A mathematician who delights in building bridges

Not surprisingly, she says she faced discouragement and discrimination for being a woman early in her career, but says that things have gotten much better for women over the years, which is good to hear:

> I faced explicit discouragement in high school, whereas today there is a lot of explicit encouragement. Nevertheless, I have seen people around me experience subtle forms of discrimination. It’s definitely harder to build a research program and establish long-term relationships if others view you as different. And it’s harder to get taken seriously if you’re always having to prove yourself.

> I realize I’ve been luckier than most and have already made my name. But I still recognize that mathematics is not as inclusive as it should be — not just for women, but for other people from underrepresented groups. That is especially true in my field, the Langlands program, which requires so much specialized knowledge that there is a huge barrier to entry.

> I’m doing what I can to help others pursue this amazing field, though I feel it is not enough. I try more and more to make space for women — and those who are underrepresented in general — at conferences and within my own research group. And I’m happy that my group has a higher percentage of women than is common in the field.

Surely there's more work to do, but I find it refreshing to read about someone who is tackling the problem with a positive attitude on the front page HN!