AWC Podcast Episode 6: Maëva Fézas and Ainhoa Aparicio-Monforte (Part 1)

"If a girl succeeds, it means that she has worked hard. And we live in a society where work is less valued than inspiration. Genius, whatever it might mean — there are people for whom things are easier, faster. Actually, we recompense velocity over consistency." —Ainhoa Aparicio-Monforte

This is the sixth episode of the AWC's podcast, featuring Ainhoa Aparicio-Monforte and Maëva Fézas of the Graduate School of Mathematics at Université Paris-Saclay, with AWC staff Michelle Awad and co-host Daniella Luca, head of the AWC.

Ainhoa is a research project manager focused on scientific mediation and gender equity, and recently authored a report on retaining female talent in the Magistère program. Maëva works in communications across the Graduate Schools of Mathematics and Engineering and helped lead the Just Do Maths traveling exhibition celebrating women mathematicians at Paris-Saclay.

Topics discussed include the persistent 20% statistic for women in mathematics in France, the gendered framing of genius versus hard work, how girls are socialized away from math from primary school, the Just Do Maths exhibition, findings from Ainhoa's report on female students in the Magistère program, and what men can do to support women in research.

 A second part of this conversation will be released soon. Additionally, a transcript to this episode is coming soon.

Thank you to Martin Kilbinger for creating our episode music!