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EDINBURGH, GB

International Centre for Mathematical Sciences
15 South College Street
Edinburgh, EH8 9AA, UK.

20 February to 22 December 2017
For pre-registered event participants or by prior arrangement

We are posting two mails plus the original letter as PDF we received from the Good Practice Committee of the School of Mathematics of the University of Edinburgh and the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences in February 2018, expressing some concern about the contents of the exhibition. We also add the answer of the curator of our exhibition, Sylvie Paycha).

Hello,
We have had the exhibit “Women of mathematics throughout Europe” on display at ICMS in Edinburgh for the past year. We had received a lot of very positive comments about the exhibit and have also had the pleasure of meeting a few of the women featured on the portraits at our workshops.

Some visitors have expressed concern about the content of one of the panels. The panel in question is that of Oksana Yakimova. In particular this quote from Oksana
“Even though I enjoy collaborating with women, I find it more difficult than with men, since we start talking about other things; starting from mathematics, we can end up talking about flowers! Men are much more focused, no flowers with them!” “
The people who have approached me have indicated that they think this is insulting to women mathematicians and contradicts the exhibitions intentions to portray thirteen women as role models for young scientists.

I would be interested to know why this panel was included as the sentiments expressed by Oksana Yamikova are not encouraging.

Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jane Walker
Centre Manager
International Centre for Mathematical Sciences
15 South College Street
Edinburgh EH8 9AA

Dear exhibition organisers,

At a recent workshop held at ICMS in Edinburgh it was good to see the “Women of mathematics throughout Europe” exhibition. Unfortunately, however one remark featured there has caused some concern which was raised at the subsequent meeting of the Good Practice committee. I attach a letter from members of the committee, which we ask you to consider.

Best wishes,

Ruth Forrester
Director of Good Practice
School of Mathematics
University of Edinburgh

PS We do appreciate that you have gone to considerable trouble to create this exhibition – which in general has excellent aims that we would support!

Dear Alice, Thank you for reporting on this issue; let me forward to you the reply I sent Ruth Forrester telling her that we  plan to post the letter she sent us up on the webpage of the exhibition, probably under the "Edinburgh" venue.
Thanks again for bringing this issue up to our attention.
Best wishes,
Sylvie

Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your feed back concerning the exhibition “Women of mathematics throughout Europe” exhibition. We  plan to post your letter up on the webpage of the exhibition, probably under the "Edinburgh" venue.
I fully agree with you that Oksana's assertion "Even though I enjoy collaborating with women, I find it more difficult than with  men, since we start talking about other things; starting from mathematics, we can end up  talking about flowers! Men are much more focused, no flowers with them!" should be questioned. As curators of the exhibition, we were also concerned by Oksana's point of view but we didn't feel it was our role to censure her.  Bringing this sentence out to the forefront with a quote on a panel is a way to open up the subject to  discussion.
Thanks for bringing this issue up to our attention.
Best wishes,
Sylvie
Women in Maths letter-1Women in Maths letter-2

 

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IMG_20170224_174235976_HDR
Women in Maths in ICMS Chapterhouse
© Madeleine Shepherd