Yukari Ito elected as the next president of the Asian-Oceanian Women in Mathematics

December 17, 2024
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI)

ito — Kavli IPMU Professor Yukari Ito (Credit: Yukari Ito)

The University of Tokyo Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI) Professor Yukari Ito has been elected as the next President of the Asian-Oceanian Women in Mathematics (AOWM), it was announced on December 8 during the AOWM Workshop in New Zealand.

The AOWM was established in 2022, after the Committee for Women in Mathematics (CWM), under the International Mathematics Union, received a call for its development. It is the first Asia-Oceania group of mathematicians dedicated to providing support and education for women mathematicians in the region.

Ito has been involved with the group as an executive committee member since its establishment.
“Women mathematician organizations have a long history in parts of Europe and the US, where support systems for women researchers are well established and the number of women mathematicians is growing. Then there is Japan, a country where there are only a small number of women mathematicians, and some may think that this is normal. However, some countries in the Asia-Oceania region have a large number of female researchers, and each country presents a different environment and challenges.

“My fellow mathematicians and I would like to create a place where women mathematicians in this region can deepen intellectual exchanges, share information to build a better research environment, and engage in friendly competition as mathematicians. To achieve this goal, we need not only the support of women mathematicians, but also other mathematicians.

“Everyone’s understanding and support would be greatly appreciated.”

Ito begins her term as President from August 2025 to 2027.