Proof and Prejudice: Women in Mathematics
Special event marking the anniversary of Lawrence Summers' comments on the ability of women to do math and science. All segments are open to everyone, including undergraduates, graduates, faculty, visiting scholars, media, and local community. Free. Tuesday February 7th, 2006, 2:00-5:30 pm. Venue: Room 426, 4th floor, of Margaret Jacks Hall, Building 460. Provisional program (as of January 2006) follows:
2:00pm Women mathematicians in drama and fiction. Dramatic readings from the plays "Proof" by David Auburn and "Arcadia" by Tom Stoppard, presented by La Vache Enragee. Panel discussion with Danica McKellar (The West Wing actress and mathematician), Mary Pols (Knight Fellow in Journalism and movie critic), Alex Kasman (math professor and writer of math fiction) moderated by Harry Elam, Chair of the Stanford Drama Department. Audience participation invited.
3:00pm A Life in Mathematics: Julia Robinson. Film-maker George Csicsery talks about his documentary on the Berkeley mathematician, Julia Robinson. Audience questions welcome. Session moderated by Jonathan Farley, mathematician and Science Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation.
4:00pm Women in Mathematics Today: Panel discussion on the experiences of women mathematicians, the barriers to women in math, and math culture in general. Featuring Helen Moore (American Institute of Mathematics), Claudia A. Henrion (lately of Dartmouth College, distinguished mathematician and commentator), Danica McKellar (actress), Margot Gerritsen (Assistant Professor of Engineering, Stanford), Jonathan Farley (mathematician and Science Fellow) and Jamylle Carter (Mathematical Studies Research Institute, Berkeley). Londa Schiebinger moderating. Questions and comments from the audience welcomed.
5:30pm Conclusion: Londa Schiebinger sums up and closes.
7:00pm "Proof" (2005). Screening of the movie "Proof" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins at the Cubberley Auditorium on the Stanford campus. PG-13. To be followed by a short discussion of the film and general issues raised earlier, moderated by Jonathan Farley (Science Fellow, CISAC). Free and open to all.
9:00pm Close.
The Institute is grateful to the co-sponsors of this event from around Stanford: the Department of Mathematics, the Department of English, the Department of Drama, the Department of History, and the Feminist Studies Program. The Institute thanks the ASSU Sunday Flicks team for helping with the screening of "Proof".
The Institute is grateful to Jonathan Farley for his help and advice in organizing this event. In addition to his career as an award-winning academic mathematician, Professor Farley is a consultant with Hollywood Math & Science Consulting (www.hollywoodmath.com), which aims to improve the accuracy of math and science used in fictional movies and TV.
Public parking (pay meters) is available close to the Main Quad on The Oval, Lomita Drive (by the Cantor Arts Center), and Serra Street. Additional parking can be found close to the Tressider Union off Mayfield Avenue. We encourage our guests to carpool, bike, or use public transport. Parking is controlled until 4pm, after which permit designated spaces are available for public use. Please check the interactive Campus Map for more information on venue location and parking. campus-map.stanford.edu (search under Building Name for "Margaret Jacks Hall" and "Education").