Endorsements & Responses

The AWM endorses policies and actions which are in line with our Mission and Legislative Priorities, and support initiatives to increase the number of women in the mathematical sciences. This includes

  • Expanding STEM educational opportunities
  • Supporting research funding
  • Helping Americans achieve a healthier work/life balance
  • Creating a welcoming environment

For general statements on AWM Policy, see our Policy Statements.

Any member of the AWM may bring an endorsement, sponsorship, or policy statement request to the AWM by emailing awm@awm–math.org with the subject line [Policy & Advocacy Request].

AWM is a member of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) and has been one of the signatures on letters to Congress addressing significant issues that affect federal funding for the sciences. More information concerning CNSF, as well as recent CNSF congressional letters AWM has signed, can be found here.

2023

Endorsement of the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act (9/11/23)

The AWM has endorsed the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act, which directs the NSF to provide competitive grants focused on modernizing mathematics in K-12 STEM education through mathematical and statistical modeling, including data-driven and computational thinking. It was introduced to the Senate as S.2739 on 9/7/23 and in the House as H.R.1735 on 3/29/23.

Read Senator Hassan’s Press Release (9/11/23)

 

 

Statement on Opposing Legislation that Limit DEI Programs (8/28/23)

The AWM is watching with growing concern as nearly half of U.S. states pass laws impacting the ability of institutions to provide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs [1][2]. These include:

  • Restrictions on DEI offices and staffing,
  • Prohibiting or limiting mandatory DEI training,
  • Banning diversity statements as part of faculty application packages, and
  • Restricting identity-based preferences for hiring and admissions.

As of July 14, 2023, legislators have introduced 40 bills so far this year, across 22 of states in the US, affecting people in academia and government. While only 7 of these have become law so far, this trend, coupled with the recent Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action at colleges and universities [3], limits the ability to fully address existing inequities in STEM. 

According to data from the American Mathematical Society, the percentage of women receiving PhDs in mathematics has remained around 25% since 2006. [5] The number of new women hires in computer science departments has also stagnated [6]. Without continued efforts, we can expect these numbers to remain where they are, or even worsen.

These actions are taking place at a time when a growing body of research supports the need for such programs. A 2023 consensus study report from the National Academies [4] states “Individuals from minoritized racial and ethnic groups continue to face systemic barriers that impede their ability to access, persist, and thrive in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) higher education and workforce. Without actively dismantling policies and practices that disadvantage people from minoritized groups, STEMM organizations stand to lose much needed talent and innovation as well as the ideas that come from having a diverse workforce.”

The AWM encourages its membership to take action. 

  1. Check what legislation has been proposed in your state and reach out to your elected officials. 
  2. Ask your school or organization’s leadership what they are doing to integrate DEI efforts across offices and spaces.
  3. Continue to promote DEI in your workplace in meaningful ways that may include establishing formal mentorship programs and to advocating for paid parental leave.

These bills that seek to dismantle DEI efforts undermine programs that support marginalized communities across the country, but we can all continue to work to create welcoming communities where all can thrive.

References:

[1] Chronicle of Higher Education DEI Legislation Tracker chronicle.com/article/here-are-the-states-where-lawmakers-are-seeking-to-ban-colleges-dei-efforts
[2] BestColleges.com DEI Legislation Tracker 
https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/anti-dei-legislation-tracker/ 
[3] NPR Supreme Court guts affirmative action, effectively ending race-conscious admissions. https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1181138066/affirmative-action-supreme-court-decision 
[4] Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations: Beyond Broadening Participation https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2023/02/higher-ed-institutions-stemm-organizations-should-act-to-change-cultures-to-support-inclusive-excellence-and-dismantle-barriers-created-by-systemic-racism-and-implicit-bias 
[5] AMS Report on the 2017–2018 New Doctorate Recipients http://www.ams.org/profession/data/annual-survey/2018Survey-NewDoctorates-Report.pdf
[6] Gender, Productivity, and Prestige in Computer Science Faculty Hiring Networks. Samuel F. Way, Daniel B. Larremore, Aaron Clauset.  https://arxiv.org/abs/1602.00795 

Representative Grijalva and Senator Baldwin have reintroduced the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act during this 118th Congress as H.R.3970 and S.1839. The AWM reaffirmed its endorsement of this critical bill.

The LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act would facilitate the collection of voluntary, self-disclosed demographic data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics across federal surveys, while maintaining necessary confidentiality and privacy standards that govern federal statistics. This legislation is essential to better understand the experiences of LGBTQI+ communities, generate policy solutions that are inclusive of LGBTQI+ people and their needs, and to evaluate the effectiveness of those policies to reduce disparities and advance equity. This includes the educational and career barriers that LGBTQI+ people face in STEM.

Read the Press Release!

The AWM has enjoyed holding past Research Symposia at Brown University, Santa Clara University, University of Maryland at College Park, University of California at Los Angeles, Rice University, and the University of Minnesota. This year, we are proud to host the 2023 AWM Research Symposium at Clark Atlanta University (CAU).

Clark Atlanta University is a culturally diverse, research-intensive, liberal arts institution in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. CAU is the home institution of AWM President, Dr. Talitha Washington who, along with many dedicated CAU colleagues, has graciously stepped up to host this event. This is the first time an AWM Research Symposium will be held at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Located in “the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement,” Atlanta is a diverse city with a rich history of culture and activism [1]. Known as the “LGBTQ capital of the South,” Atlanta is home to a vibrant and thriving community with a Mayor, Andre Dickens, who is “committed to the fair treatment of all Atlantans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) residents, workers, and visitors” [2].

With the passage of Georgia Senate Bill 140 [3], Georgia joins the many states enacting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation at a time when the number and intensity of such actions are increasing across the country (see the AWM Statement on Opposing Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Transgender Legislation [4]). Georgia has also made recent moves to restrict voting rights for minority populations [5], and to limit access to reproductive healthcare for those who can become pregnant [6]. Some of our members are opposed to the AWM holding a meeting in a state whose recent legislative actions are not in line with our values, and some members will choose not to travel to Georgia.

Balancing the needs of a diverse population such as AWM’s membership is nontrivial given the political climate. The AWM chooses to support mathematicians where they are, throughout the U.S. and abroad. By hosting the symposium at CAU, we support those who live and work in Atlanta and those who are most directly impacted by Georgia legislation. AWM hopes to show a united front and shine a spotlight on the individuals in Georgia who should be celebrated for their great work, both in mathematics and beyond. As a symposium with over 300 attendees, most of whom are women, the AWM presence is powerful. Together we can take a stance to amplify the AWM Mission to “promote equitable opportunity and treatment of women and others of marginalized gender identities.”

AWM leadership and the Research Symposium Committee are working with CAU and the City of Atlanta to plan ways to support all people who plan to attend in person, and will provide some virtual options. The latest updates will be posted on the AWM Research Symposium website.

[1] https://georgiaequality.org/2023/02/black-lgbtq-history/

[2] https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/executive-offices/office-of-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/lgbtq

[3] https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/64231

[4] https://awm-math.org/policy-advocacy/endorsements/#7afd956b2314f6405

[5] https://tracker.votingrightslab.org/states/georgia

[6] https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/?state=GA

The AWM is watching with growing concern as nearly half of U.S. states are passing laws impacting the lives of our LGBTQ+ population [1]. These include:

  • Regulating what can be taught or discussed about LGBTQ+ populations and history in schools,
  • Banning transgender youth from participation in sports,
  • Banning transgender people from using restrooms aligned with their gender identity,
  • Criminalizing performances by people in drag,
  • Restricting healthcare options available to transgender people.

Legislators have introduced more than 400 anti-trans bills in just the first four months of this year, up from 156 over all of last year, and more than the previous four years combined, according to a 4/14/23 analysis of ACLU data [2]  by the Washington Post [3].

These laws seek to instill fear of “others” and to invalidate or erase entire segments of society via discrimination. Many major medical organizations have warned of the potential harm bills limiting gender-affirming care could inflict, including the American Medical Association [4], the Endocrine Society [5], and the American Academy of Pediatrics [6].

The AWM encourages its membership to take action.

  1. Check what legislation has been proposed in your state and reach out to your elected officials. The National Center for Transgender Equality’s State Action Center provides a list of bills as well as links to find your legislators [1]. The American Psychological Association offers suggested discussion points with scientific references for those who wish to write to their legislators at all levels [7].  
  2. Donate to National Center for Transgender Equality [1] or the ACLU [2], both of whom advocate for the equality of the transgender community at the policy level.
  3. Consider approaching these activities by inviting others across your campus to a working group. You would spread awareness, information, and generate additional ideas on how to act. Your local community would benefit from having a space to address this. AWM connects the community. If you have open activities, or successful initiatives that you would like to share with the greater community, please send it to the AWM Executive Director’s Office (ed.admin@awm-math.org) to be shared in the next eCommunication. 
  4. Consider pursuing a research avenue that might track the distribution, timeline, frequency, and language alignment of these bills. AWM’s research journal, La Matematica, would welcome the submission of such a piece.

The rapid increase in introductions of anti-trans bills are of utmost concern, and adds even more complicating factors for mathematicians navigating career and life choices. The AWM continues to work to create a community where people of all genders, gender identities, and orientations can thrive.

[1] https://transequality.org/state-action-center[2] https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/04/17/anti-trans-bills-map/[4] https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/population-care/advocating-lgbtq-community[5] https://www.endocrine.org/advocacy/position-statements/transgender-health[6] https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/aap-voices/why-we-stand-up-for-transgender-children-and-teens/[7] https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/gender-affirmative-care

With the following statement, the AWM endorsed the Data Science and Literacy Act, introduced by Reps. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Don Beyer (D-VA), Young Kim (R-CA), and Jim Baird (R-IN) on 2/14/23.  Read the press release here.

The mission of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to support and encourage women and non-binary mathematicians at all stages of their education and careers. We applaud the provisions in the Data Science and Literacy Act which specifically call out the need to fund programs which address both recruitment and retention of STEM talent in underrepresented groups across the educational pipeline, key factors in the success of our membership at a national level. We appreciate that Rep. Stevens and her co-sponsors are advocating for a broader and more inclusive data science field, allowing the field to benefit from talent across many vectors of identity.

Dear All:

On behalf of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), we write regarding the ongoing protests in Iran. These protests are demanding fundamental human rights and gender equality. We condemn the violent attacks on Iranian students, children, and peaceful protesters by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We lend our support to the brave protesters peacefully fighting for social justice.

On September 16, 2022, Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a young Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in a hospital in Tehran after being arrested and brutalized by the so-called “Morality Police” for having, purportedly, violated the regime’s dress code (i.e., forced hijab). Her death has sparked an ongoing series of protests across broad sectors of Iranian society, including prominently by high school and university students, all broadcasting the slogan, “Woman, Life, Freedom.” They have been shouting their demands loud and clear, a fundamental change of the ruling system. Many, including children, have lost their lives in the fight for freedom and bodily autonomy.

Two months later, with hundreds of protesters killed and over 15,000 arrested, on November 16, 2022, in the city of Izeh in the Iranian province of Khuzestan, a nine-year-old boy was killed by military-grade ammunition; his name was Kian Pirfalak. Kian dreamt of being an innovator and inventor. He had developed and tested a water propeller he planned to submit to Iran’s Khwarizmi Festival of Innovation.

As academics, we lend our strongest support to students and professors at Iranian universities and academic institutions who have been attacked, trapped, fired at, and arrested for protesting the arrest of other students. We stand with our colleagues at academic hospitals who have seen the sanctity of their workplace violated by the regime: patients arrested while seeking help, ambulances commandeered to arrest protesters, and doctors threatened to care for the wounded. We condemn the massacre of worshipers and bystanders after Friday prayers in Southern Iran and the incarceration and torture of peaceful protesters across the country.

Our request is for universities to join other universities with a statement of support, reflecting on our community’s compassion and care for the Iranian students, scholars, and academics, as well as the brave Iranian women and men in their struggle for freedom. AWM’s principles lie in the mission of diversity and inclusion and its commitment to creating an environment supportive of all, regardless of gender, race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. Let us all stand in solidarity with the people in Iran. Women’s rights are human rights.

Respectfully,
Georgetown University Association for Women in Mathematics

2022

Date: September 6, 2022

Agency: Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education (ED)

Title: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Docket ID: ED-2021-OCR-0166

Comments:
My name is Kathryn Leonard and I am writing to you in my role as President of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). The AWM is the leading national society for women in the mathematical sciences with a mission to support and encourage girls and women in mathematics at all stages of their education and careers. I am reporting on the work of our Policy & Advocacy committee that canvases the greater STEM community to represent the needs of women and gender minorities across the sciences. As an organization, we are keenly aware of the continuing prevalence of sexual harassment in the mathematical sciences. On behalf of the AWM, I want to convey our appreciation for both the proposed revisions and the opportunity to comment on several concerns.

CONCERNS

In 2019, the AWM submitted a comment, indicating that “….with the proposed changes, schools are not required to act on complaints that are reported to school employees other than an ‘official with authority to take corrective action.’ Since students are often more likely to build trusting relationships with lower-level employees, this proposed change would further reduce the number of actual incidents reported, and could effectively silence many victims.” As more work is done on this complex issue, AWM’s position must evolve with the current and ongoing social science and psychology research. A recent article by Katie Langin in Science Magazine indicates that researchers in this area believe that mandatory reporting can also hurt individuals [1]. More details can be found in the letter to the Education Secretary Cardona by the Academic Alliance for Survivor Choice in Reporting Policies (ASC) [2]. We urge you to have a policy working group to work with researchers and determine the pathway towards least harm for individuals that also changes the landscape.

We were very happy to see that there is now clarification that “sex discrimination” under Title IX includes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, sex-related characteristics (including intersex traits), status as transgender or nonbinary, or sex stereotypes. We fully support the new requirements that ensure schools allow transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students to participate in activities consistent with their gender identity, but encourage the administration to go even further to include this assurance for participating in athletics as well. The AWM has expressed concerns on the numerous recent legislative attacks on transgender people and on the LGBTQIA+ community and urge the administration to codify their full  rights under Title IX as well  [3] .

We would like to request that clearer guidance be provided regarding programs such as those offered by the AWM. In any realm where a particular group is systemically underrepresented, there is typically decades of research around the institutional barriers that prevent parity, and the importance of spaces and events focused on those underrepresented groups. Despite this research—and what should be the intended goals of Title IX—there is lack of clarity for the legality of such programming, leading many to tread carefully. AWM recommends that this revision to Title IX make clear what kind of gender-specific programming is allowed, and welcomes serving as a resource for further discussion.

IN SUPPORT

The expanded regulatory protections for pregnant and parenting students are also welcomed, as this is an issue affecting many mathematicians as they pursue their education. The AWM has taken a strong stance on the right to reproductive rights and healthcare, and supports the requirements that schools offer safe, clean, non-bathroom spaces for lactating people.

The AWM previously expressed concerns about the narrowed definition of sexual harassment, so we are glad to see that under these new changes that has been broadened to include anything that is “sufficiently severe or pervasive” both “objectively and subjectively” such that it “denies or limits a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from…the education program or activity.” This provides much needed protection to many more students.

We also were very glad to see that the incidents covered under the proposed guidelines now include those that take place off campus and abroad, as these are a vital part of an education and are not immune from incidents.

The AWM also previously indicated that the high standard of proof under the current regulations was unreasonable and would discourage reporting. In the proposed changes, schools must provide supportive measures to all complainants, regardless of the level of formality of their complaint, and even if their complaint is dismissed.

We support the addition of provisions for requiring the prevention and monitoring, mandating that schools be proactive in fighting harassment, not just reactive.

We raised concerns about requiring the victim to face their harasser during a cross-examination and support the change to allowing for interviewing the victim in an individual meeting, as well as not requiring the involvement of lawyers.

Thank you,

– Kathryn Leonard
Professor of Computer Science, Occidental College
President, Association for Women in Mathematics

[1] Harassment researchers decry proposed reporting rule. Science Magazine Vol.377 Issue 6607, 12 August 2022.

[2] The Academic Alliance for Survivor Choice in Reporting Policies (ASC), letter to Education Secretary Cardona. https://psychology.unl.edu/sashlab/ASC%20Response%20Letter%20to%20Proposed%20Title%20IX%20Mandatory%20Reporting%20Regs.pdf

[3] Concern for Transgender Civil Rights Protections. AWM Endorsements, 3/8/22. https://awm-math.org/policy-advocacy/endorsements/#ec8d446082fca75c3 

The AWM signed on to a letter written by the Society of Women Engineers sent to all female Senators who have not joined, encouraging them to join and bring more attention to the issues and policies that affect Women in STEM studies and professions. From the request: “Founders of the Senate’s Women in STEM Caucus would like to see their ranks grow.  Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Shelley Capito Moore (R-WV) launched the Caucus in 2021, and hosted an event earlier this year. Leaders and staff would like to see the Caucus grow and become more active. Current members include Senators Smith, Capito, Rosen, Blackburn, and Feinstein.”

Dear Madame Senator:

We are writing to you to urge you to join the bipartisan Senate Women in STEM Caucus. The Caucus, co-founded by Senators Jacky Rosen and Shelley Moore Capito, was launched late last year to advance women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

According to recent data from the U.S. Census, women — who make up nearly half of the entire American workforce — are making gains, but are still “vastly underrepresented” in the STEM workforce, holding less than one-third of all STEM jobs. Further, women STEM professionals face many challenges. The average salaries of women engineers in most states are between 80% and 89% of those of men engineers, according to data from the US Census Bureau. A recent survey of technologists revealed that more than 90.0% of respondents report some form of discrimination, and 100.0% report some form of harassment in the workplace. Girls make up only 31% of high school students enrolled in foundational computer science. Women only make up 3% of STEM industry CEOs.

If the country is to retain its global competitiveness, women and girls must be encouraged to pursue STEM studies and fields. They must also be protected and supported in the STEM workplace. The policies that can support these women should be examined by lawmakers. The Women in STEM Caucus provides a venue for these crucial conversations.

Please consider joining the Senate Women in STEM Caucus today.

You can contact Kelly_Riddle@rosen.senate.gov or Nancy_Teutle@rosen.senate.gov in Senator Rosen’s office, or Dana_Richter@capito.senate.gov or Brendan_Dailey@capito.senate.gov in Senator Capito Moore’s office to join. We look forward to working with the Caucus to support females in their pursuit of STEM.

Sincerely,
Society of Women Engineers
AnitaB.org
Association for Women in Mathematics
Association for Women in Science
Girls Inc.
Ignite Worldwide
National Council for Women & Information Technology

The AWM supports women and others of marginalized genders and gender identities as they pursue careers in the mathematical sciences.  The policy of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states: “All people should have access to the full spectrum of comprehensive, evidence-based health care. Abortion is an essential component of comprehensive, evidence-based health care” [1]. With the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has opened the door for states to severely limit access to healthcare for many in the United States, and this will have repercussions in the personal, educational, and professional lives of our community, present and future. There is a large and growing body of scientific research supporting the fact that losing access to critical aspects of healthcare adversely affects not only physical health, but mental health, relationships, and financial well-being [2][3]. Restrictions on access to vital services impacts mathematicians’ willingness to move to or stay in certain states for schools or jobs, limiting their career options, and will dissuade international students and collaborators from working in the United States [4].  While we recognize that this issue is complex and that individual members may disagree, the AWM denounces the Supreme Court’s decision to limit access to healthcare for millions of people within the United States.

[1] ACOG Abortion Policy https://www.acog.org/clinical-information/policy-and-position-statements/statements-of-policy/2022/abortion-policy

[2] ANSIRH: The Turnaway Study https://www.ansirh.org/research/ongoing/turnaway-study

[3] Implications of Restricting Access to Abortion by the Population Association of America: https://www.populationassociation.org/blogs/paa-web1/2022/06/10/implications-of-restricting-access-to-abortion

[4] Chronicle of Higher Education: The Demise of ‘Roe’ Will Weaken American Colleges https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-demise-of-roe-will-weaken-american-colleges

6/23/22 Update: The LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act has passed the House.

The AWM signed on to a letter in support of the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act H.R.4176. The companion bill is S.2287.

June 13, 2022
The Honorable Carolyn Maloney
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
2157 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Raúl Grijalva
House of Representatives
1511 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairwoman Maloney and Congressman Grijalva:

As a group of 90 organizations committed to the equity and inclusion of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexual and gender minority individuals (LGBTQI +), in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field s, we are writing to express our strong support for the amendment in the nature of a substitute and passage of the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act (H.R. 4176). This legislation will facilitate the collection of voluntary, self‐disclosed demographic data on sex,  gender identity, and sexual orientation across federal surveys. This, in turn, would have a transformative effect on advancing the equity of LGBTQI+ people in U.S. STEM fields, including those multiply marginalized by race, ethnicity, disability status, and economic background.

LGBTQI+ individuals are facing alarming disparities in U.S. STEM fields, which not only raise issues of equal opportunity but represent a waste of STEM talent. Our world faces complex and urgent scientific challenges, and all individuals wishing to contribute to science must be enabled to pursue their scientific potential. When groups of people are hindered from participating in STEM, we all lose as a society, and the competitiveness of the American science and technology enterprise is diminished. The welfare of LGBTQI+ scientists and engineers, who may go on to discover life saving treatments or develop groundbreaking technologies, is not only a moral imperative but also in our national interest. As the U.S. continues to face urgent STEM talent gaps, Congress has recognized that “underrepresented populations are the largest untapped STEM talent pools” and that “the United States should encourage full participation of individuals from underrepresented populations in STEM fields” (42 U .S.C. § 1862). Yet Congress and the federal government currently lack the necessary demographic data to inform policies that can address LGBTQI+ inequities and facilitate LGBTQI+ participation in STEM.

While a lack of sexual orientation and gender identity data in federal surveys, such as those administered by federal STEM agencies, is preventing researchers’ and policymakers’ comprehensive understanding of the inequities faced by LGBTQI+ scientists, what data do exist point to serious issues. LGBTQI+ people are estimated to be approximately 20% less represented in STEM fields than statistically expected, and they are less likely than non-LGBTQI+ people to 12 major in STEM, persist in STEM, earn STEM degrees, and be in STEM occupations. Harmful biases and unsupportive STEM environments appear to be partly at fault. LGBTQI+ scientists experience more career barriers and workplace harassment than non-LGBTQI+ scientists, even when controlling for other demographic and career-related factors.(2) From a prevalence standpoint, such career barriers can have an enormous impact on American science. LGBTQI+ people are estimated to currently comprise 7.1% of the U.S. population, and this number rises precipitously for younger generations who represent the future of American scientists, with 10.9% of Millennials and 22.8% of Gen-Z individuals identifying as LGBTQI+.(3)

Broader policy developments also bring into focus the need for passage of the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQI+ employees from employment discrimination,(4) and President Biden’s Executive Order 13988 strengthened these LGBTQI+ discrimination protections and extended them into the domains of education, housing, and immigration.(5) Comprehensive federal collection of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation data would facilitate the enforcement of these governmental protections. Moreover, the Equitable Data Working Group convened by President Biden’s Executive Order 13985 recently released recommendations calling for the establishment of standardized practices in the collection of these data across federal agencies.(6) We in the scientific community deeply understand the importance of empirical data. Federal agencies collect survey data on a broad spectrum of topics that inform national policy, and LGBTQI+ data inclusion is paramount both to continuing to develop a diverse and talented STEM workforce and to providing the data we need as scientists to improve the welfare of LGBTQI+ populations. Federal law already firmly protects the privacy and confidentiality of respondent data, and a recent pilot study by the National Science Foundation showed that respondents typical of federal STEM surveys overwhelmingly report feeling comfortable providing sexual orientation and gender identity data to federal agencies.(7) Moreover, two recent National Academies consensus reports have made clear that the collection of these data in federal surveys is strongly beneficial, highly feasible, and urgently needed.(8,9)

In short, we unequivocally support the amendment in the nature of a substitute and the passage of the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act (H.R. 4176), and we urge Congress to adopt it as quickly as possible. Thank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact Jon Freeman (jon.freeman@columbia.edu) with any questions.

Signed in partnership,

American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of University Professors
American Anthropological Association
American Educational Research Association
American Mathematical Society
American Psychological Association
American Society of Plant Biologists
American Sociological Association
Association for Science and Technology Centers
American Society for Engineering Education
Association for Women in Mathematics
Association for Women in Science
Consortium of Social Science Associations*
Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics*
Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences*
Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
Linguistic Society of America
Social and Affective Neuroscience Society
Society of Experimental Social Psychology
Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for the Study of Evolution
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Spectra
Out to Innovate
Out in STEM, Inc.
* These coalitions represent 64 additional organizations

1 Freeman, J. B. (2020). Measuring and resolving LGBTQ disparities in STEM. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 7, 141-148. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2372732220943232

2 Cech, E. A., & Waidzunas, T. J. (2021). Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM. Science Advances, 7, eabe0933. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/3/eabe0933

3 Gallup (2022). LGBT Identification in U.S. Ticks Up to 7.1%. https://news.gallup.com/poll/389792/lgbt-identification-ticksup.aspx

4 U.S. Supreme Court (2020). Bostock v. Clayton County. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-1618_hfci.pdf

5 White House (2021). Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation (2021). https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-preventing-andcombating-discrimination-on-basis-of-gender-identity-or-sexual-orientation/

6 White House (2022). Release of the Equitable Data Working Group Report. https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/newsupdates/2022/04/22/the-release-of-the-equitable-data-working-group-report/

7 Freeman, J. B. (2021). STEM disparities we must measure. Science, 374, 1333-1334. https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.abn1103

8 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2021). Understanding the Well-being of LGBTQI+ Populations. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25877/understanding-the-well-being-of-lgbtqi-populations

9 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2022). Measuring Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26424/measuring-sex-gender-identity-and-sexual-orientation

AWM signed on to a multi-organization letter, led by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), in support of the inclusion of Section 80303 of the America COMPETES Act into the final competiveness conference package.  “Inclusion of Section 80303 is an essential component to meeting the goals of the competitiveness legislation, as allowing doctoral, and in the case of critical industries, master’s students with STEM degrees to be exempt from caps on green cards and providing for dual intent to streamline the visa process will increase our global competitiveness by making it easier for the best and brightest scientists from around the world to conduct their careers in the United States.”

The Honorable Jerrold Nadler
Chairman, House Judiciary Committee
2132 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Dick Durbin
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
711 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Jim Jordan
Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee
2056 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Chuck Grassley
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Grassley, Chairman Nadler, and Ranking Member Jordan,
On behalf of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the undersigned organizations,
we wanted to express our appreciation for Congress’ recent work on the United States Innovation and
Competition Act (S. 1260) and the America COMPETES Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521). These bills are integral to
increasing the United States’ domestic competitiveness and present a unique opportunity for
investments in the STEM education and workforce ecosystem. While there are many provisions of the
competitiveness package that we support, we write today to thank the House Judiciary Committee for
its immigration provisions in the America COMPETES Act and encourage Congress to include the Section
80303 from H.R. 4521, or something similar such as Senator Durbin’s Keep STEM Talent Act of 2022
(S.3638), in the final conference package. Allowing doctoral, and in the case of critical industries,
master’s students with STEM degrees to be exempt from caps on green cards and providing for dual
intent to streamline the visa process will strengthen our global competitiveness by making it easier for
the best and brightest scientists from around the world to conduct their careers in the United States.
In addition to being supportive of Section 80303 from H.R. 4521, we encourage the definition of STEM
programs eligible for the green card cap exemption to be expanded to include all of the Department of
Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Program List. Expansion of the definition of eligible STEM
degrees would increase the number of professionals able to stay in the United States and contribute to
our innovation ecosystem. Additionally, we urge Congress to broaden the list of eligible institutions to
include all accredited public and non-profit institutions. The current eligibility requirements restrict the

waiving of the green card cap to graduates of institutions based on research expenditures or Minority-
Serving Institutions with very high or high levels of research activity as determined by the Carnegie

Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. These requirements leave out talented graduates from
many institutions across the United States and should be broadened to capture the full international
STEM talent pool.
The American system of higher education attracts the best and brightest students and scientists from
around the world, who contribute mightily to our economy and innovation ecosystem. The member
institutions of ASEE and the other undersigned organizations greatly benefit from the talent,
intelligence, work ethic, and diversity of thought that international faculty and students bring to their

The Honorable Dick Durbin
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
711 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Chuck Grassley
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

2
campuses. We are excited by the inclusion of Section 80303 in H.R. 4521, as it would make it easier for
STEM graduates to stay in the United States after graduation and use their skills and education to
contribute to our national innovation, economic development, and security, and hope to see Section
80303 included in the final conference legislation.
Sincerely,
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
American Anthropological Association
American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
American Mathematical Society
American Physical Society
American Psychological Association
American Sociological Association
American Society of Agronomy
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Plant Biologists
Association for Materials Protection and Performance
Association for Women in Mathematics
Biophysical Society
Council of Graduate Schools
Council of Scientific Society Presidents
Crop Science Society of America
Duke University
Ecological Society of America
Entomological Society of America
INFORMS
Materials Research Society
Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
New York University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Soil Science Society of America
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
UCLA
University of Maryland, College Park
University of New Hampshire
University of Oregon

The AWM has endorsed the following CBMS Statement (12/3/21).

Brief Abstract: The Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences (CBMS) promotes understanding and cooperation among national organizations in the mathematical and statistical sciences and their allied disciplines. As such, we envision a mathematical sciences professional community that values all colleagues and students and in which we work and learn together with respect and dignity. We embrace a vision for this community that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive. We acknowledge our collective culpability in discrimination, bias, and other forms of injustice and we commit ourselves to action and accountability in service of our vision.

See the full statement on the AWM Policy Statements page.

The AWM signed on to the following multi-society letter:

11 March 2022

President Joseph R. Biden. Jr., The White House
Secretary Antony Blinken, U.S. Department of State
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Senate
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, U.S. Senate

The undersigned organizations write to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and express our deep concern and strong support for the Ukrainian people during this time of crisis. We also urge quick Executive and Congressional action on immigration rules and research programs to aid Ukrainian students and researchers and their families in fleeing the country and establishing themselves elsewhere.

The scientific community of Ukraine is vibrant and contributes to the global advancement of knowledge and the progress of humanity. Ukrainian scientists, engineers, students, educators and their families are experiencing a violent occupation of their nation. Their lives are endangered, and a humanitarian crisis with long-lasting effects is unfolding.

Swift action by the Administration and Congress can make a significant, positive impact on the outcome of this crisis. Providing aid to Ukrainian students and researchers and their families is the right, moral, and imperative action that our leaders must immediately undertake. We are encouraged by and supportive of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent decision to designate Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months. This is a first step, as is this letter, but more needs to be done, and the scientific community is ready to continue working with the Administration and Congress to do so.

We urge the Administration to take the following steps, as needed:

  •  Agencies should use research programs—including grants, scholarships and stipends—to facilitate Ukrainian students and researchers establishing  themselves in the United States or friendly third-party nations where collaborations already exist;
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should expedite the issuance of travel documents, diplomatic notes, and letters of support to facilitate the evacuation of at-risk Ukrainian students and researchers;
  • USCIS should expedite refugee processing in third countries and support Ukrainian students and researchers awaiting U.S. visa approval without delay;
  • The State Department should designate Ukrainian students and researchers as admissible for refugee status under U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Priority 2 Designation;
  • Establish mechanisms for U.S. universities and research institutions to quickly enroll and hire these students and researchers; and
  •  Offer flexibility for Ukrainian students and researchers and their families for F, M, J, and O student and scholar visas.

We urge Congress to take the following steps, as needed:

  •  Implement any of the above measures legislatively, as needed;
  • Consider a legislative solution for Ukrainian students and researchers arriving on humanitarian parole and those currently in the U.S. to apply for legal residence; and
  • Pass and fund humanitarian aid legislation to support researchers in Ukraine.

The above steps will benefit not only Ukraine’s research community but the many refugees trying to escape the Russian government’s attack. We recognize that these are only some of the first steps that should be taken and that much follow-up will be needed by the broader U.S. research community. As always, we are available to serve as a resource as you consider our proposals.

Sincerely,

Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research; American Anthropological Association; American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research; American Association of Geographers; American Association of Physicists in Medicine; American Association of Physics Teachers; American Chemical Society; American Crystallographic Association; American Educational Research Association; American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering; American Institute of Biological Sciences; American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; American Society for Cell Biology; American Society of Agronomy; American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Association for Psychological Science; Association for Women in Mathematics; AVS – The Society for Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing; Coalition for the Life Sciences; Council of Scientific Society Presidents; Crop Science Society of America; Ecological Society of America; Entomological Society of America; International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium; Materials Research Society; National Science Policy Network; Optica (formerly OSA), Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society; Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD); Soil Science Society of America; SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics; The Biophysical Society

Several state-level laws and gubernatorial orders are aiming to revoke the hard-won rights of transgender people and the LGBTQ community in general. The AWM stands by our commitment to provide an inclusive and supportive community for all self-identified cis or transgender women, and those of marginalized genders and gender identities across the mathematical sciences. 

We are choosing to reiterate the words of our 2018 statement to call attention to the fact that basic human rights and the right to live with dignity are an ongoing battle, and not yet something that we have solved as a nation. 

To find out how you can help in your state, see the National Center for Transgender Equality’s State Action Center, and here are some ways to support trans youth in Texas.

The AWM signed on to a statement by the American Council on Education (ACE) on the importance of free academic inquiry and discourse in response to the actions of some state officials to prohibit teaching certain topics that they consider divisive.  From ACE’s website, “the statement emphasizes the role colleges and universities play in providing a forum in which issues can be debated, and how difficult fulfilling this role can be at this moment of intense division and politicization.”

Free and Open Academic Inquiry and Debate on Our Campuses is Essential to Our Democracy and National Well-being

March 3, 2022

Colleges and universities exist to examine complex issues, challenges, and ideas, and to provide a forum in which issues and opinions can be explored and openly debated. In our intensely politicized and divided country, with social media and societal silos coarsening already heated conversations, this can be extraordinarily challenging. Yet, fostering a rigorous and civil exchange of ideas has never been more important. To best serve American society, higher education institutions are committed to transparent intellectual inquiry and academic excellence, free speech, and civil discourse. It is incumbent on our governmental institutions to share and support this commitment. Efforts to suppress inquiry, curb discussion, and limit what can be studied violate the basic principles of free speech and an open exchange of ideas, and undermine the very purpose of higher education. Nonetheless, some elected officials have proposed measures foreclosing evaluation of complex and challenging ideas. The undersigned higher education associations and organizations—representing two- and four-year, public and private colleges and universities—believe this development threatens our civic health and the ability of the United States to compete globally. If American higher education is to continue to support our economy and national security as we always have done, an unshakable commitment to robust intellectual inquiry and engagement is required. Controversial and contentious topics deserve a place in the curriculum, but no matter how vigorous the classroom discussion, it should be respectful. Some campus speech is unacceptable, such as speech that violates the law, defames individuals, or threatens violence. Outside a few narrow exceptions, proposals to ban speech based on the idea expressed are not only constitutionally suspect but fundamentally at odds with the values of a free and open society. All members of the campus community must be able to speak their minds freely, even if some hold opinions that others find objectionable, factually unsupportable, or abhorrent. The answer to speech with which one disagrees is more speech, not enforced silence. Open academic inquiry and vigorous debate are core values of higher education, and America generally, and we must never waiver in our commitment to these vital principles.

To see the full list of  93 organizations signed on to the statement, see Community-Statement-on-Free-and-Open-Academic-Inquiry-030322.pdf on the American Council of Education’s website.

The AWM acknowledges continuing concerns around the 2022 ICM in St. Petersburg, Russia. Our 2018 statement (link) emphasized concerns about the safety of the LGBTQ+ community. Those concerns have compounded in recent months as political tensions mount. A petition by a group of Ukrainian mathematicians which calls attention to the political and ongoing turmoil is being circulated.

2/28/22 update:  “We, the Executive Committee of the IMU, have analyzed the situation carefully. We strongly condemn the actions by Russia. Our deepest sympathy goes to our Ukrainian colleagues and the Ukrainian people. Given this situation, it is impossible for the IMU to host the ICM and the GA as traditional in-person events in Russia.”  https://www.mathunion.org/fileadmin/IMU/ICM2022/ICM_2022_statement.pdf 

2021

On National STEM Day, Rosen & Capito Launch Senate’s First Women in STEM Caucus

“As the leading society for women in the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics actively works to support women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields,” said Kathryn Leonard, President of the Association for Women in Mathematics. “The Women in STEM Caucus would provide a bipartisan forum to discuss and prioritize ways to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly women from marginalized racial and ethnic groups. We need to draw on all our available talent to contribute to innovation and research in STEM so the US can continue its leading position in science and technology. We appreciate that Senators Rosen and Capito recognize that diverse voices and perspectives in STEM are necessary to keep up with fast-paced technological changes and solve the complex scientific problems that affect our society as a whole.”

The Hill: Senators launch bipartisan Women in STEM Caucus

“I think many people believe that the kind of gender issue is fixed, because we have made incredible strides,” said Kathryn Leonard, president of the Association for Women in Mathematics.

“We’ve made great strides, but we definitely have a long way still to go. And particularly with the challenges that are facing the world at the moment, many of them require us to have the strongest possible STEM solutions that we can, and in order to get those we really need to strengthen the diversity in STEM fields. We need all voices and sources of creativity to expand the economy and spur innovation. And frankly, to make sure that we continue to be the leader that we have been in science and technology,” Leonard added.

The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) appreciates the opportunity to submit policy recommendations in response to the Biden  Administration’s FY 2023 multi-agency R&D priorities to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

These include:

  • Pandemic readiness and prevention
  • Tackling climate change and spurring energy innovation
  • Catalyze research and innovation in critical and emerging technologies
  • STEM education, engagement, and innovation for equity
  • National security and economic resilience

For the full letter, see the CNSF Letter on FY23 to OMB on the CNSF site here and the full letter (PDF).

The AWM endorsed the 2021 version of the Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act, introduced by Congresswoman Maloney (D-NY) [press release] and Senator Hirono (D-HI) [press release] with the following statement:

 As the leading national society for women in the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics actively works to support women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act would provide financial and logistical support at all levels of education, which will help to address both the recruitment and retention issues in this crucial sector. By funding programs that encourage a broader population to join the STEM pipeline, and also provide the support to anchor women and minorities in those careers, this Act addresses major factors which influence the educational and professional success of our membership at a national level. We appreciate that ​Rep. Maloney and Senator Hirono recognize that diverse voices and perspectives in STEM are necessary to keep up with fast-paced technological changes and solve the complex scientific problems that affect our society as a whole.

Women of Color: Who Really Does Tell Their stories?

by Sherli Koshy-Chenthittayil, on behalf of the EvenQuads Project Management Committee (sarah-marie belcastro (Chair), Sherli Koshy-Chenthittayil, Linda McGuire, Monica Morales Hernandez, Denise Rangel Tracy, Oscar Vega) 

On May 3, Dr Courtney Gibbons posted a timely and relevant blog post on the AMS inclusion/exclusion blog, titled ‘Women of Color: Who Tells Their Stories? (and why it matters)’. 

It speaks to the whiteness of traditional institutions, how privilege works, and how it often detrimentally affects women of color. I couldn’t agree more with the theme of this article. I am a woman of color, a wheelchair user, and an immigrant. Dr. Gibbons bravely called out institutional microaggressions and spoke courageously about the whiteness of the AWM leadership, and similarly the AMS leadership. I applaud Dr. Gibbons for writing about these themes. 

What I take umbrage to is the less-than-factual description of the incident that Dr. Gibbons used to highlight these important topics. For those who have not read the article, Dr. Gibbons uses the example of Dr. Pamela E. Harris’s experience of being featured in the EvenQuads deck project to highlight these highly important topics. 

Full disclosure here: My name is Dr. Sherli Koshy-Chenthittayil. I am a postdoctoral scholar, an Indian immigrant, a wheelchair user, and I am one of four mathematicians of color on the six-member EvenQuads Project Management Committee for AWM. 

In this blog post, I want to speak to facts. I am not and will not be speaking to our intentions. I will assume, like Dr. Gibbons kindly did, that we are all operating from places of good intention. As a mathematician of color with several of my identities firmly in the marginalized column, the title of Dr. Gibbons’s blog resonated deeply with me—Women of Color: Who tells their stories? —because this incident forms a keen part of my own personal story. I, and my colleagues, were sadly not afforded the chance to speak our side in the narrative that has been created about us on social media and in the blogosphere. 

Responding to the charges in Dr. Courtney Gibbons’ blog post 

Professor Harris being kept out of the loop, or “Months after the initial invitation, Prof. Harris received no further communication about the process, the biographical information which would be included, or the image that would be used on the card” after her nomination: My colleagues and I had several lovely conversations, via email, with Dr. Pamela E. Harris. (Another disclosure: I was honored to collaborate with Dr. Harris on https://www.mathvalues.org/masterblog/using-2020-spring-student-experience-data-to-inform-fut ure-course-planning).

  • Honorees were notified of the below: “We are reaching out to you for several reasons: Do you want to opt out of being featured in this deck? If not, do you have a preferred photo you would like us to give to the artist? (We will not use the photo on the deck, all portraits will be drawn.) Is it okay if the biography writer contacts you? (They are writing a short 250 word biography.)”
  •  Less than 60% of those contacted gave permission to be contacted about the biographical profile, and only about 75% responded at all. 
  • Dr. Harris suggested a student artist for her portrait and her choice of artist was used.
  • We notified the honorees of the Kickstarter campaign for the first EvenQuads deck. During the Kickstarter campaign, we wrote pieces for CMMS, the AWM newsletter, and the AMS Living Proof blog about the cards and the stories they would tell.
  • At no point were we contacted by Dr. Harris about her biography and the story she would like to tell.
  • Not asking the honorees to review their bios was a committee decision, after discussion weighing many factors including the burden placed on honorees and also equity among honorees because we couldn’t find contact info for all living honorees and the dead honorees’ estates; we recognize that not everyone would agree with our decision, but it was made in a deliberative way. The biographies were written by many faculty and student volunteers who wrote about what inspired them about each mathematician.

The incorrect statement that Dr. Harris is a co-founder of the Center for Minorities in Mathematical Sciences (CMMS): 

When the EvenQuads committee was informed of the error: 

  • We apologized via email. Our response was within 5 hours of Dr. Harris’s email to the AWM leadership (copied to one committee member) on a Saturday evening. Any perceived delay in responding can be attributed to consultation among several committee members and correspondence arriving over a weekend (when many read email less frequently).
  • We also apologized to Dr. Michael Young, the founder of CMMS.

Suggestion to “Commit to specific actions that will address the wrong” 

The committee has taken the following actions, all prior to the publishing of the Inclusion/Exclusion blog post and in consultation with AWM leadership. 

  • An erratum has been posted with Dr. Harris’s web biography
  • The error has been corrected for all future printings of the deck by replacing the erroneous sentence, and Dr. Harris verified that the replacement sentence is correct.
  • Substitute cards are being printed to be distributed with unsold decks from the first printing. Additional substitute cards are being printed so that current deck owners can exchange their original cards for corrected cards (for example at in-person meetings).
  • Living honorees have been invited to contribute to the website associated with the cards, to add new information, provide updates about their activities and status, and share other aspects of their lives.

Many of the above actions were not yet made public because they are still in process, but Dr. Harris was informed of them as they were decided. We are keen to know what additional steps we could have taken or should take to rectify this error. 

White Supremacy and its adverse effects: We couldn’t agree more. As holders of intersectional identities, some of us have lived experiences in fighting white supremacy. How can we help with the fight? We want to work, support, and be part of this collaborative effort. 

Dr. Gibbons may be right about AWM and its structural whiteness. But to reiterate, the EvenQuads committee that created this deck is made up of women (83%) and POC (67%), whose side of the story she didn’t seek. In uplifting the story of one mathematician of color, the blog post and related social media discussion effectively erased the contributions and efforts of other mathematicians of color in bringing this project to life. 

In the past month, as fellow people of color, we have felt exhausted and stressed out by the attacks related to this issue/controversy. We want to make this better. We have apologized and continue to hold ourselves accountable for our error. 

In case you are wondering, here’s some information about our project. 

What is the EvenQuads Project? 

The EvenQuads 4-deck project is in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Association for Women in Mathematics, and is managed by volunteers (67% people of color, 83% women). The EvenQuads decks are not just for playing games, but also intended to honor women mathematicians. One side of each card in the EvenQuads deck features a profile of a woman mathematician who has made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. Dr. Pamela E. Harris is one of our first 64 highlighted EvenQuads mathematicians. 

Our Process

The EvenQuads Committee, an entirely volunteer committee of AWM members, has been working on this project for the past two years. We solicited information from the community about which mathematicians to feature, got consent from said mathematicians about being featured on the EvenQuads deck, and used volunteers to create images to accompany the biographies of the mathematicians. The honorees, who include Dr. Pamela E. Harris, were kept informed of the process (including but not limited to the fact that we would collate their biographical information from publicly available sources). 

We welcome additional feedback, suggestions of additional women to consider as future honorees, and offers of help with the project. Please see the project website for more information.

The AWM supports the sentiments in the open letter by MRSI regarding COVID-19 Advocacy. Full letter here: https://www.msri.org/covid19advocacy

We are writing to express our concern about the future of the profession and the career paths of early career mathematical scientists. Our focus is on the impact of COVID on the careers of researchers with children and those who find themselves as caregivers (most often women). Additionally, with conferences cancelled and chances for in-person interaction severely diminished, almost no new collaborations have been started. Existing ones have often been halted. Time and space slated for research have been blended with people’s personal time and space. The mathematical sciences thrive on the continuing influx of new ideas and the pandemic has slowed this flow to a small drip. In addition, the shift of teaching and research to remote settings, typically at home, has increased the burden of balancing work and life obligations, and this stress has been felt acutely by our colleagues who are also caregivers to children and aging relatives. Our goal in this letter is to help ensure the good health of the profession by suggesting ideas that could alleviate some of the damaging effects of the pandemic on those in our field who are most vulnerable. We would like this letter also to contribute to a future where mathematicians currently employed in temporary positions, and future job applicants, will have a chance to flourish and participate in the growth of the discipline.

The Association of Women in Mathematics (AWM) is saddened by the increased occurrence of violent attacks towards members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The recent killings in Atlanta of some members of the AAPI community and other innocent bystanders is another  devastating example of the violence perpetuated towards this community.

We in AWM are dedicated to upholding our commitment to celebrate, recognize and support a diverse mathematical community of individuals from across the spectrum of age, race, gender, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, religion and religious belief, marital status, parental status, body shape or size, sexual orientation, physical ability, socioeconomic status, employment status and all other aspects of diversity.

As Congress develops additional legislation to implement the “American Rescue Plan” and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coalition for National Science Funding asks that you [Congressional leaders] address the challenges faced by the scientific research community, specifically the need to restore the research enterprise and safeguard our nation’s research workforce. We encourage Congress to include $3 billion in emergency relief for the National Science Foundation (NSF) while providing relief to all federal science agencies.

For the full letter, see CNSF NSF Research Relief Letter linked from the CNSF Statements page.

2020

Along with more than 170 organizations and institutions, the AWM signed on to the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)’s  letter to Congressional leadership urging swift action to complete work on the FY 2021 appropriations bills.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:

The undersigned organizations and institutions, representing hundreds of thousands of individuals and entities working in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics, urge you to complete work on the fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations bills without delay. The disruption created by short and long-term continuing resolutions (CRs) has severe consequences for science and research. The public health and economic crises caused by COVID-19 further compound the negative effects of unpredictable funding; as such, in addition to finalizing the annual funding levels for science agencies and programs, we urge enactment of emergency research relief funding to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal investments across more than two dozen defense and nondefense agencies provide the lifeblood for research, discovery, innovation and development in the United States, driving one of the most powerful engines for American prosperity and global leadership. Failing to complete work on the appropriations bills
that fuel this engine in a timely manner impedes our ability to not only respond and recover from COVID- 19, but also to address persistent and fundamental challenges such as chronic and infectious diseases, food and energy security, national security and natural disasters—all of which require advancements in science and technology fostered through federal investments.

As we continue to grapple with the pandemic, federal science and public health agencies need certainty— their activities are put at risk by disruptive, long-term CRs that stand in the way of new programming and long-term planning. Earlier this year, many researchers, students, post-docs and laboratory personnel across all scientific disciplines were forced to close facilities and suspend their work as a result of quarantine requirements. Disruptions of this magnitude have implications not only for the research workforce, but also on the process of scientific discovery. Recently released data from the Council on Governmental Relations show research output dropped between 20 – 40 percent in the first six months of the pandemic with a potential impact in the tens of billions of dollars across the research enterprise.

Scientific research cannot be turned on and off like a faucet, and ramping back up after a closure will take time and can be a costly endeavor.
We call on you to work in a bipartisan manner and without delay to complete work on the FY 2021 spending bills and provide emergency research relief funding so that we can not only move beyond COVID-19, but also continue to lead the world in science and innovation and improve the health, security and economic strength of our nation. Our organizations and our members stand ready to work with you toward this goal. Thank you for considering our request.

The AWM signed on to the CNSF letter which begins:

The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) is an alliance of more than 130 professional organizations, scientific societies, universities, and businesses united in our advocacy for the National Science Foundation (NSF). CNSF supports the goal of increasing the national investment in NSF’s research and educational programs in response to the scientific, technological, and economic challenges facing the United States. CNSF appreciates the opportunity to submit the following policy and key personnel recommendations to President-elect Biden and the transition team.

NSF plays a key role in advancing all four priorities identified by the Biden Administration:sparking innovation that will be central to long-term economic recovery,supporting critical research in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and the related social and education consequences the pandemic has wrought,progressing racial equity and justice especially as it relates to broadening participation in STEM fields,and funding research and technology development to adapt to and combat climate change.

For the full letter, see CNSF Transitions Recommendations linked from the CNSF Statements page.

The AWM expresses concern about the “new immigration regulations recently published by the Trump administration that will harm the mathematics community,” as described in the AMS’ Capital Currents blog on 10/16/20.

The AWM endorses the following open letter, published by the European Women in Maths, addressing the Corona Crisis’ impact on junior and women mathematicians and suggesting proactive measures that universities, governments, and funding agencies can take to support these groups.

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing full and partial lockdowns that this year swept across Europe and the world are unprecedented. Not all of the aftereffects are negative: As a group we have broadened our skills and horizons in digital teaching and online seminars. But the net impact on research and training in academia has been disastrous: Conferences were cancelled and collaborations stood still. Time slated for research splintered among the competing demands of home-schooling, eldercare, and quarantines. Networking and mentorship stalled. Common but often unaddressed mental health issues mushroomed – at a time when getting help was harder than ever.

Let us be clear about one fact:

We did not experience the crisis equally.

Untenured faculty lost more. Women lost more. Caregivers lost more. The more vulnerable the population, the greater the disadvantage.

No one chooses a pandemic, but now we can choose how to respond. We are writing to advocate a proactive policy to support current employees in temporary positions and future job applicants in Mathematics in light of the Corona Crisis.
We focus on:

  • Untenured mathematicians, because the loss of travel and training opportunities, the slow-down in research productivity, and the uncertainty of the job market is most likely to have a long-term impact on their careers.
  • Women, because statistically, women shoulder more of the burden of caregiving (for children and the elderly) and domestic tasks (for which help and other supports recently disappeared).
  • Parents, because the shuttering of daycares and schools left them stranded. Suddenly and unexpectedly, parents had to provide constant care for young children and home-schooling for older children.

A proactive policy should not be gender-blind:
While acknowledging the role that some men play in caregiving, we recognize that statistically, women play a significantly larger role. Hence we are concerned that we may lose talented women mathematicians during and following this crisis. Women may choose to leave their profession or reduce their hours. Women in temporary positions may choose security and “settle” for lesser positions. Young women may opt not to pursue careers in science. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequities in mathematics and other sciences. And gender-blind measures do not correct gender inequity.

To those who say we should relax and trust the system, we remark that the system has not produced a gender-balanced representation in the sciences to date and it would be naive to expect an automatic correction in the face of enormous burdens.

To those who say that parents should take unpaid leave if childcare has been disruptive during the pandemic, we remark there is a difference between facing challenges and being unable to satisfy one’s job requirements. The vast majority of scientists work tirelessly – far beyond their contractual obligations – to achieve their goals. The accomplishments of parents during the pandemic – for both the workplace and the home – should be recognized, not penalized.

We advocate the following proactive measures:

  • We encourage universities, governments, and funding agencies to invest in extending the contracts of researchers in temporary positions to offset the loss of productivity during the crisis. We advocate that these extensions give particular consideration to women. Perhaps savings due to cancelled travel and workshops can be redirected for this purpose.
  • We encourage universities and funding agencies to award release from teaching or teaching reductions to untenured mathematicians who lost significant research time to digital teaching and caregiver responsibilities, again giving particular consideration to women. In case such measures are not possible, we advocate for allocating additional support via student assistants or other resources to reduce the teaching demands on junior colleagues.
  • Evaluators on Hiring, Tenure, Prize, Grant, and other committees should be reminded that the crisis has impacted individuals very differently. It should be not the years past PhD but an academic age, corrected for parental and other leaves, that is the standard quantifier measured by committee members. Women with dependent children should be automatically eligible (although not required) to subtract up to 12 months from their academic age – for the purpose of hiring, grant eligibility, tenure deadlines, etc – due to disruptions from the COVID- 19 pandemic. Men with minor children or researchers involved in eldercare during the crisis will be eligible if they can demonstrate that they were responsible for caregiving.
  • We advocate flexibility in deadlines and meeting times especially for women with dependent children. The disruptions of the crisis may mean that it takes longer to review an article, finish a grant application, or return galley proofs. An early afternoon meeting might not be possible. Circumstances vary and allowing open conversations about needs and constraints is a necessary condition for a healthy workplace.

These are anxious times. The lockdowns may return. Europe needs more women in the sciences. Europe believes in the rights of dual-career families. Our response to the pandemic – whether swift and supportive or slow and cynical – will have broad and lasting impact. Let us shape smart policy to recruit and retain a diverse group of talented young scientists.

The AWM remains concerned about the fate of international students who attend US colleges and universities. On Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7, ICE announced SEVP modifications to temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during the fall 2020 semester.  The modifications require students with F-1 or M-1 visas to leave the country or face deportation if their courses are delivered entirely online.  The AWM also views the ICE announcement as part of two larger trends: first, xenophobic U.S. foreign policy that intentionally dehumanizes non-citizens; and second, policies that undermine the mission of higher education to provide world-class education to citizens and non-citizens alike. The AWM applauds Harvard and MIT for pursuing legal action against this order and encourages other colleges and universities to file amicus briefs in support of the lawsuit.

We reiterate part of our June 17, 2020 Response to Planned Suspension of Chinese Student Visas:

Global academic and scientific exchange is crucial to solving the biggest problems that affect our world as a whole. International students and scholars are drawn to the intellectual richness of United States’ universities, and they are strong contributors to the innovations essential to strengthening our nation’s economy and improving the lives of all residents. They serve as goodwill ambassadors in their home countries when they return…. Our country’s reputation as a valuable place to study is crucial to attracting the top international talent to pursue graduate work at universities in the United States, moving our country’s scientific understanding forward. According to the AMS’ Annual Survey, in the 2016-2017 academic year, 46% of new mathematics doctorates awarded at large and medium-sized public institutions went to non-U.S. citizens. 

We recognize the many contributions that international students make to the U.S. intellectual community, and we reject the idea that students’ place in the mathematics community is subject to their productivity or profitability to the U.S., or to their financial contributions to U.S. institutions of higher education. We take it as an axiom that students belong in our institutions and departments, full stop.

The AWM encourages its U.S. membership to:

References: 

On September 22, 2020, the White House released a new Executive Order (EO), “to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.”  The EO addresses trainings within the United States Uniformed Services and for all Government Contractors, specifically banning those that present what is deemed “divisive concepts.” The government’s list of such topics includes institutional racism, defined in 1999 by Sir William Macpherson as “processes, attitudes and behaviour that amount to discrimination through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.”  The EO also calls out specific examples of training that asks participants to “acknowledge their privilege” as perpetuating racial stereotypes and division.

Studies abound on structural racism as it pertains to everything from housing to health outcomes. Relevant to the AWM, the National Academies released a consensus report earlier this year providing evidence that women in STEMM fields “face barriers, including: implicit and explicit bias; sexual harassment; unequal access to funding and resources; pay inequity; higher teaching and advising loads; and fewer speaking invitations, among others.”  Just earlier this month, a letter in Science magazine entitled “Systemic racism in higher education” highlighted numerous studies on the biases built into our current academic system.

In response to the EO, the American Educational Research Association published a letter in support of anti-racist education.  In that letter, they write, “Just as a democratic society needs to support the production of scientific and scholarly knowledge free of political manipulation or intrusion, we need educational systems that are not politicized and censored, but rather seek the truth by exploring even the most difficult truths.”  The EO seeks to curtail the ability for federally funded institutions to understand the most difficult truths about themselves, including the social, structural, and institutional hierarchies that lead to unbalanced representation within the mathematical professions. We urge our members to continue to request and participate in workshops and trainings aimed at making mathematics just, welcoming, and representative.

Reiterating our 6/10/20 statement on the Strike for Black Lives, “the mission of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to inspire and empower students, faculty, and researchers and work to bring about institutional and societal change benefiting all.” As we work towards improving our organization, it is a crucial first step to acknowledge and address how we are a part of a system that has failed to support and uplift women of color in math, Black women especially. We cannot stand by as this EO bars those supported by federal funds from doing the same.

References:

The AWM endorses House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s recently introduced bill, the Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act.

This legislation creates a new postdoctoral fellowship program at the National Science Foundation to help keep early career researchers whose employment opportunities have been impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis in the STEM pipeline. The goal of this fellowship program would be to prevent the loss of research talent due to job market disruptions caused by any economic decline during and after the pandemic.

–Press Release, 08/14/20

The AWM signed on to this letter urging the administration to reverse its decision to bypass the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention in the collection of COVID-19 patient data. Nearly 100 organizations joined the letter, and it was shared with the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

July 17, 2020

The Honorable Mike Pence
The White House
Office of the Vice President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

The Honorable Deborah Birx, MD
Coronavirus Task Force Response Coordinator
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

The Honorable Alex M. Azar II
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Vice President Pence, Ambassador Birx and Secretary Azar:

The undersigned organizations write with urgency to strongly recommend that the administration immediately reverse its decision to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the collection and analysis of COVID-19 patient data. Our organizations represent healthcare  providers, public health professionals, researchers and scientists, other healthcare professionals and patient advocates who have been central in responding to the pandemic.

Maintain the integrity of COVID-19 data. The administration’s abrupt decision to establish a new data collection procedure that bypasses the CDC as a recipient of data on patients hospitalized with COVID- 19 is alarming and will undermine efforts to control the pandemic at a time when  COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are surging across the country. A core function of the CDC is to collect and report public health data and this important work is led by trained experts with the infrastructure necessary to ensure the validity and accuracy of the data in addition to protecting data from misuse. Placing medical data collection outside of the CDC puts the quality and integrity of the data at risk threatening to seriously
undermine our country’s response to COVID-19.

Keep public health data public. COVID-19 data collection and reporting must be done in a transparent manner and must not be politicized, as these data are essential to informing an effective response to the pandemic and to establishing public trust in the response. Data transparency is particularly critical in the midst of an unprecedented national health crisis that is  disproportionately impacting certain segments of the U.S. population, including Black/African American, Latinx and Native American communities. Widely accessed COVID-19 tracking sites have already lost access to ICU hospitalization data – a key indicator for monitoring the state of the pandemic.

Invest in CDC data reporting. Rather than investing in a new data collection mechanism and reporting infrastructure, we strongly urge the administration to provide funding to enhance data collection and strengthen the role of CDC to collect and report COVID-19 data by race and ethnicity, hospital and ICU capacity, total number of tests and percent positive, hospitalizations and deaths. This critical function belongs with our nation’s top public health agency.

Data is critical to the state and local response. The availability of accurate hospital data, coupled with other public health indicators, is essential for the state and local response. Jurisdictions need situational awareness about bed availability, shortages of supplies  and personal protective equipment, and other healthcare needs in order to coordinate the response. Creating duplicate, siloed data reporting systems may make it harder for jurisdictions to get an accurate picture of the pandemic and limit visibility across neighboring states and localities.

Reliable, comprehensive and timely data are essential to monitor and evaluate the state of the pandemic and to inform an effective response, including the distribution of essential supplies and treatment. We urge you not to advance the new data collection plan any further and instead consult with the public health and healthcare communities to discuss effective strategies for ensuring the availability of the data we all need and want to bring the pandemic under control in the U.S.

AcademyHealth
AIDS Alabama
American Academy of HIV Medicine
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta
AIDS United
Alabama Rise
American Association for Anatomy
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Geographers
American Association on Health and Disability
American Association of Immunologists
American College of Nuclear Medicine
American College of Physicians
American Educational Research Association
American Institute of Biological Sciences
American Lung Association
American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
American Public Health Association
American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
American Sociological Association
American Statistical Association
American Thoracic Society
American Urological Association

amfAR, Foundation for AIDS Research
APIC – Association for Professionals in
Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association for Prevention Teaching and Research
Association for Women in Mathematics
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Population Centers
Association of Public Data Users
Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
AVAC
Big Cities Health Coalition
Biophysical Society
Black AIDS Institute
Broom Center for Demography
Cascade AIDS Project
Center for Population Health and Aging
Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology, University of Washington
Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences
Consortium of Social Science Associations
Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics
CUNY Institute for Demographic Research, City University of New York
Duke Population Research Center
Endocrine Society
Entomological Society of America
Epilepsy Foundation
Every Texan
Georgians for a Healthy Future
GLMA: Health Professionals
Advancing LGBTQ Equality
GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer
HealthHIV
Health Care for All (Massachusetts)
HIV Medicine Association
Hoosier Action
Infectious Diseases Society of America
International & American Associations for Dental Research
IRMA – International Rectal Microbicide Advocates
Lakeshore Foundation
Lambda Legal
Mathematical Association of America
MDRC
Medical Care Section – American Public Health Association
Mercy Care
National Black Nurses Association
Natural Science Collections
AllianceNeighborhood Health
New Mexico Center on Law & Poverty
North Carolina AIDS Action Network
Northwest Health Law Advocates
Oklahoma Policy Institute
Population Association of America
Prevent Blindness
Prevention Access Campaign
Prevention Institute
Protect Our Healthcare RI
Research!America
Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Society of General Internal Medicine
Southern AIDS Coalition
Spina Bifida Association
Tennessee Health Care Campaign
Tennessee Justice Center
Tennessee Primary Care Association
Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy/Texas Impact
The Hopkins Population Center
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
The Society for Public Health Education
The Well Project
Thrive Alabama
Trust for America’s Health
University of Colorado Population Center
Utah Health Policy Project
UW Population Health Institute
WNAR, International Biometrics Society

The AWM expresses grave concerns in response to the planned cancellation of visas of Chinese students who attended or are currently attending certain universities. In particular, the President’s May 29 Proclamation states that “the entry of certain nationals of the PRC seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an F or J visa to study or conduct research in the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” 

Global academic and scientific exchange is crucial to solving the biggest problems that affect our world as a whole. International students and scholars are drawn to the intellectual richness of United States’ universities, and they are strong contributors to the innovations essential to strengthening our nation’s economy and improving the lives of all residents. They serve as goodwill ambassadors in their home countries when they return.

If enacted, these rules may seriously impact scientific exchanges with international colleagues at conferences and in-person collaborations based in the United States in both the short and long-term. Our country’s reputation as a valuable place to study is crucial to attracting the top international talent to pursue graduate work at universities in the United States, moving our country’s scientific understanding forward. According to the AMS’ Annual Survey, in the 2016-2017 academic year, 46% of new mathematics doctorates awarded at large and medium-sized public institutions went to non-U.S. citizens. The AWM understands the need to maintain the security of the United States, but any regulations adopted for that purpose must be precise and carefully considered. We also express concern that, while this legislation only applies to graduate students and researchers who have direct ties to universities in China affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, it sets a dangerous precedent that could easily lead to more sweeping and more damaging restrictions in the future. 

For more details, see the National Law Review’s article and the associated proposed legislation on Senator Cotton’s website.

The Association for Women in Mathematics, the American Mathematical Society,  and Andrea Bertozzi,  announce the cancellation of her Noether Lecture at the 2021 JMM.  This decision comes as many of this nation  rise up in protest over racial discrimination and brutality by police.

We at AWM  apologize for our insensitivity in the timing of the announcement last week of the lecturer and the pain it caused. We recognize that we have ongoing work to do in order to be an organization that fights for social justice, and we are committed to doing what is necessary.  The AWM  reaffirms our commitment to stand by the Black community against police brutality and racism (6/1/20 statement below).

As a member organization of the CNSF, AWM signed on to a letter urging a quick confirmation for the new Director of the NSF.

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer,

The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – a broad-based group of professional organizations, universities, scientific societies, and businesses – wants to thank Congress for its consistent support for fundamental scientific research and educational programs supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). As the only federal agency charged with the promotion of scientific progress across all scientific and engineering disciplines, NSF is the cornerstone of America’s basic research enterprise.

We urge you to swiftly allow a vote on Dr. Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan’s nomination to become the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) following his recent unanimous approval by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  In this time of national crisis, NSF needs strong leadership to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, develop solutions and understanding to strengthen our resilience, and ensure our national science and technology competitiveness.

Dr. Panchanathan has served as a member of the National Science Board, NSF’s advisory body, since 2014, providing him an in-depth understanding of the agency and its current goals. This, along with his service in various Chief Research Officer roles at Arizona State University since 2010, make him exceptionally qualified for the position.

Dr. Panchanathan’s nomination comes as the United States faces new and novel threats from global adversaries and seeks to maintain its title as the innovation capital of the world. His confirmation will allow NSF to continue its long legacy of investing in essential basic research and supporting the growth of the American scientific enterprise.

The letter, with the full list of signing organizations, can be found on the CNSF’s website here.

The mission of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to inspire and empower students, faculty, and researchers and work to bring about institutional and societal change benefiting all. The AWM cannot inspire and empower those who are not safe in their daily lives. 

The AWM supports the Strike for Black Lives (#Strike4BlackLives) on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 to bolster the works of #BlackLivesMatter, #ShutDownSTEM and #ShutDownMath (see www.particlesforjustice.org/strike-details and www.shutdownstem.com). The strike is in response to the murders of Black people at the hands of police, and, as an association for women, we would like to specifically name Breonna Taylor and Atatania Jefferson among those lost to police violence.

For non-Black people, the strike is not a day off; it’s a day to take action for Black lives. In addition to the recommendations at particlesforjustice.org, the AWM recommends the following:

  •  Listen by following the Twitter hashtag #BlackInTheIvory. These stories are from Black students and faculty sharing their experiences with racism in academia. The tweets are difficult to read; they are raw and full of anger and emotion — as they should be. 
  • Learn from https://mathematicallygiftedandblack.com/. This website provides a history of contributions to the mathematical sciences by Black mathematicians and spotlights Black people who are currently doing mathematics research. They tell the stories of struggle and success and each highlighted mathematician gives words of advice to help others succeed.
  • Read the African American Policy Forum’s #SayHerName Report plus the  demands, recommendations, and resources.

Institutional change will not occur overnight.  The AWM acknowledges its failures in supporting and uplifting women of color in math, Black women especially.  The AWM’s leadership will participate in the strike to listen, learn, and envision the path toward the AWM’s becoming an anti-racist organization — not just an inclusive one.

The Association for Women in Mathematics and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics stand in solidarity with those protesting systemic racism in the United States, racism that includes police brutality and killing that disproportionately affects Black Americans. According to the Washington Post, police shootings kill Black Americans at a rate of almost three times that of White Americans (30 per million as compared to 12 per million). Black mathematicians and students of mathematics face racial injustice every day. In this national moment of awareness and societal recommitments to principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, we acknowledge our debt to the National Association of Mathematicians for their leadership in those areas:

The National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) is a non-profit professional organization in the mathematical sciences with membership open to all persons interested in the mission and purpose of NAM, which are promoting excellence in the mathematical sciences and promoting the mathematical development of all underrepresented minorities. NAM was founded under the principles of inclusion and diversity at a time when major American mathematical organizations were excluding mathematicians of color from their membership, editorial boards, research symposia, and other professional activities. 

Retrieved from https://www.nam-math.org/, June 1, 2020

We encourage our members to support, amplify, and uplift NAM and its 51 years of work in support of a world in which our Black colleagues and students are able to participate freely and fully in mathematics without the direct and indirect psychic tolls of being Black in mathematics and Black in the United States of America.

Recognizing the role that higher education has played in maintaining structures of inequality, we urge our community to take concrete steps for change, within the mathematical community as well as in society at large, such as:

  1. Donate to NAM: https://www.nam-math.org/payment.html
  2. Lobby your city for increased funding for social programs and education, and for increased accountability for police violence. Many cities have organizations already devoted to this, such as local chapters of Black Lives Matter.  
  3. Educate yourselves about the history of systemic racism in the US and the movements dedicated to overturning it. Places to start might be Chanda Prescod-Weinstein’s Decolonising Science Reading List and Movement for Black Lives. 
  4. Dedicate some of the time you spend on professional service to advancing the careers of BIPOC students and researchers. Mathematically Gifted and Black is a resource that celebrates the work of Black mathematicians.
  5. Learn about Bystander Intervention and how you can use your social position to intervene and deescalate racialized confrontations.

We have substantial work to do. In the 2015-2016 AMS report on new doctorates, of the 1026 US citizens who earned PhDs in math, 29 (2.8%) identified as Black or African-American, while Black and African-American citizens make up approximately 13% the US population (2010 Census Briefs: The Black Population). 

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education announced its changes to the required enforcement of Title IX at colleges and universities, in particular strengthening protections for those accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment. During the open comment period in 2019, the AWM objected strongly to the proposed changes.

We highlight the particular provisions of concern here, but the full statement by AWM Past President Ami Radunskya is available below.

The new rules 

  • Narrow the definition of sexual harassment, which allows schools to ignore all but the most extreme cases of inappropriate behavior;
  • Limit the responsibility of schools to incidents that occur only on the campus, which leaves students living and participating in activities off-campus unprotected; 
  • Raise the standard of proof for victims, which is likely to discourage reporting;
  • Reduce the number of school employees who are mandatory reporters, which is expected to result in under-reporting of incidents.

None of the concerns raised by the AWM have been alleviated in the changes. Therefore, we stand by our original comments.

Additionally, the AWM is critical of the timing of these changes and their required implementation of August 14, 2020. Our educational system is currently dealing with the unprecedented stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, both financially logistically. Campuses are still working through the implementation of online learning and services on short notice and with limited resources. Changes to the Title IX processes will only add to the chaos. 

For more information about the changes, see this article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Copy of Original Comments on Proposed Changes:

Date: January 4, 2019

Agency: Department of Education (ED)
Document Type: Rulemaking

Title: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Document ID: ED-2018-OCR-0064-0001
Comment:
My name is Ami Radunskaya and I am writing to you in my role as President of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). The AWM is the leading national society for women in the mathematical sciences with a mission to support and encourage girls and women in mathematics at all stages of their education and careers. As an organization, we are keenly aware of the continuing prevalence of sexual harassment in the mathematical sciences. On behalf of the AWM, I want to convey how deeply troubled we are by the proposed changes to Title IX, elaborated in the discussion below, that will only make the situation worse.
—Narrowing the definition of sexual harassment: In the proposed rules, “unwelcome sexual conduct” would only rise to the level of sexual harassment (as prohibited by Title IX) if it is “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive” that it effectively denies “a person equal access to” an “education program or activity.” Instead of protecting students on the receiving end of unwanted sexual advances, this proposed definition will allow schools to ignore all but the most extreme cases of inappropriate sexual behavior. This creates a hostile environment for affected students, greatly limiting their ability to succeed in educational settings, even if on the surface they have “equal access” to these educational opportunities.

—New rules will no longer apply to many off-campus incidents: The vast majority of college students live off-campus and, as a consequence, many incidents of sexual harassment and assault occur in off-campus settings. The new proposed rules limit misconduct prohibited by Title IX to those incidents that occur within an institution’s “education program or activity” — whether on or off campus. The Department of Education estimates saving “approximately $359 to $456 million over ten years” because of the decrease in “the number of off-campus incidents” requiring investigation under Title IX. This monetary savings comes at the unacceptable cost of stripping Title IX protections from many sexual harassment and assault victims.

—Higher standard of proof: Under the new regulations, victims are required to file a formal written complaint and the investigation includes live hearings with the “opportunity to test the credibility of parties and witnesses through cross examinations”. These new rules not only require significant additional work for the victim, they also insert lawyers into the process. This means the wealthier party — such as a professor with a much higher salary than a student — is likely to prevail, regardless of truth. This is extremely hard on the victim already coping with a traumatic situation and is likely to discourage reporting.

—Lowering reporting requirements: The proposed changes no longer require all school employees to report harassment complaints. Without mandatory reporting, the AWM is concerned that the number of reported incidents will go down even if the actual number of incidents does not. This means that “number of reported incidents” will be a poor metric for measuring change in harassment over time — a metric that gives students, parents, and employees a false sense of safety on college campuses.

Furthermore, with the proposed changes, schools are not required to act on complaints that are reported to school employees other than an “official with authority to take corrective action.” Since students are often more likely to build trusting relationships with lower-level employees, this proposed change would further reduce the number of actual incidents reported, and could effectively silence many victims The current proposed changes will severely undermine the protections for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault at universities. I strongly urge you to reconsider making these changes.

Thank you – Ami Radunskaya
Professor of Mathematics, Pomona College, Claremont, CA

The AWM signed on to a Dear Colleague led by Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA-21) calling for a focus on STEM education and specifically on STEM learning infrastructure and resource needs in future COVID-19 relief legislation.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:

As we consider further legislation to mitigate the educational disruptions and long-term economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in rural areas, we urge you to consider a robust investment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) school infrastructure. A robust investment in STEM education is needed to support the tens of millions of students and teachers using distance learning. Furthermore, economic recovery will require significant additional federal resources to put people back to work and lay the foundation for future growth and prosperity. A robust investment in STEM education will create jobs and promote economic development. Any emergency or recovery plan must include investment in STEM infrastructure for several reasons specific to this crisis, including:

  • Distance learning: Better outfitting schools with technology for STEM teaching will help teachers and students using distance learning now and during future crises. Schools that operate without computers because they lack broadband or devices are struggling with distance learning for lack of practice and equipment. The ability to provide live instruction and the success rate in communicating with students are negatively impacted with technology gaps. The pandemic exacerbates the inequities that already affect public school students from low-income and/or rural backgrounds, to long-term detriment. [1] Not only do they harm students, they also strain teachers, who are facing the challenges and unfamiliar territory of online teaching without adequate training resources.
  • Local jobs: If the economy continues its downward turn, and millions remain out of work, infrastructure projects to improve or construct STEM labs and facilities will help fill the need for local jobs. Investing in STEM teachers amplifies the effort to incubate local economies and prepare students for the workforce, as research shows they have key roles to play in engaging students in science and supporting student outcomes, as well as considerable staffing shortages.
  • Relevant workforce preparation: This pandemic has exposed and worsened our existing workforce gaps and created new ones. Healthcare is a growing career and technical field. During this crisis, the need for a robust healthcare workforce pipeline –not to mention scientists who are developing cures or engineers who are helping track cases – has been made clear. Schools could use funds to better outfit labs and learning environments to prepare students for these professions, like nursing.
  •  Recovery for rural communities: It is critical to support our rural communities during and after this crisis. Supporting the modernization, renovation, or repair of rural and underserved areas’ career and technical education facilities will enable schools to better serve their students now and into the future. More than ever, the need to remodel or build new facilities to provide STEM classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed internet is apparent. Federal investment in education infrastructure projects will provide a stopgap and stimulus as state and local budgets work to recover from the pandemic.

There are also entrenched, pre-existing reasons why we need additional investment in our rural schools, including workforce gaps and the needs of public schools. Over the past decade, the growth in jobs requiring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills was three times faster than growth in non-STEM jobs. A wide range of jobs across all sectors—including manufacturing, agriculture, natural resources management, and health care—increasingly call for significant STEM knowledge. However, there is a projected gap between STEM jobs available and highly-skilled workers. The median age of United States schools is 65 years old. Nearly 50 percent of school buildings in the United States need significant repairs or upgrades, including clean and safe classrooms and laboratory spaces, up-to-date technology, and broadband. Most importantly, the condition of school facilities has a measurable effect on student achievement. Despite the well documented needs and value of quality school facilities, there is a significant public-school infrastructure funding shortfall. However, in the wake of the pandemic, lost taxes and revenue will force districts to defer infrastructure improvements even further.

As you develop the next legislative package to support our recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, we call on you to include a major investment in school infrastructure. We look forward to working with you to put our nation on a path to recovery and renewed prosperity.

AWM was invited to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Celebration honoring the NASA women who inspired ‘Hidden Figures’ because of our endorsement of the bill that made it happen.

(Left) AWM members Rachel Levy, Jesse Metcalf-Burton, and Michelle Snider with Congressional Gold Medal Recipient Dr. Christine Darden; (center) with author Margot Lee Shetterly. (Right) Michelle Snider.

2019

This is a statement about inclusion.

There are glaring inequities in our community that need to be addressed. Institutions ask for statements outlining an applicant’s thoughts on how to address these inequities because they want to build a faculty who will work together towards making positive change. For Diversity Statements, as with Teaching Statements and Research Statements, departments should be able to determine the role of each of these pieces for the particular position they are trying to fill, within the overall mission of their department, their institution and the profession. The AWM leadership believes it is important to ask applicants about their commitment to inclusive excellence in higher education. 

A Diversity Statement is an opportunity for an applicant to reflect on their values and the way in which their practices uphold and further those values. These statements also acknowledge that working towards diversity and inclusion takes time, energy, intellectual and emotional work. This work is part of our professional portfolio, and, while it intersects them, it does not necessarily fit into the categories of research or teaching. As with the Teaching Statement and Research Statement, not everyone will be able to craft a strong Diversity Statement. We hope that the goal of requiring such a statement is to create a culture where each of us thinks carefully about our responsibility to create an inclusive mathematics environment. 

This is not a statement about a specific individual.

This statement comes in response to a recent opinion piece in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society and to various social media and blog postings since then. The original piece was written by Dr. Thompson who was afforded a platform that allowed her to reach many people. We choose not to directly address that op-ed, but instead to refocus the conversation on what we can do to move forward. Members of our community who are from underrepresented groups can feel especially isolated and vulnerable when these discussions occur. Often these mathematicians, professionals and students alike, are “the first” or “the only” in their institutions. The AWM leadership seeks to frame its position to center these community members.

 This is an invitation to participate.

The AWM is committed to helping create and sustain a more inclusive mathematics community and an environment where all students, including those from underrepresented groups, feel welcome and  flourish in mathematics classes. We continue to look for ways for organizations and individuals to contribute to this mission. There is a large body of social science research and experts  to help guide us. Our Policy and Advocacy Committee is taking up the charge to assemble and create resources that will support creating a more inclusive mathematics community, at all levels of the profession. 

 We want to hear your voices: our inbox awm@awm-math.org is always open. But we also need your help answering the calls to action. The AWM is an organization run by hundreds of volunteers, with only two paid, half-time staff: the Executive Director and the Managing Director. Our ability to work toward a mathematics profession that represents the diversity of this nation depends upon the participation of the entire mathematical community. We cannot let only those who are most affected by the current inequities do all the work. You can have a real impact by joining one of the AWM committees, by sharing your ideas on the WomenDoMath blog, or by running for committees of NAM, the AMS, MAA, SIAM, or other professional societies.

See the AWM’s Diversity and Inclusion Statement for more on our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that enables a diverse community to be involved in and contribute to AWM activities.

The AWM has endorsed the Senate (S.3321) and House (H.R.1396) versions of this bill, which passed on 10/17/19 and 9/19/19 (respectively). Hooray!

From the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s summary: “The Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act would award Congress’s highest civilian honor to the women working as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its precursor organization, the National Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), from the 1930s to the 1970s. Black women working at NACA and NASA were initially subjected to segregated bathrooms, dining facilities, and water fountains. In addition, all women mathematicians working at NACA and NASA during this period were required to submit their calculations anonymously, and restricted to sub-professional positions which limited their opportunities for career advancement in comparison to their male counterparts. Despite facing these obstacles, the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers of NACA and NASA persevered and made significant contributions to aircraft testing and design during World War II, supersonic flight research, and landing the first man on the moon. A national expression of gratitude to these women for their contribution is long overdue.

“The Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act will award five Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, and one medal to honor the contributions of the hundreds of women computers, mathematicians, and engineers whose names have largely been lost to history.”

“As Presidents of our respective organizations, we would like to endorse the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act,” said Edray Goins, President of the National Association of Mathematicians, and Ami Radunskaya, President of the Association for Women in Mathematics. “Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Dr. Christine Darden made great contributions in the fields of aeronautic design, numerical analysis and simulation, and flight modeling.   Their research helped aircraft successfully navigate after breaking the sound barrier, and their humanity inspired women and African Americans alike by breaking social barriers.”

Update: in April 2020, NSF released its new list of GRFP awardees which listed 2,076 fellowships, in line with the letter’s request of 2,000 or more, affirming that our advocacy has an impact!

The AWM signed on to a letter dated 10/25/19 to Dr. France A. Córdova, Director of the National Science Foundation:

Dear Dr. Córdova:

We are writing to express our strong support for NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) and to encourage NSF to fund at least the same number of awards this year as were funded last year. We recognize, as we know that you do, that GRFP awards encourage the best and brightest students to pursue STEM as a career and recognize those individuals who propose to conduct meritorious scientific research capable of broad impacts; they set promising students on a trajectory for success in their scientific careers. With the GRFP annual submission and review process now occurring, we are concerned, per the current GRFP program solicitation, that NSF is planning to reduce the number of awards to below the previous year’s level. A cut in the number of awards sends an unintended message to those at early career levels that NSF’s support is declining and risks affecting women and those from underrepresented groups disproportionately. In FY 2019, NSF funded 2,000 new fellowships; we strongly urge you to support at least that many in FY 2020. This recommendation echoes the support for GRFP recently relayed by the Senate in the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2020, which, as you know, reads, “The Committee does not adopt the proposed funding reductions for the … Graduate Research Fellowship and instead provides the fiscal year 2019 funding level for these programs” (S. Rept. 116-127, p. 168).

Continuing to make the GRFP a priority at NSF will affirm to potential student scientists and engineers that more of them, not fewer, should pursue STEM careers, a goal we all share.

Thank you for your consideration of this issue. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned Organizations

See the full letter, including all the organizations here.

H.R.5328  is a re-introduction (12/5/19) of Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s Federal Funding Accountability for Sexual Harassers Act,  first introduced in 2016,  and endorsed by the AWM both times. (See here for the original announcement of the bill.)  As concluded in the 2018 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report Sexual Harassment in Academia, sexual harassment continues to be a significant problem for women in STEM. Many young woman decide to leave  STEM research careers as a result of this behavior. Meanwhile, universities are reluctant to let go of abusive professors who bring in valuable research money. In those cases where an abusive professor is encouraged to go elsewhere, the professor often continues to receive federal research grants at a new institution. This legislation addresses this issue  by requiring universities and colleges to report ongoing investigations of “discrimination on the basis of sex by a principal investigator at [their] institution” to the appropriate federal funding agencies.  Moreover, these agencies would have “the explicit authority to consider this information when making future funding decisions.”

Update: this passed the House on June 23, 2019! It has been sent on to the Senate.

The AWM has endorsed H.R. 36, introduced Jan 3 2019: The bill’s intent is “to provide for research to better understand the causes and consequences of sexual harassment affecting individuals in the scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics workforce and to examine policies to reduce the prevalence and negative impact of such harassment, and for other purposes.”

In 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a sweeping report on harassment in academia. It highlighted that in order to reduce harassment in STEM fields, institutions should strive for gender parity, reduce hierarchical funding, and facilitate reporting. As the leading national society for women in the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics is acutely aware of how these factors influence women’s educational and professional success in these fields. Congresswoman Johnson’s bill is a crucial step in codifying the recommendations of the report and addressing these issues at a national level.
— Dr. Ami Radunskya, President, Association for Women in Mathematics
The AWM also endorsed the Senate companion bill (S. 1067) which was introduced in April by Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) . It differs from the House version only slightly: “Specifically, we have added protections for sexual orientation and pregnancy status (pg 5, lines 16-17) and specific compliance with FERPA (pg. 12, line 21).”

Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt (POST GRAD) Act

H.R.3418

AWM had previously endorsed the POST GRAD Act. which did not pass. Rep. Chu re-introduced this bill in June 2019 so we are endorsing it once again! See H.R.3418.

Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, graduate students were stripped of eligibility for the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan. Today, unlike their undergraduate counterparts, graduate students must pay for any interest accrued on their Federal Direct Loan while they are still in school. This can cost the student thousands of additional dollars over the life of the loan. Such an increase in the total cost of a graduate degree can dissuade potential students from seeking higher degrees, or discourage graduate students from entering into lower-paying public service jobs after graduation. The POST GRAD Act would reverse the provision of the Budget Control Act and restore the eligibility of graduate students to receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. At a time when our country is facing a shortage of specialized workers in critical fields, we should be doing everything we can to encourage students to enter these fields, rather than creating additional barriers to higher education.

As reported in Nature, more than 89,000 comments were submitted regarding the proposed changes to Title IX. In addition to encouraging AWM members to submit comments and to AWM student chapters holding Comment Writing Parties, Ami Radunskaya submitted comments on behalf of AWM (see toggle labeled Proposed Changes to Title IX: AWM President’s Submitted Comments 1/4/19) and spoke to Nature:

“We are keenly aware of the continuing prevalence of sexual harassment in the mathematical sciences,” wrote Ami Radunskaya, a mathematician at Pomona College in Claremont, California, and president of the Association for Women in Mathematics. The proposed changes, she added, “will only make the situation worse”. [See the Article Here]

AWM has partnered with other professional societies to understand the proposed changes. This article from the EducationCounsel in D.C. is a useful guide to explaining the proposed changes.

The AWM signed on to this letter as a member organization of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF).

January 23, 2019

President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Senate Republican Leader
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Charles Schumer
Senate Democratic Leader
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
1236 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Republican Leader
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear President Trump and Congressional Leaders:

As members of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – a broad-based group of professional organizations, businesses, universities, and scientific societies that advocate for sustained, robust federal support for the National Science Foundation (NSF) – we are writing to express our serious concerns about the impact of the government shutdown on America’s research enterprise.

CNSF urges you to end the government shutdown and enact a Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations bill with at least $8.175 billion in funding for the NSF.

NSF-funded research has been invaluable to ensuring that the United States remains a leader globally in science and innovation, fueling the nation’s economy. The government shutdown is already starting to have an impact on the NSF-funded research conducted at the nation’s universities and research institutions. A further prolonged government shutdown will have additional serious, detrimental, and long-lasting consequences for the nation’s  scientific enterprise and will threaten investments made toward advancing research and education.

NSF’s merit review process remains the gold standard for selecting the most innovative research projects across all disciplines of science. Since December 21, 2018, however, more than 70 scheduled review panels have been either cancelled or postponed because of the shutdown. This significant disruption in the review process means that new research projects will not get started, undergraduate and graduate students will not get funded, and the mission of the Foundation will be put on hold. Furthermore, NSF-funded major user facilities such as the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) will approach the limits of available funding should this shutdown continue. These and other NSF- funded user facilities are essential to the research conducted by the scientific  community, which includes users from other agencies such as the Department of Defense and Department of Energy.

This shutdown is personally impacting members of the scientific community. Senior scientists are questioning how to pay their postdoctoral researchers, and some postdocs and fellows, many of whom are early in their careers, are not getting paid at all. Indeed, the shutdown is not only affecting the overall research enterprise but is taking a personal toll on those who are vital to its success.

A government shutdown greatly impedes the agency’s ability to make funding decisions, suspends new and ongoing research projects and slows the development  of training the next generation of scientists and engineers. If the government shutdown continues it will have a cascading effect on the nation’s security and  economy, endangering years of critical investments. It is important for the president and Congress to expeditiously reopen the government and complete the  Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations process.

Sincerely,
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)

Date: January 4, 2019

Agency: Department of Education (ED)
Document Type: Rulemaking

Title: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Document ID: ED-2018-OCR-0064-0001
Comment:
My name is Ami Radunskaya and I am writing to you in my role as President of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). The AWM is the leading national society for women in the mathematical sciences with a mission to support and encourage girls and women in mathematics at all stages of their education and careers. As an organization, we are keenly aware of the continuing prevalence of sexual harassment in the mathematical sciences. On behalf of the AWM, I want to convey how deeply troubled we are by the proposed changes to Title IX, elaborated in the discussion below, that will only make the situation worse.
—Narrowing the definition of sexual harassment: In the proposed rules, “unwelcome sexual conduct” would only rise to the level of sexual harassment (as prohibited by Title IX) if it is “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive” that it effectively denies “a person equal access to” an “education program or activity.” Instead of protecting students on the receiving end of unwanted sexual advances, this proposed definition will allow schools to ignore all but the most extreme cases of inappropriate sexual behavior. This creates a hostile environment for affected students, greatly limiting their ability to succeed in educational settings, even if on the surface they have “equal access” to these educational opportunities.

—New rules will no longer apply to many off-campus incidents: The vast majority of college students live off-campus and, as a consequence, many incidents of sexual harassment and assault occur in off-campus settings. The new proposed rules limit misconduct prohibited by Title IX to those incidents that occur within an institution’s “education program or activity” — whether on or off campus. The Department of Education estimates saving “approximately $359 to $456 million over ten years” because of the decrease in “the number of off-campus incidents” requiring investigation under Title IX. This monetary savings comes at the unacceptable cost of stripping Title IX protections from many sexual harassment and assault victims.

—Higher standard of proof: Under the new regulations, victims are required to file a formal written complaint and the investigation includes live hearings with the “opportunity to test the credibility of parties and witnesses through cross examinations”. These new rules not only require significant additional work for the victim, they also insert lawyers into the process. This means the wealthier party — such as a professor with a much higher salary than a student — is likely to prevail, regardless of truth. This is extremely hard on the victim already coping with a traumatic situation and is likely to discourage reporting.

—Lowering reporting requirements: The proposed changes no longer require all school employees to report harassment complaints. Without mandatory reporting, the AWM is concerned that the number of reported incidents will go down even if the actual number of incidents does not. This means that “number of reported incidents” will be a poor metric for measuring change in harassment over time — a metric that gives students, parents, and employees a false sense of safety on college campuses.

Furthermore, with the proposed changes, schools are not required to act on complaints that are reported to school employees other than an “official with authority to take corrective action.” Since students are often more likely to build trusting relationships with lower-level employees, this proposed change would further reduce the number of actual incidents reported, and could effectively silence many victims The current proposed changes will severely undermine the protections for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault at universities. I strongly urge you to reconsider making these changes.

Thank you – Ami Radunskaya
Professor of Mathematics, Pomona College, Claremont, CA
President, Association for Women in Mathematics

2018

The Association for Women in Mathematics joins the European Mathematical Society and other organizations in their protest of the detention of Professor Betül Tanbay on November 16, 2018.

According to the New York Times, Professor Tanbay was being questioned over links to the Anatolia Culture Association.  Pofessor Tanbay was released from custody on November 17, but the AWM remains concerned for her safety.

Professor Tanbay is a mathematician of international repute. A prominent member of the European Mathematical Society, she is due to assume the role of Vice President in January, 2019.  The EMS describes Professor Tanbay as “a talented scientist and teacher, a former President of the Turkish Mathematical Society, an open-minded citizen … it is preposterous to suggest that she could be involved in violent or criminal activities.”

We are appalled at this treatment of Professor Tanbay and join her colleagues in demanding that she – and others in her position –  be treated with decency and fairness. We unequivocally stand in solidarity with her and appeal to those in power to ensure her safety.

AWM President Ami Radunskaya sent the following letter to the ICM Organizing Committee, asking them to rethink their choice of St Petersburg, Russia, an unsafe location for the LGBTQ community.

November 8, 2018
Dear ICM Organizing Committee,

As President of the Association for Women in Mathematics, I would like to express deep concern and displeasure at the selection of St. Petersburg as the location for the 2022 International Congress of Mathematicians, specifically with regard to Russia’s openly aggressive laws towards the LGBTQ community.

Russia has a long, distinguished history of mathematics and we applaud Russian mathematicians’ contributions to the existing mathematical canon. There is no doubt that the work at the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg laid much of the groundwork for today’s mathematicians. We celebrate along with those mathematicians with Russian roots as they bring this important meeting to their home country. Although the choice for Russia to host the ICM may seem a natural one at first glance, we believe the ICM’s decision of St. Petersburg as the host city overlooks the safety concerns for ICM attendees, especially those from the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2012 St. Petersburg adopted anti-gay legislation in the form of a ban of `homosexual propaganda’. This law was adopted nationwide in 2013, a law which de facto criminalizes LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) culture. George Poltavchenko, a co-chair of the Executive Organizing Committee of the 2022 ICM, was the governor of St. Petersburg who signed the law into effect in March, 2012. This law has led to the arrests of numerous Russian LGBTQ citizens who publicly opposed the law, and since its adoption by Russia there has been a surge in violence and hate crimes, according to the United Nations Human Rights Watch (License To Harm). By signing this legislation, Mr. Poltavchencko communicated that members of the LGBTQ community are not welcome within one of the largest and most metropolitan cities in the Russian Federation. The enforcement of such policies, and the anti-gay sentiment of the greater Russian government indicates that mathematicians from such communities are not welcome in St. Petersburg, and therefore not welcome at ICM2022. The choice of St. Petersburg, as the host city of one of the largest mathematics gatherings, jeopardizes the safety of members of our community.

The safety and inclusion of every mathematician wishing to attend the ICM should be given serious consideration when determining the venue for such an important gathering. The frontier of mathematics is pushed forward by our community as a whole, with every member participating and contributing. When members of the community are expected to attend an event where their sexual orientation or gender presentation puts their personal safety at risk, then the success of mathematics as a whole is put into jeopardy. The AWM supports all members in their endeavors and, as such, we encourage our membership to consider their safety when choosing whether or not to attend a conference.

In an effort to make ICM2022 open and inclusive to all mathematicians, we encourage you, the organizing committee, to have an open discussion about the safety of all participants at the conference. We strongly encourage you to reconsider your choice of St. Petersburg as the host site for 2022. If you are unable to change the location, we urge you to publish information specifically addressing the particular dangers that LGBTQ mathematicians who wish to attend the meeting will face. We expect ICM organizing committees to approach site selection with intentionality towards fostering a more
diverse and welcoming community.

Sincerely,

Ami Radunskaya
President
Association For Women in Mathematics

October 2018: Recent news articles describe proposals by the current administration to narrow the definition of gender so that it is determined completely by biological characteristics at the time of birth.  Such a move would deny recognition to transgender people and impact their protection and rights under Title IX and other federal laws.   While we do not know what course of action the federal government will ultimately pursue, we recognize that this administration has a clear and persistent record of revoking the hard-won rights of transgender people and the LGBTQ community in general. The AWM stands by our commitment to provide an inclusive, supportive community for all self-identified cis or transgender women, and, more generally, for non-binary or gender non-conforming individuals.

Statement from AWM President, Ami Radunskaya, regarding Department of Education Secretary Betsy Devos’ draft proposal overhauling existing regulations governing Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education:

In keeping with the mission of the AWM to support women and girls in mathematics, we are very concerned that existing protections for victims of sexual assault may be threatened by new policies. We encourage the Department of Education to enact policies that protect against sexual harassment on college campuses and all schools under their jurisdiction, and to support the recovery of survivors. We ask the Department of Education to ensure that survivors’ protections and rights are not diminished. We believe that schools must be held to clear and high standards for promoting safe learning environments, should strive to make campuses free of sexual harassment in any form, and should have clear, consistent, and robust procedures for handling complaints. The AWM will continue to advocate for gender equity in all aspects of education; we cannot go backwards.

This Bill, to be introduced in July 2018, would award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Dr. Christine Darden in recognition for their historic careers at NASA and their contributions to US science and engineering during the Space Race. These four women’s lives were featured in the book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race”, which was adapted into the film, “Hidden Figures”. Congressional Gold Medals are the highest civilian award in the U.S. and have been awarded for achievements in everything from arts to civil rights to science and space travel.

As Presidents of our respective organizations, we would like to endorse the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Dr. Christine Darden made great contributions in the fields of aeronautic design, numerical analysis and simulation, and flight modeling.   Their research helped aircraft successfully navigate after breaking the sound barrier, and their humanity inspired women and African Americans alike by breaking social barriers.

Edray Goins, President, National Association of Mathematicians

Ami Radunskaya, President, Association for Women in Mathematics

From Senator Coon’s office:

A bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Dr.
Christine Darden in recognition for their contributions to NASA’s success during the space race.

What is the Congressional Gold Medal? It is the highest civilian award in the U.S. It is awarded to those
who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be
recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement. It was first awarded to
George Washington by the second Continental Congress in 1776 for leading the Continental Army to victory
against the British during the Revolutionary War. Since then the Gold Medal has been awarded for
achievements in the arts, athletics, public service, civil rights, military, medicine, science, space travel, etc.

How does Congress bestow such an honor? Legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal must be co-
sponsored by two thirds of the Senate before it will be considered by the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. In the House, it is referred to the Financial Services Committee.

Why do these women deserve this honor? Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Dr.
Christine Darden each played an important role at NASA during the Space Race.
Katherine Johnson calculated trajectories for multiple NASA space missions including the first human
spaceflight by an American, Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission. She also calculated trajectories for John
Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission to orbit the earth. During her time at NASA, she became the first woman
recognized as an author of a report from the Flight Research Division.
Dorothy Vaughan led the West Area Computing unit for nine years, as the first African American supervisor
at National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. She later became an
expert programmer in FORTRAN as a part of NASA’s Analysis and Computation Division.
Mary Jackson petitioned the City of Hampton to allow her to take graduate-level courses in math and physics
at night at the all-white Hampton High School in order to become an engineer at NASA. She was the first
female, African-American engineer at the agency. Later in her career she worked to improve the prospects of
NASA’s female mathematicians, engineers, and scientists as Langley’s Federal Women’s Program Manager.
Dr. Christine Darden became an engineer at NASA 16 years after Mary Jackson. She worked to revolutionize
aeronautic design, wrote over 50 articles on aeronautics design, and became the first African-American
person of any gender to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service at Langley.
What does the bill do and what you can do? This act will give Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan,
Mary Jackson, and Dr. Christine Darden the recognition they deserve for the contribution they made to U.S.
excellence during the Space Race and the impact they had on society by paving the way for women in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The AWM  has signed on to a community letter expressing grave concerns in response to the proposed expansion of the vetting process for visas as described in the March 30 Federal Register Notices. The new requirements for both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants will require additional information such as listing “multiple social media platforms and … provide any identifiers used by applicants for those platforms during the five years preceding the date of application”.  If enacted, these rules will seriously impact scientific exchanges with international colleagues including conferences and collaborations based in the United States, and  students deciding pursue graduate studies at universities in the United States.  The full text of the letter can be found here.

For reference, see the Immigrant Notice, and the Non-Immigrant Notice.

In 2015, Innovation: An American Imperative call to action brought together U.S. industry, higher education, science, and engineering organizations in urging Congress to enact policies and make investments to help ensure the United States remains the global innovation leader.  The Innovation Imperative garnered the signature of several industry leaders and the endorsement of more than 500 businesses, organizations, and universities, including the AWM.

The Innovation: An American Imperative statement provides seven areas of focus for congressional action:

  • Renewing the federal commitment to scientific discovery by ending sequestration level spending caps and providing steady and sustained funding growth;
  • Permanently strengthening the R&D tax credit;
  • Reforming visa policies;
  • Improving STEM education;
  • Streamlining or eliminating costly and inefficient regulations;
  • Reaffirming merit-based peer review; and
  • Stimulating improvements in advanced manufacturing.

 This progress report provides the latest status for each of the focus areas.

The AWM signed on to the following letter, dated June 22, 2018.

Coalition for National Science Funding Appreciates the Senate Appropriations Committee for
its Support for Scientific Research

The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – a broad-based group of professional
organizations, universities, businesses, and scientific societies that advocates for sustained,
robust federal support for science – issued the following statement on S. 3072, the FY19 Senate
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) appreciates the Senate Appropriations
Committee for its unwavering commitment to federally-funded scientific research. We
recognize and appreciate the Committee-proposed funding level of $8.068 billion for the
National Science Foundation (NSF) for FY19. After years of funding levels that have not kept
pace with inflation, this proposed 3.9 percent increase is a step forward to effectively support
an agency that is vital to our economy, national security, and global competitiveness.
As a pillar of America’s scientific research enterprise, NSF-funded research has advanced our
knowledge and understanding of the world around us and promoted the progress of science
across the academic disciplines. NSF has helped propel and keep the U.S. at the forefront of
science, technology, and innovative ideas and concepts. Additionally, NSF plays an essential role
in preparing a STEM-capable workforce through funding K-12 STEM education programs, as
well as programs for undergraduate and graduate students. The Committee-proposed funding
level of $915 million for the Education and Human Resources Directorate is a welcome increase
to fund these critical agency activities.
As the FY19 appropriations process moves forward, CNSF stands ready to work with the entire
Senate to achieve robust and sustained funding for NSF. We look forward to reaching $8.45
billion funding level for NSF in FY19.
Sincerely,
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)

The AWM signed on to the following letter, dated May 23, 2018.

Coalition for National Science Funding Applauds the House Appropriations Committee for its
Support for Scientific Research
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – a broad-based group of professional
organizations, universities, businesses, and scientific societies that advocates for sustained,
robust federal support for science – issued the following statement on the FY19 House
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) applauds the House Appropriations
Committee for its longstanding commitment to federally-funded scientific research. We greatly
appreciate the Committee-proposed funding level of $8.175 billion for the National Science
Foundation (NSF) for FY19. After years of funding levels that have not kept pace with inflation,
this proposed 5.3 percent increase is a welcome and much-needed step forward to effectively
support an agency that is vital to our economy, national security, and global competitiveness.
As a pillar of America’s scientific research enterprise, NSF-funded research has advanced our
knowledge and understanding of the world around us and promoted the progress of science
across the academic disciplines. NSF has helped propel and keep the U.S. at the forefront of
science, technology, and innovative ideas and concepts. Additionally, NSF plays an essential
role in preparing a STEM-capable workforce through funding K-12 STEM education programs, as
well as programs for undergraduate and graduate students. We are hopeful that the final NSF
appropriations bill will provide robust funding for the Education and Human Resources account
that funds these critical agency activities. As the FY19 appropriations process moves forward,
CNSF stands ready to work with the entire House of Representatives to achieve robust and
sustained funding for NSF. We look forward to reaching the bipartisan proposal—
championed by 163 House Members—to fund NSF at $8.45 billion in FY19.
Sincerely,
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)

The AWM signed on to the following letter, dated April 12, 2018.
The Honorable Jerry Moran, Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
Room S-128, The Capitol; Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
Room S-128, The Capitol; Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable John Culberson, Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
H-305, The Capitol;  Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Jose Serrano,  Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
1016 Longworth House Office Building;  Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Shaheen, Chairman Culberson, and Ranking Member
Serrano:
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – a broad-based group of professional
organizations, universities, businesses, and scientific societies that advocates for robust and
sustained federal support for science – appreciates the nearly 4 percent increase to the
National Science Foundation (NSF) budget in the FY 2018 omnibus and thanks the Committees
for recognizing the important role that the agency plays in our country’s global
competitiveness. For FY 2019, CNSF recommends an appropriation of $8.45 billion. The
Coalition believes this level of funding would help set right the agency’s budget, which has been
underfunded for many years. Since FY 2011, the average annual change in NSF’s budget has
been 1.7 percent, which in some years has not even kept up with inflation.
CNSF stands by a recommendation included in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Restoring the Foundation report: that to secure America’s leadership in science and
engineering and to ensure a growing economy, federal science agencies should be funded at an
annual increasing rate of 4 percent real growth – that is, 4 percent plus inflation. Innovation:
An American Imperative – a clarion call-to-action supported by more than 500 organizations
and several top corporate leaders – reiterates this recommendation. CNSF believes this is the
level of funding we should be advocating for on an annual basis; however, to safeguard our
place in the global competitiveness race, we must first advance the NSF budget to a level that
moves us closer to the starting line, rather than outside the stadium. Therefore, we strongly
recommend an appropriation of $8.45 billion for FY 2019.

As a pillar of America’s scientific research enterprise, NSF-funded research has proven to be
vital to the nation’s economic growth, national security, and overall global competitiveness in
science, engineering, technology development, innovation, and educational research. NSF-funded
projects have produced scientific discoveries that have in turn created new industries,
products, and services, and enhanced our quality of life. To give just a few recent examples,
NSF-supported breakthroughs in nanotechnology, 3-D printing, and micro-electromechanical
systems have had a transformative effect on manufacturing. NSF-funded research has
substantially improved threat detection systems at U.S. ports, allowing for rapid scanning of
cargo ships. Finally, a pair of NSF-supported researchers has developed a non-invasive
technology to detect and eliminate malware in implanted, wireless medical devices. These and
a wealth of other examples are available in the second edition of Transforming the World
Through Science, recently published by the agency.
By appropriating $8.45 billion for NSF in FY 2019, Congress would make federal funding for
fundamental scientific research a national priority.

Why should NSF be a priority?

  • NSF-funded research has advanced our knowledge and understanding and promoted
    the progress of science across the scientific disciplines. NSF funds research in the
    physical sciences, biology, mathematics, economics, computer science, geosciences,
    social and behavioral sciences, engineering and education research. Robust and
    sustained federal investment in fundamental scientific research is essential if the U.S. is
    to remain a leader at the forefront of scientific, technological, and innovative
    discoveries.
  •  Competitor nations such as China are rapidly improving their global position in science
    and technology due to their significant investment in R&D. According to the 2018
    Science and Engineering Indicators Report, the U.S. investment in R&D of $497 billion
    was closely followed by China at $409 billion – accounting for 26% and 21%,
    respectively, of R&D funding worldwide. China’s investment in R&D has resulted in the
    rapid growth of its high-technology industries. For example, China’s high-tech
    manufacturing output now ranks number two in the world, trailing only the U.S. China is
    not alone–other countries are increasing investments in R&D and education to compete
    with the U.S. If current trends continue, the National Science Board (NSB) expects China
    to surpass the U.S. in R&D investments by the end of this year.
  • NSF is integral to the preparation of tomorrow’s American STEM workforce. For the
    last 60 years, NSF has supported education at all levels, from K-12 STEM education, to
    undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training. The NSB recently issued a
    publication entitled, “Our Nation’s Competitiveness Relies on Building a STEM-Capable
    U.S. Workforce.” This publication clearly and correctly addresses the need for the U.S. to
    tap into our most important asset – the American people. As the areas of science and
    technology development become more competitive, it becomes even more important
    for the U.S. to continue to invest in STEM education, research and training programs,
    informal education programs, and programs to increase the number of skilled technical
    workers in the U.S.

What might NSF achieve with $8.45 billion in appropriations?

  •  More research and a greater reach. Currently, only 22 percent of competitive NSF grant
    proposals are funded. Out of the 50,000 grant proposals NSF expects to receive in FY
    2019, it will only fund 11,000 proposals. As NSB Chair Maria Zuber pointed out in a
    recent Congressional hearing, if NSF funded every unfunded grant proposal rated “very
    good” or “excellent,” it would require an additional $3.92 billion. More federal funding
    for NSF could result in more research projects being funded, research that could lead to
    new knowledge, new discoveries, and possibly products, services, and new industries.
  • Investing in Ten Big Ideas. NSF recently focused its vision on Ten Big Ideas, which are
    bold, cross-cutting ideas that touch all areas of science. These ideas are designed to
    identify areas of future investment and position the U.S. on the cutting edge of global
    science and engineering leadership. Hence, additional funding for NSF could lead to the
    realization of the novel ideas, tools, and approaches that NSF is proposing with the Ten
    Big Ideas.
  •  Commercialization of research. For decades, NSF-funded research has led to scientific
    innovations, commercial products and services, and new industries. In fact, NSF-funded
    research can be directly connected to the establishment of well-known technology
    companies such as Symantec, Qualcomm, and Google. Continued federal funding for
    fundamental scientific research, as well as programs such as the Small Business
    Innovation Research program and NSF Innovation Corps, will lead to the translation of
    ideas from the university laboratory to the marketplace.
  • Unexpected successes. Last year’s Nobel Prize winners in physics were central to the
    observation of gravitational waves through LIGO, a project that NSF supported for more
    than four decades, ultimately with groundbreaking, headline-generating results. In fact,
    all eight American scientists who won Nobel Prizes in the fields of physics, economics,
    biology and chemistry received NSF support at some point in their careers. And 11 of 18
    winning teams of the Golden Goose Award, which celebrates odd or obscure research
    that has since gone on to have enormous societal impact, have been funded by NSF.

We thank Congress for passing a bipartisan budget agreement for FY 2019 and believe that now
is the time to invest in our country’s future by supporting NSF with an appropriation of $8.45
billion.
Sincerely,
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)

The AWM signed on to the following letter, dated February 21, 2018.
The Honorable Jerry Moran, Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
Room S-128, The Capitol; Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
Room S-128, The Capitol; Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable John Culberson, Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
H-305, The Capitol;  Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Jose Serrano,  Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
1016 Longworth House Office Building;  Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Shaheen, Chairman Culberson, and Ranking Member
Serrano:

As members of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – a broad-based group of over
130 professional organizations, universities, businesses, and scientific societies that advocate
for robust federal support for the National Science Foundation (NSF) – we appreciate that the
new discretionary budget caps included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 will now allow you
and other appropriations leaders to effectively complete the FY2018 appropriations process. A
$63 billion increase in funding for non-defense discretionary programs provides the needed
opportunity to strongly invest in America’s research enterprise, including the National Science
Foundation.
CNSF urges you to seize this opportunity and fund NSF at $8 billion for FY2018. Such a
commitment is necessary for the United States to remain globally competitive. The National
Science Board recently released the 2018 Science and Engineering Indicators Report which
clearly shows that competitor nations, especially China, are rapidly improving their global
position in science and technology while the United States is resting on its laurels of past
investments. The report indicates that China is poised to become the global leader in S&T in the
next few years. Simply put, the United States must ramp-up its investments in scientific
research supported by NSF if we intend to remain competitive and at the forefront of science,
technology and innovation.
Last year, during the House and Senate Appropriations Committees’ mark-ups of the FY2018
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bills, committee leaders
expressed the importance of reaching a bipartisan budget deal to increase funding for NSF.
Clearly you and other appropriations committee members understand the positive impact NSF-funded
research has on our economy, national security and global competitiveness. Due to past
budget constraints, however, funding for the agency has remained flat. A request of $8 billion
for NSF in FY2018 reflects 4% real growth from the FY2016 enacted. This requested increase of
4% real growth is consistent with the first recommendation in the clarion call-to-action,
Innovation: An American Imperative, which more than 500 organizations from all 50 states
representing industry, academia, and scientific and engineering societies have endorsed.
Moreover, this statement has received bipartisan and bicameral support and enthusiasm.
Now that Congress has achieved a bipartisan budget agreement with an additional $63 billion
for non-defense discretionary programs, we strongly advocate that the CJS portion of the
FY2018 omnibus bill include $8 billion in funding for NSF.
Please let us know how we can be helpful.
Sincerely,
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)

2017

On April 22, 2017, STEM advocates from all over the country will come together in D.C. to join the March for Science in celebration of science. Scientific research impacts so many aspects of our lives.  Advances have led to innovative medical solutions, a stronger understanding of our environment, discoveries of new planets beyond our solar system, new job opportunities, and so much more. In recognition of the value of science, the AWM endorses the March for Science and strongly encourages its members to participate in D.C. or in one of the satellite marches across the United States.

AWM’s purpose is to encourage women and girls to study and have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in mathematical sciences. The March for Science has earned AWM’s endorsement because of their stated core principle of promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM. As a non-partisan organization, AWM encourages discourse among its members–and with the greater mathematics and STEM communities–as we all work towards meaningful actions that support these aims.

The March for Science is an opportunity to express our strong commitment to scientific and mathematical research, education, outreach, and applications.  As AWM looks to the future, we recognize the need for strong voices advocating for fundamental issues concerning the sciences.  The March for Science is one such opportunity to invite new voices to become involved, and we encourage AWM student chapters to participate.

In issuing this statement, the AWM affirms its support for science education, funding for scientific research,  and science based policies.

The National Math Festival (a biennial event, now in its second iteration) coincides with The March for Science. This important event for math enthusiasts will take place in downtown Washington, D.C., with satellite events around the country. The AWM encourages members to support these events nationally. As a program collaborator for the National Math Festival, the AWM is organizing the hands-on-activity “What’s the Meaning of Life? Find out…” based on a mathematical game created by John H. Conway. The NMF highlights the many STEM events happening in the D.C.-area around April 22, so check out how you can participate in the many-tiered events that celebrate math and STEM this April!

It is the policy of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) that all participants in AWM activities will enjoy a welcoming environment that is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. As a professional organization, the AWM is committed to fostering an atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of scientific ideas. In pursuit of that ideal, the AWM is committed to the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment for all AWM members and participants in AWM-sponsored events, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious belief, age, marital status, sexual orientation, immigration status, disabilities, veteran status, or any other reason not related to scientific merit.

Mathematics in the U.S.A. has in large part flourished because of numerous contacts and collaborations with colleagues around the world. AWM members at all levels of their careers have benefited greatly from these interactions, both here in the U.S. as well as in other countries. Many of our most inspirational mathematicians have immigrated to the U.S. and made this country their home. A testament to the success of the welcoming research environment of U.S. mathematics are the accomplishments of Fields medalist Maryam Mirzakhani, who was born and raised in Iran, earned her Ph.D in the U.S. and is currently a professor at Stanford.

The AWM is committed to sustaining an international mathematical environment and we affirm the importance of policies that ensure open scientific borders. We encourage our community to give our international students and colleagues our fullest support, and we oppose policies that hinder the free flow of ideas by imposing travel bans and suspending visas based on discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.

Ami Radunskaya, AWM President

Kristin Lauter, AWM Past President

February 2017

The AWM endorses the Science Laureate Act of 2017 introduced in the House by Representative Zoe Lofgren and in the Senate by Senator Hirona. This act sets up the establishment of a Science Laureate position, both as an award for an exceptional scientist, and a pedestal from which he or she could speak to the nation as a credible, independent, nonpartisan public advocate on the importance of Science broadly and the scientific issues of the day.” For more information, see Congress’ page on the bill at H.R.1891.

The AWM endorses the following acts that aim to increase the participation of women and underrepresented groups in STEM professions.

STEM Opportunities Act of 2017

From this article: The legislation would require federal agencies that fund scientific research to collect more comprehensive demographic data on the recipients of federal research awards and on STEM faculty at U.S. universities (while protecting individuals’ privacy); promote data-driven research on the participation and trajectories of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM so that policy makers can design more effective policies and practices to reduce barriers;  develop, through the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), consistent federal policies for recipients of federal research awards who have caregiving responsibilities, including care for a newborn or newly adopted child, and consistent federal guidance to grant reviewers and program officers on best practices to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of federal research grants; require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and disseminate guidance to universities to aid them in identifying any cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and achievement of women and minorities in research careers and developing and implementing current best practices for reducing such barriers; require OSTP to develop and issue similar guidance to all federal laboratories; and authorize NSF to award grants to universities to implement or expand research-based practices targeted specifically to increasing the recruitment and retention of minority students and faculty.

STEM Booster Act of 2017

The Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act would authorize the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants for outreach, mentoring, and professional development programs that support recruitment and retention of women and minorities in STEM fields. The legislation also authorizes funding for STEM education outreach programs at the elementary and secondary school level, and includes an emphasis on funding for mentoring programs, as well as programs to increase the recruitment and retention of women and minority university faculty.   More information on Senator Hirono’s website is here.

The AWM endorses the following two items in support of the Computer Science for All Initiative: (1) the FY18 Appropriations Request Letter for Computer Science Education and (2) the Computer Science for All Act of 2017. This latter item is proposed legislation that “authorizes the Secretary Education to carry out a program increase access to prekindergarten through grade 12 computer science education.”

The AWM endorses the Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt (POST GRAD act). This bill, introduced by Representative Chu, would “restore the eligibility of graduate students to receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans”. For more information, click here.

The AWM is a signatory to a letter from the CBMS (Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences) which raised concerns about the proposed visa changes announced in the May 4, 2017 Federal Register and how they will impact Academic and Scientific exchange and collaboration. More information, including a link to a copy of the letter, can be found at here.

2016

2016 AWM Endorsement of legislation addressing sexual harassment in STEM fields

The AWM endorses the bill Federal Funding Accountability for Sexual Harassers Act, introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier. (See here for announcement of the bill.)  Sexual harassment continues to be a significant problem for women in STEM. Many young woman decide to leave  STEM research careers as a result of this behavior (see for example the Atlantic Monthly article How Women are Harassedout of Science and CNN’s article Sexual harassment in STEM: It’s tragic for society.)  Meanwhile, universities are reluctant to let go of abusive professors who bring in valuable research money. In those cases where an  abusive professor is encouraged to go elsewhere, the professor often continues to receive federal research grants at a new institution. This legislation addresses this issue  by requiring universities and colleges to report ongoing investigations of “discrimination on the basis of sex by a principal investigator at [their] institution” to the appropriate federal funding agencies.  Moreover, these agencies would have “the explicit authority to consider this information when making future funding decisions.

2016 Computer Science for All Initiative

The AWM endorses support for the Computer Science for All Initiative through legislation such as the Computer Science for All Act,  which authorizes funding of this initiative via competitive state level grants.  (See here for an announcement of this bill.) The goal of the Computer Science for All Initiative is to “empower a generation of American students with the computer science skills they need to thrive in a digital economy”.  More specifically, this initiative calls for greatly expanding access to high-quality computer science courses with “programming and coding” for students in kindergarten through high school.  The initiative also emphasizes the importance of making sure these courses are available to — and taken by — girls and minorities, two groups that are significantly underrepresented in the tech industry.

1980 – 2015

For less recent endorsements and policy statements, click here.