PIMS-BIRS-UBCO: Gender Equity in the Mathematical Study (GEMS) of Optimization
Topic
The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, Banff International Research Station and University of British Columbia - Okanagan will host the “Gender Equity in the Mathematical Study (GEMS) of Optimization” workshop at the UBC Okanagan campus in Kelowna, B.C., from August 3 - 9, 2025.
Details
This workshop aims to build a community of mathematicians who self-identify as gender minorities in mathematics and who work in optimization at the intersection of combinatorics, algebra, and geometry. To achieve this goal, the workshop focuses both on mathematics as well as on gender justice initiatives that include gender minorities excluded by the term "women in mathematics''
Talks are divided evenly between mathematical content and equity content. Mathematically, talks will highlight the latest research contributions of those who identify as gender minorities in optimization, and are also aimed at providing a stepping stone for a variety of participants to join discussions on related open problems. In terms of gender equity, experts will present recent findings about effective actions to broaden the participation of gender minorities in STEM. Some of the workshop discussion time will also be devoted to creating concrete plans to implement such measures in various places (classrooms, departments, conferences, etc.). There will also be spaces for those with similar experiences to share and connect.
The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. BIRS is supported by Canada’s Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Alberta’s Advanced Education and Technology.