How angela_tabiri uses social media to promote mathematics to girls in Ghana. Plus: take our poll for scientists working in Africa
Credit: Angela TabiriAngela Tabiri, who researches quantum algebra at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Accra, was a PhD student at the University of Glasgow, UK, when she launched Femafricmaths in 2018. The network shares the stories of African female mathematicians through video interviews posted on social media. The vision is to help young girls become confident in pursuing careers in mathematics and related fields.
I decided to apply to the University of Glasgow for a PhD. But that meant that I needed funding. I applied for and won a Faculty for the Future fellowship from the Schlumberger Foundation, which provides funding for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics from low-income countries to study at leading universities around the world.
I returned to Ghana in 2019 and started a postdoctoral position at AIMS. Often, in the field of maths, you might be the only female in a workplace team and that means that you have to be a bit tough. When I was teaching, instead of ‘Doctor’ the students called me ‘Madame’. Colleagues made comments about me starting a family and said that I might never get married. There’s a cultural pressure of ‘What are you doing competing in the space of men? You should be in the kitchen.
Once you know what you want to do, carve your own niche. I’m good at algebra, but I’m also good at science communication and helping girls to follow STEM studies. So I developed myself in those areas — there are so many things I bring to the table. Find your voice, develop your skills and then when people downplay your abilities on the basis of gender, let all your success speak for you.
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