The Association for Women in Mathematics and Math for America have co-sponsored an essay contest calling for biographies of contemporary women in the fields of mathematics and statistics as they relate to academic, industrial and government careers; all this to raise awareness of women's ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences.

This year Annie Katz, a ninth grader of Leffell School in New York, won the Honorable Mention in the Grades 9-12 category of the contest for her essay titled "Mathematics at Mach Speed: Tulin Kaman's Soaring Journey in Safeguarding Skies and Transforming Cancer Treatment."

The subject of her essay was Tulin Kaman, an associate professor and Lawrence Jesser Toll Jr. Chair with the U of A Department of Mathematical Sciences. Professor Kaman is also known as a serving member of the Membership & Community Portfolio Committee of the Association for Women in Mathematics and the faculty advisor of the U of A's student chapter of the association.

"I was surprised when a 9th grader from New York contacted me and asked me to interview for the 2024 AWM/MfA Essay Contest," said Kaman. "I am very happy that I agreed to be interviewed by Annie and gave an interview like this, which resulted not only winning the contest but also encouraging a girl like Annie to pursue her studies in mathematics."

As part of the public lecture of the Spring Lecture Series, Kaman is one of the panelists for the "Women in Mathematics," panel which will be held will be at 5 p.m. Friday, May 3, in Hillside Auditorium room 206.

About Association for Women in Mathematics: The Association for Women in Mathematics is a non-profit organization founded in 1971. The AWM currently has more than 3,500 members representing a broad spectrum of the mathematical community — from the United States and around the world! Since its founding in 1971 by a small but passionate group of women mathematicians, the Association for Women in Mathematics has grown into a leading society for women in the mathematical sciences, and is one of the societies comprising the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. The AWM's programs not only support those who participate in them directly, but also help influence the mathematics culture more generally, so that young women entering the field today encounter an environment that is more nurturing than that of the 1970's and 1980's. Throughout its 50-year history, the AWM has played a critical role in increasing the presence and visibility of women in the mathematical sciences.