The NDSU Department of Mathematics is set to host the annual Sonia Kovalevsky Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in Minard Hall. For 18 years, the department has sponsored the program to encourage interest in mathematics and science among young women.
According to organizers, the event is designed for females in grades 9-12. “Many girls with talent in math and science are reluctant to pursue careers in these disciplines due to a lack of female role models,” explained Maria Alfonseca-Cubero, associate professor of mathematics. “The program intentionally brings female math and science professionals as keynote speakers and career panelists for this purpose. For most of the participants who come from small towns, this is a unique opportunity to meet other girls sharing their interests, learn about career options in mathematics or science and become aware of the multiple applications of mathematics in everyday life.”
The program draws high school teachers and their students from across North Dakota and western Minnesota. They meet the NDSU mathematics faculty and participate in hands-on mathematics activities and games, in addition to learning about career opportunities.
The event honors Sonia Kovalevsky, a highly regarded Russian mathematician of the late 19th century, who received the prestigious Prix Bordin from the French Academie des Sciences for one of her research papers. At the time, many women did not have the right to pursue an advanced education or teach at a university.
Other sponsors include the NDSU College of Science and Mathematics, School of Education, College of Human Development and Education, Office of the Provost, NDSU Bookstore, Sanford Health and Microsoft.
To register to participate in Sonia Kovalevsky Day, visit http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~alfonsec/sonia/register.html.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.
