Message from the Organizers

The Report from the first in a series of workshops at the Banff International Research Station on supporting diversity in mathematics stated:

"The vitality of the scientific enterprise and the prosperity of (North American) countries depend on the broad development of the mathematical sciences and on full access to that development by all members of society. "

At the 2006 workshop representatives from the math and science community across North America consolidated results from various reports and  experiences across the math and science community, in order to provide a collection of good management practices for increasing the number of women in mathematics, particularly at the Ph. D. level and beyond.

In July 2007, representatives from North and South America, Europe, Asia met at the Banff International Research Station to take this effort to the next level. Assessment of the best management practices for supporting diversity in math as proposed in reports and at previous workshops on Women in Mathematics, in particular, the BIRS 2006 workshop naturally led to the recognition that in order to implement thesepractices, resources and applicable tools must be provided. In the 2007 workshop the outcomes were:

1. Identifying concrete actions to be taken by individuals and groups in the math and science community in order to increase diversity.
    
2. Complementary to these actions is a collection of resources, providing a collection of applicable tools and approaches.

This website provides a collection of resources that can be used to address the main issues that arise in any program: counteracting biases of cognitive error, improving your recruitment, hiring, and retention practices, capitalizing on mentor opportunities to support diversity at all levels, working with your administration to institutionalize practices that support diversity.

We encourage math departments, institutes, and professional organizations to :

1. actively adopt these strategies,
    
2. disseminate them within their local organizations and throughout the broader communities,
    
3. seek further development of successful strategies for supporting diversity through exchange with their communities and documentation of their own success .

Furthermore, the 2007 workshop participants recognized that diversity initiatives in the mathematics and broader scientific community need to be supported through communication, interaction, and cooperation. The international nature of mathematics also requires that this exchange also be international and a number of venues were recognized for future exchange.

Rachel Kuske, BIRS 07 Co-chair