
mathematics. ICIAM does not accept this notion.
ICIAM members are well aware that there are many barriers (whether
financial, cultural, or practical) that face women who want to pursue
mathematical or scientific careers at the highest levels. The unbroken
career paths that are typical of successful male careers in mathematics
take no account of the specific responsibities of women related to child
bearing and family.
As an international organisation representing the world’s applied mathematicians,
ICIAM is committed to removing the educational inequalities
in mathematics that exist in many parts of the world, and to improving
the access to careers in the mathematical sciences for all men and
women. ICIAM highlights the accomplishments of all applied mathematicians,
women and men, at our quadrennial International Congress,
the premier event world-wide in applied and industrial mathematics.
ICIAM, the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics,
is the world organisation for applied mathematics and computational
science. Its members are mathematical sciences societies based in more
than 20 countries. For more information, see the Council’s web page at
http://www.iciam.org/.
Ian Sloan
President of ICIAM
