Report on situation of Women in Mathematics in Slovakia, 2022-2024

Daniela Velichová, [email protected]
Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia

Basic facts:

Slovak group of Women in Mathematics has 10 active members, who use to participate at some events we try to organize in order to activate more women mathematicians, younger women in particular.

In Slovakia women in mathematics are working as scientists at the Mathematical Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences (17 women) or as university lecturers at 10 universities in Slovakia (about 200 women). Currently there are no special committees or members of steering committees within any from the above professional organisations responsible for promoting women in mathematics, nor does the agenda exist related to these issues.

Activities of women in mathematics are supported by a non-profit professional scientific organisation Slovak Society for Geometry and Graphics aimed to stimulate scientific development in the field of geometry and computer graphics, to support young scientists in these disciplines, and to enhance the quality of mathematics/geometry education at all levels. Society has about 15 members, while 10 of them are women and it provides help with organization of several special events for women in mathematics under its own costs:

• Special session on position of women in mathematics was held during the 8th Czech- Slovak Conference on Geometry and Graphics, September 12–16, 2022 at University of Olomouc, Czech Republic. During the session we have discussed possibilities and ideas how to continue in promoting better gender awareness in Slovak and Czech mathematical communities remaining reluctant towards gender agenda in STEM.
• Webpage of Slovak section of EWM – “EWM in Slovakia” has been developed and is available at the address http://www.ssgg.sk/EWMWEB/EWMindexs.html , where we present all information about our activities.
• I have translated the EWM poster – Women in Mathematics to Slovak language, and both, English and Slovak version (also to download) are available at the webpage.
• On March 8, 2023 we have supported the activity of The French association femmes et mathématiques, The Poppies – Let’s all be visible on 8 March 2023 and our photo appeared also at the webpage of EWM in Slovakia.

• Seminar Women in Geometry and Geometric Modelling was held as a joint event with International Symposium on Geometry and Graphics, September 11-14, 2023, Kremnica, Slovakia. One afternoon of the conference was devoted to participating women mathematicians, where information about EWM organisation and its activities was presented and possibility of individual membership was promoted.
• WOMEN TEACHING MATHEMATICS – SLOVAKIA, FINLAND, ROMANIA

  May 17, 2024, Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, SLOVAKIA – on-line workshop on “Promoting Digital Learning in STEM Subjects”, LTT activity within cooperation in the Erasmus+ project DigiSTEM aimed to promote innovative methods and tools in teaching mathematics at technical universities. Women cooperating in the project from 3 European countries – Slovakia, Finland and Romania presented their knowledge and experience gained during their pedagogical practise using active learning methods supported by digital tools. There was also an open discussion on topics “gender awareness at your university” and “position of women in mathematics in your country”. This activity was announced as one action related to the May 12 Initiative – Celebrating Women in Mathematics.

  As EWM national coordinator for Slovakia I keep informed all women mathematicians who articulated interest to receive information about EWM and its activities. I hope to be able to raise higher awareness about EWM activities.

  In Bratislava, June 20, 2024 Daniela Velichová