"Maths is hard. I don’t want to be one of the few girls studying it at uni – and I can’t help doubting: am I really good enough?

 

It’s hard to believe many girls still limit themselves like this. Being a Year 12 student keen to study maths at university, one day I was researching maths societies to join when I realised: there was no community specifically for female mathematicians under the age of 18.

 

So I decided to set up Pioneer*, a support network aiming to nurture girls’ passion for maths beyond the school curriculum – thus building their confidence to pursue the subject at university and beyond. 

 

It’s clear that there’s still a gender divide in maths. According to JCQ, in 2019 only 39% of A-Level maths students were female. Pioneer aims to stop this divide from multiplying, by encouraging female participation early. Through competitions, events, regular newsletters and publishing research in an inclusive environment, I hope girls will start believing in their maths ability, overcome traditional stereotypes and see maths as an opportunity to innovate, create and communicate."

 

- Joely To, Founder

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28/04/2020

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*As of November 2022, we are now Pioneer Maths