A/Prof Inge Koch of AMSI's Choose Maths program speaks at UNSW

Members of staff and students gathered in the Red Centre Theatre on Thursday morning to hear from Associate Professor Inge Koch, Executive Director of Choose Maths at the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI).

Choose Maths is a five-year program to encourage girls to study maths and statistics. It has received funding from BHP Billiton, who last year announced a $22 million investment to raise girls' maths performance and to help facilitate their entry into male-dominated STEM careers.

A/Prof Koch has worked with Choose Maths since July 2015. Her talk covered the aims and components of Choose Maths, and the organisational structure of the project.

Among its aspirations, Choose Maths endeavours to motivate girls and women to learn and study more maths, to increase the proportion of women entering and pursuing STEM related disciplines and careers, to improve career prospects and paths for young women in STEM related jobs and industries, and to give teachers professional development in maths education. Choose Maths also runs a mentoring program for female high school students.

Following A/Prof Koch's lecture, a Women in Mathematics and Statistics lunch was held in the School, attracting over 40 members of staff and students.

(Pictured: top - A/Prof Inge Koch; right - Women in Mathematics & Statistics lunch)