International Women in Mathematics Day: catching up with our Kastus scholar
To celebrate International Women in Mathematics Day on 12 May we caught up with Megan Dooley. Megan became the School of Mathematics & Statistics's inaugural winner of the Kastus Scholarship for Women in Mathematics & Statistics at TU Dublin at the start of this academic year.
May 12 is designated International Women in Mathematics Day* and is celebrated by events across the world. The events raise awareness of the impact and important contributions of women in these disciplines and are aimed at inspiring the next generation of women mathematicians. Mathematics is an exciting discipline that is open to everyone of all backgrounds and diversities. It has provided the foundations of the technological advances of the last century and is the bedrock for our models and theoretical understanding of the world around us. Mathematics and statistics are more relevant than ever in the data-driven world of today and we need all the mathematicians we can develop. On this day, we celebrate the women change-makers in mathematics.
Megan Dooley is a second-year student of our full-time undergraduate programme, TU874 Mathematical Sciences. She became the first recipient of the Kastus Scholarship for Women in Mathematics & Statistics in 2023. The School of Mathematics & Statistics teamed up with Kastus to offer this scholarship to support women who wish to study mathematics in order to help them achieve their goals and their potential. The scholarship has already highlighted, through personal stories, some of the challenges in education (and particularly STEM) for young women and is part of the School’s commitment to championing equality, diversity and inclusion in mathematics and statistics.**
We met with Megan Dooley and asked her about how the Kastus scholarship had helped her this year.
Is the scholarship helping you to achieve your academic goals and, if so, how?
Yes. I used the scholarship to pay the remainder of this year's tuition fees and to put aside some money towards next year’s fee. To support myself I work remotely for a company in the Pharma sector and the work is demanding but also rewarding and I set the bar high. During the semester I typically work during my lunch break and at various time outside of the semester. The scholarship allows me to better balance my work and study and concentrate on my studies.
What has been successful in winning this scholarship meant to you personally?
When I first came to university, I felt that there were gaps in my knowledge, and I lacked confidence. Winning the scholarship has boosted my confidence and validated my efforts, and rather than putting more pressure on me I have found it very encouraging.
What advice would you give to an undergraduate student who you would consider to be in a similar position to yourself?
Plan everything ahead of your studies. Be aware that you can’t just rock on up to college. Plan your study, even timetable, and set time aside with a very specific agenda. Find what works for you, e.g. blocks of 45 mins, then a 10 min break. Go to class! Be mindful that it is very important to balance your work, study and relaxation.
Do you think gender equality initiatives are important and if so, why?
Yes, very important. I attended an all-girls secondary school which was very traditional. There were no opportunities to study technical graphics, IT, applied maths or physics and home economics, art and music were the only options available at junior certificate. There were also very few male teachers in the school which is not representative of society. At university there are more females compared to males in my class, however I still see a need for such initiatives.
*The date 12 May is the birthday Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to receive the Fields Medal (2014).
**The commitment of the School of Mathematics & Statistics to gender equality was recognised in its Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2022.