WiM is excited to announce that the committee has been named the recipient of the 2026 Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) Inclusion in Mathematics Prize in the group category. This annual award is given to organizers of initiatives that further equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Canadian mathematical community, recognizing the work that contributes to a more welcoming and safe environment. This accolade aligns with WiM's mission to encourage and advocate for students who identify as an underrepresented gender in mathematics. Through research, career development, networking, and outreach, WiM engages with cultural and institutional reasons for under-representation and strives for all genders to be well-represented in mathematics.
Led by WiM Director and Professor of Pure Mathematics Yu-Ru Liu, our committee consists of a dedicated team of faculty representatives from across all of Waterloo's math units, as well as graduate and undergraduate volunteers. With no formal roles in the student committees, WiM provides leadership opportunities to all of its members as they organize a myriad of events hosted throughout each semester. The committee's work supports women and gender minority students in all five of Waterloo's math programs, exemplified by WiM’s research programs and community-building initiatives.
First, the WiM committee is passionate about opening the door to mathematical research for students of all genders. For example, the Directed Reading and Research Program (DRP) allows undergraduates from certain underrepresented groups in math to collaborate with graduate students on various projects. These include the introduction of topics from outside of the classroom, surveys of challenging articles, or groundwork for future research. "Participating in the DRP program has been transformative, motivating me to apply for graduate school despite not initially planning to do so," said one Spring 2023 mentee. Each semester, at least 60 undergraduates gain exposure to new topics, research experience, and a supportive community, while at least 30 graduates develop supervision skills, practice communicating math, and share topics they are passionate about. Similarly, WiM’s Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series brings together students of all genders for a lecture given by an expert who identifies as an underrepresented gender in mathematics, showcasing the work of gender minorities in math and exposing students to cutting-edge research. You can read more about the lecture given by Dr. Hong Wang, recently named a Fields Medalist, here. WiM’s research initiatives also extend to the Ontario Graduate Mathematics Conference (OGMC). The WiM committee facilitated the organization of OGMC in 2024 and 2025, bringing together graduate students from across Ontario to share research, network, and collaborate. The events also emphasized the importance of diversity in mathematics by featuring a fair division of plenary talks across qualified mathematicians of all genders and including an EDI workshop for all participants.
Community building is also a pillar of WiM’s work. In particular, at our monthly Pizza Pizza events, WiM invites students who identify as an underrepresented gender in the Faculty of Mathematics to enjoy pizza and participate in activities such as art projects, tea parties, or co-op panel discussions. This serves as a community-building initiative, connecting gender minority students from across the faculty and helping them form bonds that last in and out of the classroom. Once a semester, WiM broadens the scope of this initiative by hosting a Women of Waterloo (WoW) event. At each WoW event, students from all UWaterloo faculties who identify as women or other underrepresented genders are invited to participate in an evening of pizza, social activities, and themed games celebrating occasions such as Halloween, International Women’s Day, or Pride Month. WiM also provides larger-scale networking opportunities through the Navigating Your Careers (NYC) Conference. In 2025, this student-led conference highlighted the contributions of women and gender minorities in STEM, showcasing their achievements to students of all genders. As one participant said, "Hearing the stories of women in STEM showed me that I am not alone. The amount of uplifting and encouraging energy was inspiring, and it was awesome to be with such an amazing community of women."
In the official announcement of the award recipients, the Prize Selection Committee noted that “Waterloo’s Women in Mathematics Committee is an outstanding example of what sustained, community-driven efforts can accomplish, made especially remarkable by the breadth and continuity of its work and by the fact that it is driven almost entirely by the commitment of faculty and student volunteers.”
WiM is deeply honoured and grateful for this recognition, and on behalf of the entire committee, Yu-Ru extends her sincere thanks to the Canadian Mathematical Society. She also thanks Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice President, Research & International, and Dr. Jochen Koeneman, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, for their unwavering support of WiM. Most importantly, Yu-Ru thanks all former and current WiM committee members whose dedication and contributions made this achievement possible.
