Diversity in Mathematics, a program created and hosted at UBC, is providing mentorship for women, Indigenous youth and recent immigrants interested in STEM-related fields. Founded by Department of Mathematics Professor Malabika Pramanik in 2016, the initiative currently promotes a day camp for high school students along with a national summer school for undergraduate women.
“The point is to allow undergraduate women to interact with high school students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, giving the undergraduates opportunities for mentorship and leadership, and for high schoolers to discover more about the journey they can take at a post-secondary institution,” said Dr. Malabika in an interview to UBC Science.
By tackling the issues of isolation and lack of role models in STEM for these girls and young women, Diversity in Mathematics highlights the university’s efforts to promote Strategy 4: Inclusive Excellence. Through this strategy, UBC aims to create a diverse community in which inclusion is embedded in all areas of academic, work and campus life.
To learn more, read UBC Science’s profile on Dr. Malabika Pramanik.