Yogyakarta, July 26, 2023 – In line with The 9th SEAMS-UGM 2023 International Conference on Mathematics and Its Applications, women mathematicians in Southeast Asia will gather for another equally important event, the Southeast Asian Women Mathematicians Meeting (SEAWM2) 2023, held in a hybrid format. SEAWM2 2023 is a continuation of the Asian Women Mathematicians Forum (AWMF) 2016, which took place on July 29, 2016, in Bali, Indonesia. This event also serves as a celebration for Women in Mathematics, honoring the birthday of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to be awarded the Fields Medal.
The SEAWM2 2023 meeting focuses on the role of female mathematicians in the development of mathematics and its applications in various fields, as well as the contributions of mathematics to human development in the Southeast Asian region. The primary objective of SEAWM2 2023 is to build a network of female mathematicians in Southeast Asia and discuss issues related to opportunities, challenges, and women’s involvement in mathematics.
The event began with a presentation from Prof. Dr. Budi Nurani Ruchjana, MS., who mentioned that SEAWM2 this year was attended by 510 participants, with a breakdown of 50 attendees in person and 460 attendees online. The participants come from various countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Australia.
“In holding this forum, we hope to empower women in mathematics, foster connections and collaborations, and become an inspiration to the world,” said Prof. Dr. Indah Emilia Wijayanti, M.Si., the President of IndoMS, during her welcoming remarks. Additionally, Dr. Nanang Susyanto, S.Si., M.Sc., as the Chairperson of The 9th SEAMS-UGM 2023 Organizing Committee, Dr. Intan Muchtadi Alamsyah, M.Si., as the Vice President of SEAMS, and Prof. Carolina Araujo, a representative from the Committee for Women in Mathematics International Mathematical Union, also delivered warm speeches and expressed appreciation to the organizers and participants for the high enthusiasm for this meeting.
SEAWM2 2023 featured experienced women mathematicians as speakers, who shared their expertise and experiences in the development of mathematics, not only in their respective fields but also in organization, communication, and supporting activities as female mathematicians. The speakers in this meeting represented female mathematicians from ASEAN countries, including Prof. Dr. Jane Labadin (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak), Prof. Dr. Indah Emilia Wijayanti, M.Si. (Universitas Gadjah Mada), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masitah Shahrill (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), and Prof. Dr. Kitiporn Plaimas (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand).
Each speaker presented challenges faced by female mathematicians, opportunities that can be pursued, and concrete steps to empower women mathematicians.
This event is expected to provide a strong foundation for creating positive changes for female mathematicians in Southeast Asia and to contribute to equality and inclusivity in the world of mathematics.
Author: Endang Sulastri
Editor: Silvina Rosita Yulianti