IMU's New President Speaks Naturally of Mathematics

August 31, 2010

Ingrid Daubechies (Princeton University) was elected the first woman president of the International Mathematical Union at the recently concluded International Congress of Mathematicians. In a recent interview with The Times of India, she spoke about her selection and ways to attract more young people and women to mathematics.  

When asked how to change the often-held, pejorative attitude toward math, Daubechies said, “It is important to have teachers at all levels who are themselves interested in mathematics.” She noted that Dan Spielman, winner of the 2010 Nevanlinna Prize, began his lecture at ICM 2010 by thanking his 4th-grade teacher for have ignited his mathematical inclination.

“The kind of logical thinking that is at the basis of mathematics is universal, enjoyed by most people,” she said. “Think about sports: very few people can play at the Olympic Games level, but that doesn't stop most people from enjoying playing some sport. Similarly, most people can enjoy mathematics, even though very advanced mathematics is the province of a small number of people only. We should also convey to children that mathematics is not just the formulaic, technical material to which it often gets reduced, at school.”

Addressing the key issue of more women in mathematics, Daubechies said, "The relative scarcity of women is a cultural phenomenon." Once the pattern is broken, she said, "the field will start attracting more women who, in turn, will be role models for a new generation and make mathematics more of an obvious choice for women."

Read the full interview here.

Source: Times of India (August 25, 2010)