Diversity and Community Building
Visit MIT's diversity and inclusion website "Inventing Our Future" for current initiatives and first hand experiences at MIT.
Mathematics Department Statements on Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to fostering a community of learning that is welcoming, inclusive, engaging, and aimed at the highest academic accomplishments. To this end, we affirm that the mental and physical well-being of our community, especially of our students, is of utmost importance.
Mathematical potential is independent of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political views and socio-economic background. Mathematical thinking benefits everyone. Our faculty is thus committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity among our students, postdocs, instructors, faculty and staff members.
Specifically, we are committed to increasing the percentage of underrepresented minorities (URMs) among our faculty and students, and to promoting diversity at every level of mathematical development. We have thus taken action on various fronts, including the creation and support of several programs, from middle school onwards, designed to increase the number of URM students in mathematically-based fields. Progress made towards achieving our goals is reviewed biennially by the Mathematics Department Visiting Committee.
Events
For a full list of diversity events please visit the ICEO Events Page
Seminars
To encourage more URM speakers in Mathematics seminars, the Department will fund the travel expenses for URM speakers who are brought to campus by any math seminar series organizer or math student association.
Diversity and Community Building Committee
The Department has established a new faculty committee that will plan, execute, and review the effectiveness of new diversity initiatives. The Diversity and Community Building Committee consults with faculty, instructors, students and staff to pinpoint opportunities for expanding diversity.
Diversity Reports and Articles
- Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering
A 2017 stastistical report published by the National Science Foundation
Diversity Programs
High School Research Programs
Our PRIMES program includes two math enrichment programs that aim to increase diversity in the mathematical community by helping mathematically gifted high school students from underrepresented groups (including under represented genders, minorities, students with disadvantaged backgrounds and from underserved communities). The goal is two-fold: to deepen their interest in mathematics, and to set them on a path toward pursuing a math-based major in college. These programs have been proven to boost the diversity of applicants to MIT, and many graduates from these programs are now MIT Math majors.
- The Menezes Challenge PRIMES Circle is an after-school math enrichment program for students living within commuting distance from Boston.
- MathROOTS is a 14-day summer program for U.S. students, in collaboration with MIT Admissions
Diversity Conferences
The Department supports participation in the following conferences. Members of the Department who would like to attend one of these conferences should speak with Diversity Committee Chair Gigliola Staffilani.
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American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
AISES is geared to increasing the representation of American Indian and Alaskan Natives in engineering, science and other related technology disciplines. The Annual Leadership Summit will take place virtually on two Fridays – April 2, 2021 and April 9, 2021.
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Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
The Association of American Colleges and Universities is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career.
The AAC&U will hold the 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Student Success Conference from March 24-26 virtually.
https://www.aacu.org/events/2021-diversity-equity-and-student-success-conference -
Blackwell-Tapia Conference 2020
Hosted by MSRI in Fall 2021
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Conference for African American Researchers in Mathematical Sciences (CAARMS)
CAARMS 26 TBA.
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Math Alliance
The Math Alliance states its goal: to ensure "that every underrepresented or underserved American student with the talent and the ambition has the opportunity to earn a doctoral degree in a mathematical science."
You can find upcoming events on their website:
https://mathalliance.org/news/ -
National Association of Mathematicians (NAM)
NAM promotes excellence in the mathematical sciences and the mathematical development of underrepresented American minorities.
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Society for Advancing Chicanos, Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
SACNAS is a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists from college students to professionals in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership. The 2021 conference will be held from October 28-30 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Society of Mexican American Engineers & Scientists (MAES)
MAES aims to increase the number of Mexican Americans and other Hispanics in the technical and scientific fields.