AWM Education Resources

Here we've compiled a list of resources for students and educators in the mathematical sciences. Please send suggestions for additional links to awm-webmaster@awm-math.org. Also be sure to check out the information on the AWM Education Committee

Find jobs or employees with AWM's online ads!

Programs for Students

Knowles Science Teaching Foundation: The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) was established to enhance the quality of high school science and mathematics teaching. KSTF offers Teaching Fellowships to young men and women who have degrees in science or mathematics and want to teach high school physics, chemistry or mathematics. The fellowship provides both financial and professional support for up to five years, including tuition assistance and a stipend while fellows participate in a recognized teacher credential program.
Sally Ride Science Festivals: The Sally Ride Science Club holds Science Festivals for middle school girls, with parents and teachers also welcome to attend. The events feature a keynote by astronaut Sally Ride, Discovery Workshops given by women professionals from veterinarians to rocket scientists, and a Street Fair. There are also adult tracks of workshops for parents and teachers on topics such as hands-on science and gender equity.
Expanding Your Horizons - This is a one-day conference held at over 100 locations across the U.S. each year. Local junior high and high school students attend a keynote address, and attend workshops led by women scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.
Maine School of Science and Math Girls' Camp: Nurturing Nature and Numbers - This one-week camp (two separate sessions offered) is focused on science, math and computers for middle-school girls, who have completed grades 5-9. Limited slots are available for girls who live outside of Maine.
The Paula Program for Young Female Scholars - A one-week session on computers and a one-week session on math and science are offered at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN. Designed for gifted/talented girls who will be entering grades 7-10. This is an enrichment program of instruction with cultural and laboratory experiences designed to stimulate and reinforce enthusiasm for learning.
SummerMath for High School Girls at Mt. Holyoke College - A four-week program for high school girls of all mathematical abilities. The program helps girls become better problem-solvers, builds their confidence in math and beyond, and gives them a taste of college life.
The Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics -An intensive six-week residential program for high ability high school students.
Canada/USA Mathcamp for High School Students- For mathematically talented high school students from around the world.
Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics- The aim of this annual conference is to give undergraduate women the opportunity to present their research and to meet other women who share their interest in the mathematical sciences. Partial funding is available for participants, and recommendations for undergraduates who should be personally invited to attend are welcome.
Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories Summer Program for Women and Minorities - Offers women and members of underrepresented minority groups the opportunity for technical employment experience at their research and development laboratories in Bell Labs. The program, primarily directed toward undergraduate students who have completed their second or third year of college, is designed to attract students into scientific careers by placing participants in working contact with experienced research scientists and engineers.
The Carleton/St. Olaf Colleges Summer Mathematics Program for Undergraduate Women - An NSF/NSA funded program to encourage and support women in their study of mathematics. Admission into this program is highly selective and is limited to female mathematics students who are currently completing their first or second year of college.
Summer Program for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics (SPWM) at The George Washington University - SPWM 99 is a five-week intensive program for mathematically-talented undergraduate women who are completing their junior year and may be contemplating graduate study in the mathematical sciences. The goals of this program are to communicate an enthusiasm for mathematics, to develop research skills, to cultivate mathematical self-confidence and independence, and to promote success in graduate school. Sixteen women will be selected.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) - This NSF-sponsored program provides undergraduates the opportunity to participate first-hand in research projects. REU programs take place during the summer in locations all over the country. Students are granted stipends, and in some cases assistance with housing and travel. Students who are in those groups traditionally under-represented in science (women, members of under-represented minorities, and those with disabilities) are particularly urged to apply.
Budapest Semesters in Mathematics - An exciting opportunity for undergraduate mathematics students to spend part of your junior or senior year in Budapest. Learn mathematics from leading Hungarian scholars (in English).
Mentoring Program for Women in Mathematics - The emphasis of the Women's Program is on mathematics learning and research, specifically with regard to the Institute for Advanced Study/Park City Mathematics Institute Summer Session, mentoring and peer relations, and the introduction of career opportunities in research mathematics.
AWM Workshops for Women Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Mathematicians - Each year the AWM holds workshops in conjunction with the annual joint meetings of the AMS and MAA and with the annual SIAM meeting. Funding is provided to the students and junior mathematicians presenting at the workshop.
Teach in Hawaii The University of Hawai'i at Manoa is accepting applications for a new online teacher preparation program for secondary Math and Science education. This online program provides an avenue to a teaching career for prospective teachers from any U.S. state or territory. It includes student teaching in Hawai'i and is intended for those who plan to live in Hawai'i.
See also: AWM Ads for Conferences, Workshops, and Grants

Prizes & Contests for Students

AWM Alice T. Schafer Prize for Excellence in Mathematics by an Undergraduate Woman - This prize is awarded annually by the AWM to an undergraduate woman for excellence in mathematics.
AWM Biographies Contest - To increase awareness of women's ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, AWM is sponsoring an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers. This contest is open to students in the following categories: Middle School, High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate.
Morgan Prize - This award is given each year to reward outstanding research by an undergraduate student. One award of $1000 is given each year, although the committee may also give honorable mentions.

Grants and Fellowships for Students

2008 Multicultural Undergraduate Internship Program. The Association for Women in Science Announces the 2008 Multicultural Undergraduate Internship Program in Washington D.C. In order to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the Association for Women in Science is offering summer internships in Washington D.C. for female undergraduate students who are members of typically underrepresented ethnic groups. Internships provide stipends of $3,500 for ten-weeks during the summer at AWIS National Headquarters in Washington D.C. The internships are full time beginning in May 2008 and ending in August 2008. AWIS is a national advocacy organization representing the interests of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across all disciplines and employment sectors. AWIS creates opportunities and breaks down barriers to help each and every woman in these fields achieve her full potential. The application deadline is March 31, 2008.
GK12 "Fellows-in-the-Middle" Program. Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ, has a fellowship opportunity for science and mathematics graduate students. The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, awards qualified research-minded graduate students with a $40,500 fellowship ($30,000 stipend + $10,500 towards tuition) to work in middle schools for two days each week. As part of the program, graduate students participate in training activities, research projects, and field trips (just to name a few components) while they pursue a master's degree at Montclair State University. The application deadline is January 15, 2008.
2008 Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship. The Department of Mathematics at Johns Hopkins University is proud to offer the Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. The Fellowship will be awarded to an outstanding female graduate applicant who plans to begin doctoral study in the Fall of 2008. The recipient will be identified as the Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellow. The fellowship covers a stipend of $23,000 for the academic year and $7,000 for the summer ($30,000 total), tuition, benefits and other expenses each year for two academic years. To be eligible, the applicant must be: Female, U.S. Citizen, Incoming Graduate Student. The deadline for the application is January 17, 2008.
Noyce Scholars Program in Mathematics Boston University is excited to announce a new initiative to prepare middle school and high school mathematics teachers, Boston University's Noyce Scholars Program in Mathematics. With funding from the National Science Foundation and the School of Education and in collaboration with six local school districts and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Noyce Program will train up to 13 graduate students a year to become mathematics teachers - and Noyce scholars receive 100% tuition support. The one-year program leads to a master's degree and initial teacher licensure. In exchange, Noyce scholars must commit to teach for at least two years in a high-need district upon successful completion of the teacher certification program.
The National Science Foundation�s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. This fellowship program provides students with three years of financial support including a $30,000 annual stipend and $10,500 cost-of-education allowance. U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens at or near the beginning of research-based graduate studies in the Chemistry, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences fields are eligible to apply. For additional program information, go to: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/.
Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Education Program This education program provides scholarships and fellowships to students including an annual salary, full tuition, and other normal educational expenses. The purpose is to promote the education, recruitment and retention of undergraduate and graduate students in science, mathematics and engineering studies. The SMART Education Program is open only to citizens of the United States, and students must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible. There is an employment obligation to DoD with this education program. For more information and application deadlines, please visit our Web site at http://www.asee.org/smart.
The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG) This fellowship program is sponsored by the Army Research Office, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program. This program is intended for U.S. citizens at or near the beginning of their graduate studies in science and/or engineering programs. The fellowships are for three year tenures. The stipends begin at $30,500 for first year fellows, $31,000 for second year fellows, and $31,500 for third year fellows. Full tuition and fees and a health insurance allowance are included as part of the program. Go to: http://www.asee.org/nrl for application deadlines and detailed program information.
The L�OR�AL USA Postdoctoral Fellowships for Women in Science program recognizes and rewards exceptionally talented young women engaged in basic research in the life and physical/material sciences, technology (including computer science), engineering and mathematics, with grants valued at $40,000 per recipient, for a one year period. To obtain more information about program eligibility and requirements visit http://www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience. Applications are available in downloadable and online formats. The call for application period is from August 14 � October 31, 2006.
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. This program is open to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents and offers a competitive stipend as well as insurance, relocation, and travel allowances. This program offers one to three year postdoctoral fellowships designed to increase the involvement of scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy. This program has a rolling admission. Go to: http://www.asee.org/resources/nrl/ for detailed program information.
The Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP). NREIP is a ten week summer research opportunity for undergraduate Juniors & Seniors, and Graduate students, under the guidance of a mentor, at a participating Navy Laboratory. The stipend amounts for the program are $5,500 for undergraduate students and $6,500 for graduate students. U.S. citizenship required; Permanent residents accepted at certain labs. Go to: http://www.asee.org/nreip for application deadlines and detailed program information.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP). SEAP is an eight week summer research opportunity at participating ONR laboratories for high school students who have completed at least grade 9, and are at least 16 years of age (for most Laboratories), and a U.S. citizen. A graduating Senior is eligible to apply. The stipend for the summer program is $1,500 for new students; $1,550 for returning students. Go to http://www.asee.org/seap for application deadlines and detailed program information.
Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories Fellowships - Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies have several programs that are designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science and engineering including a graduate research program for women.
AAUW Educational Foundation Fellowships and Grants - This program has helped over 7,300 women in over 125 nations.
American Statistical Society Gertrude Cox Scholarship for Women - This $1,000 award is made yearly at the Joint Statistical Meetings to a woman entering or in the early stages of graduate school.
AWIS Education Foundation - Each spring, the AWIS Educational Foundation offers graduate and undergraduate awards in the amount of $1,000.
Business and Professional Women's Foundation Career Advancement Scholarship Program - The Career Advancement Scholarship Program was established in 1969 by the Business and Professional Women's Foundation to assist women seeking the education necessary for entry or re-entry into the work force, or advancement within a career field. The program was conceived as a concrete, practical means to achieve the BPW mission of improving the status of all working women.
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation - A private foundation which provides fellowships tenable at three dozen of the nation's finest universities for graduate work leading to award of the Ph.D. degree in applications of the physical sciences.
Krell Institute Computational Science Graduate Fellowship - The Department of Energy supports a broad spectrum of basic and applied research in science and engineering at its National Laboratories and through an extensive grants and contracts program with universities and the private sector. Encouraging talented students to pursue careers in computational science.
National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM) - Chartered in 1976, GEM is jointly sponsored by a consortium of university and employer members. The primary mission of GEM is to enhance the value of the nation's human capital in engineering and science by increasing the participation of under-represented minorities (Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and other Hispanic Americans) at the masters and doctoral levels.
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships - The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to identify individuals whose science and engineering credentials will support study through doctoral degrees. The prevailing goal is to provide the United States with talented, doctorally trained American men and women who will lead the state of the art in disciplines having the greatest payoff to national security requirements.
National Physical Sciences Consortium -The NPSC offers a unique and exciting doctoral graduate fellowship program in the Physical Sciences which directs special emphasis toward the recruitment of underrepresented minority and female Physical Science students in order to offset the historic imbalance faced by these underrepresented groups within the research community.
National Research Council Fellowship Programs - The NRC Fellowship Programs Unit administers predoctoral, dissertation, postdoctoral, and other fellowship programs for advanced study in research-based disciplines, including the Ford Foundation Predoctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral Fellowships for Minorities.
SIAM Student Travel Awards - Travel awards for students to attend SIAM meetings and conferences.
Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Student Travel Grants - Funding is available to women undergraduate and graduate students to present posters or papers at professional conferences.
Casualty Actuarial Society offers 2008 CAS Trust Scholarship - The Casualty Actuarial Society is once again accepting applications for its scholarship program for college students pursuing a career in actuarial science. The CAS Trust Scholarship program, funded by donations to the CAS Trust, will award up to three $1,500 scholarships to deserving students for the 2008-2009 academic year.
See also: AWM Ads for Conferences, Workshops, and Grants

Links for Advice & Homework Help

Ask Dr. Math - Need homework help? Check out this site with help for students in elementary school through college and beyond.
AWM Bibliography - Listing of books recommended by our web site visitors and reviewed in past AWM Newsletters.
MentorNet - The National Electronic Industrial Mentoring Network for Women in Engineering and Science. We pair women who are studying engineering or science at one of our participating colleges or universities with professional scientists and engineers working in industry, and help them form e-mail based mentoring relationships.
Collected Advice on Research and Writing for Graduate Students- A collection of advice about how to do research and how to communicate effectively aimed at graduate students in math and computer science.
Graduate Study in the Computer and Mathematical Sciences: A Survival Manual, Dianne O'Leary, 1996 - This online guide by one of our own AWM members contains useful information for every part of graduate school, from applying to finding a job.
How to Be a Good Graduate Student, Marie desJardins, 1994 - Another good online guide that should be required reading for both students and advisors.

Organizations for Students in Math

Mu Alpha Theta - National high school and junior college mathematics honor society.
Pi Mu Epsilon - An honorary national mathematics society whose purpose is the promotion of scholarly activity in mathematics among students in academic institutions.

Local Student Organizations for Women in Mathematics

The Noetherian Ring at UC Berkeley.
Students for Diversity in Mathematics and Statistics at UCLA.
Women in Mathematics at the University of Maryland.
Women in Mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Grants for Programs to Encourage Female Students in Mathematics

AWM Sonia Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Days - A program of workshops, talks, and problem-solving competitions for high school women students and their teachers, both women and men. The purposes are to encourage young women to continue their study of mathematics, to assist them with the sometimes difficult transition between high school and college mathematics, to assist the teachers of women mathematics students, and to encourage colleges and universities to develop more extensive cooperation with high schools in their area.
2000-2001 Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships and Community Action Grants - The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation offers fellowships and grants up to $10,000 for women educators interested in helping girls advance in math, science and technology, and promoting their healthy development.
Year 2005 Grants for Women and Mathematics Projects - The Tensor Foundation, working through the MAA, plans to award grants for projects designed to encourage college and university women or high school and middle school girls to study mathematics. Proposal deadline: February 25,2005.

Prizes for Educators

AWM Louise Hay Award for Contributions to Mathematics Education - This prize is awarded annually by the AWM to recognize outstanding achievements in any area of mathematics education.
Maria Mitchell Women in Science Award - The Maria Mitchell Association offers an annual award to recognize an individual, program, or organization that encourages the advancement of girls and women in studies and careers in science and technology. Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) was the first woman astronomer and the first woman astronomy professor in the United States.

Organizations to Promote Students in Math and Science

The Somerville Mathematics Fund - A scholarship organization chartered by Dollars for Scholars, awarding funds to outstanding mathematics students from Somerville, MA. The awards are renewable up to 4 years. Read more about this organization and the ideas of its President and founder, Erica Voolich, for supporting K-8 Mathematics Education in Education Column: The Somerville Mathematics Fund, from the AWM Newsletter, Vol. 34, No. 4, July-August 2004..
Mathematics Foundation of America (MFOA) - The purpose of MFOA is to ensure that the mathematically talented high school student receives mathematics education appropriate for a future mathematician by providing suitable mathematics summer programs and mathematics mentors.
The Math/Science Network - A non-profit organization of educators, scientists, mathematicians, parents, community leaders, and government and corporate representatives whose mission is to promote the continuing advancement in mathematics and science education of all people, with a particular emphasis on the needs of women and girls. Their major goal is to increase the participation, retention, and advancement of girls and women in mathematics, science, and technology.

Research on Girls and Math

How Negative Expectancies and Attitudes Undermine Females' Math Confidence and Performance - This essay by Jennifer Gutbezahl includes an extensive review of the literature, and is well-documented. It's a great place to start, if you're looking for research references. Citation: Gutbezahl, J. (1995). This article is from the ERIC/CSMEE data base (article ED 380 279). CSMEE is the Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education.
Equal Mathematics Education for Female Students - Very concise digest by Penelope H. Dunham, highlighting the most important factors for increasing female participation in mathematics. Includes brief list of resources and references.
Research on Girls in School - The research studies available here (some online, some available for ordering) were sponsored by the American Association of University Women, and generally aren't found elsewhere.
Girls and Math: Enough is Known for Action - An essay by Patricia Campbell-Kibler, with references, and an emphasis on what can be done to increase female participation in math.
Stereotypes Lower Test Scores - This article published by the FairTest Examiner describes research of Claude Steele, professor of psychology at Stanford University. Students who were told they were not expected to do well on a hard math test, did not do as well as students who were not told this. The result was replicated for many different ethnic and gender groupings.

Courses on Women and Math

Helen Doerr, Syracuse University - Women in Math, spring 1996.
Sheila Doran, Xavier University - Women in Math, spring 2001.
Sarah Greenwald, Appalachian State University - Women and Minorities in Math, spring 2001.
Sarah Greenwald, Appalachian State University - Women in Math, fall 1999.
John Kellermeier, State Univ. of New York at Plattsburgh - Mathematics, Gender, and Culture, spring 2001.

Links for Educators

Department of Education and Motorola Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative - Materials from a free two-day workshop hosted by Motorola focused on inspiring youth in grades K-12 to embrace science and math. The U.S. Department of Education Teacher Initiative training is based on peer-to-peer learning, sharing best practices and strategies for inspiring students and boosting student achievement in critical areas.
Achieving Gender Equity in Science Classrooms: A Guide for Faculty - A useful guide to changing your teaching style so that women and minorities have a better chance of success. This guide is based on extensive studies completed at a number of universities in the New England Consortium for Undergraduate Science Education.
Mudd Math Fun Facts - This archive is designed as a resource for enriching your courses with mathematical Fun Facts.
Teacher 2 Teacher - Do you have a question about teaching mathematics? Are you wondering about the ways your children are learning math? Teacher2Teacher is here to help.
The-Science-Lab.com A comprehensive directory of science related websites
See also Organizations to Promote Students in Math and Science

Mathematics Fun and History

The Mathematics Genealogy Project

The MacTutor History of Mathematics Archives - An award winning site featuring biographies of famous mathematicians as well as the history of various mathematics topics.
Mathematics Quotation Server - This award-winning site provides a collection of mathematical quotations culled from many sources.
Mathematician Trading Cards at Bulletproof.org - A fun way to learn about historical figures in mathematics.
Interesting Math Sites for Nonmathematicians and Beginning Mathematicians - A great collection of math links put together by Eric Schechter in the Vanderbilt Mathematics Department.
See also Biographies

Categories