ABOUT THE CONTEST
To increase awareness of women's ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and Math for America are co-sponsoring an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers.
The essays will be based primarily on an interview with a woman currently working in a mathematical sciences career. This contest is open to students in the following categories: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and College Undergraduate. At least one winning submission will be chosen from each category. Winners will receive a prize, and their essays will be published online at the AWM web site. Additionally, a grand prize winner will have his or her submission published in the AWM Newsletter.
The Deadline for the 2011 AWM Essay Contest is February 27, 2011.
CONTEST RULES
Open to: Students Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, College Undergraduates
Submission deadline: February 27, 2011
Who can enter?
This essay contest is open to students in the following categories:
* Grades 6-8
* Grades 9-12
* Undergraduate
At least one winning submission will be chosen from each category.
What is the subject of the essay?
Your essay should be based primarily on an interview with a woman currently working in a mathematical career. The submission must be in essay form, not just a transcript of your interview.
How long should the essay be?
The essay should be approximately 500 to 1000 words in length.
Who can I write about?
* You may interview and write about any woman currently working in a mathematical sciences career.
* You are encouraged (but not required) to seek out an interviewee that you do not already personally know.
* If you would like to be put in contact with someone who has agreed to be interviewed for this contest, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Stanhope (contest organizer) at stanhope@lclark.edu. Please note that interviewee contacts will only be given out for requests received by January 30, 2011.
Here are some suggestions for finding possible women to interview:
* female math teachers
* female professors in mathematics at a local college or university (you can try looking up the school's website and looking for the mathematics department; many departments list their faculty and their email addresses)
* also consider other mathematical department such as applied mathematics, computer science, statistics, physics, engineering, finance, etc.
* to find mathematicians from underrepresented minorities, you may want to try the website for the National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) or the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
What should I ask in my interview?
Some suggested questions for the interview and essay are:
* What motivated you to pursue a career in the mathematical sciences?
* What is your educational background?
* What is your family and cultural background?
* Describe the kind of work you do?
* What advice would you offer students who are interested in pursuing careers in the mathematical sciences?
* What are some of your other interests or hobbies?
How will essays be judged?
Essays will be judged by a panel of mathematicians on content, grammar, and presentation.
What do I need to submit?
A valid submission will contain the following information:
1. A biographical essay, based primarily on an interview, of approximately 500-1000 words in length, on a woman currently working in a mathematical career.
2. A short (approximately 100 words) biographical sketch of the student contestant. This biographical sketch should include the student's name, grade level, school, and mathematical interests.
3. Information about the student:
* student's name
* address of student (or parent)
* phone number or email address of student (or parent)
4. Information about the subject of the biography:
* name
* address
* phone number and/or email address
All information must be submitted using the online submission form (available February 1).
When is the deadline?
All submissions must be received by February 27, 2011.
How should I submit my essay?
All information must be submitted using the online submission form (available February 1).
If you have any problems submitting your essay, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Stanhope (contest organizer) either by email (stanhope@lclark.edu) or at the following address:
Dr. Elizabeth Stanhope
Department of Mathematical Sciences
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd., MSC 110
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR 97219
All submissions become the property of the Association for Women in Mathematics.
More information here.
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