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List Of Women MathematiciansEdit

The subject of this article is the long and varied history of women who have made significant contributions to mathematics. Across centuries and continents, women mathematicians worked in pure theory and applied practice, in education and in industry, often under conditions that made their achievements harder to recognize. Their stories show a recurrent pattern: talent, hard work, and clear results eventually earned them standing in a field that has historically rewarded rigorous thinking and problem-solving. From early thinkers who left behind rare written traces to contemporary researchers whose work reshapes technology, statistics, and science, the thread is uninterrupted achievement.

Mathematics has been a global enterprise, but access to education, professional positions, and recognition has not always been available to women. In some periods, social norms and institutional barriers limited formal study or career advancement; in others, particular individuals navigated those barriers with remarkable ingenuity. In recent decades, the expansion of higher education and research funding, coupled with reforms aimed at opening doors to women, helped a new generation of female mathematicians reach the highest levels of the discipline. There is still work to be done, but the record shows that when opportunity aligns with talent, important mathematical progress follows.

This article uses a broad lens, including pure and applied mathematics as well as statistics and computing. It highlights figures who have left a lasting impact on theory and practice, and it places their work in a wider context of professional recognition, collaboration, and the evolving ecosystem of mathematics as a discipline.

Notable figures and themes

Early figures and pioneers

Hypatia of Alexandria Hypatia (c. 350–415) was a teacher and scholar whose work in mathematics and astronomy is remembered as a symbol of ancient classical learning and inquiry.
Maria Gaetana Agnesi Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718–1799) wrote a comprehensive mathematics text, helping to shape how the subject was taught and understood in Europe during the 18th century.
Ada Lovelace Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) authored notes on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, widely cited as early programming and algorithm thinking that prefigured modern computing.
Sofia Kovalevskaya Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850–1891) completed a doctorate in mathematics, making foundational contributions to analysis and partial differential equations and becoming a role model for women pursuing high-level research.

19th century and education

Mary Somerville Mary Somerville (1780–1872) was a pivotal science writer and translator whose mathematical and astronomical works helped to disseminate advanced ideas to a broad audience.
Émilie du Châtelet Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749) translated and commented on foundational mathematical physics works, illustrating how mathematical thinking permeated Enlightenment science.
Grace Chisholm Young Grace Chisholm Young (1868–1944) pursued advanced mathematics at a time when few women did so, contributing to analysis and calculus and collaborating with her husband on several works.
Charlotte Angas Scott Charlotte Angas Scott (1858–1931) played a key role in mathematical education in the United States and Britain, helping to shape opportunities for women pursuing advanced study.

20th century: the rise of women in mathematics

Emmy Noether Emmy Noether (1882–1935) developed abstract algebra and made Noether’s theorem a cornerstone of modern physics and mathematics, influencing generations of researchers and shaping the way symmetry and conservation laws are understood.
Julia Robinson Julia Robinson (1928–1985) led work on Hilbert’s tenth problem, helping to formulate and advance the understanding of computability and decidability that underpins modern mathematical logic and theoretical computer science.
Grace Hopper Grace Hopper (1906–1992) made foundational contributions to computer science, including pioneering work on compilers and programming languages, applying mathematical thinking to practical computing problems.
Dorothy Vaughan Dorothy Vaughan (1910–2008), Katherine Johnson Katherine Johnson (1918–2020), and Mary Jackson Mary Jackson (1921–2005) were part of the NASA “human computer” community, translating complex math into flight and navigation calculations that supported space missions and the advancement of engineering practices.
Mary Cartwright Mary Cartwright (1900–1998) made important contributions to nonlinear differential equations and chaos theory, influencing subsequent developments in dynamical systems.
Ingrid Daubechies Ingrid Daubechies (born 1954) advanced wavelet theory and its applications in signal processing, bridging pure mathematical ideas with engineering practice.
Maryna Viazovska Maryna Viazovska (born 1984) solved the sphere-packing problem in dimension 8, a landmark achievement in discrete geometry that linked deep analysis with numerical optimization.
Karen Uhlenbeck Karen Uhlenbeck (born 1942) was awarded the Abel Prize in 2019 for pioneering geometric analysis, establishing methods and perspectives that influence many areas of differential geometry and mathematical physics.
Maryam Mirzakhani Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017) was the first woman to win the Fields Medal (2014) for work in dynamical systems and geometric topology, highlighting the global reach of modern mathematics.

21st century: continuing contributions and expanding horizons

The field continues to diversify, with researchers such as Maryna Viazovska making advances that cross traditional boundaries between pure theory and computational methods, and with others like Katherine Johnson and her successors recognized for sustaining critical missions in science and technology.
The rise of women in data science, statistics, mathematical biology, and applied mathematics has reinforced the view that mathematical training underpins a broad spectrum of modern industries and research initiatives.
Maryam Mirzakhani remains a touchstone for excellence, illustrating how breakthroughs in geometry and dynamics can inspire students and researchers around the world.

Debates and controversies (from a perspective that emphasizes merit and progress)

Representation and recognition in mathematics have been topics of public debate. Some argue that highlighting the achievements of women in math helps correct historical underrepresentation and encourages the next generation, while others worry about focusing on identity rather than results. The position commonly favored in conversations that stress merit is that the most important measure is the quality and impact of the work, with opportunities expanding as institutions adopt more transparent criteria for hiring, funding, and promotion. See for instance discussions around awards such as the Fields Medal and the Abel Prize.
Critics of identity-focused narratives sometimes question whether emphasis on diversity should accompany, or perhaps even precede, objective assessments of mathematical contribution. Proponents respond that diverse teams bring a wider range of perspectives, which can accelerate problem-solving and lead to breakthroughs that a more homogenous group might miss. In practice, the best path combines rigorous merit-based standards with policies that encourage broad participation and early exposure to mathematics.
There are ongoing discussions about how best to support students and researchers who face impediments to access, whether due to cultural expectations, family responsibilities, or resource limitations. Advocates for targeted support argue that expanding the talent pool strengthens the discipline as a whole, while critics caution against programs that might inadvertently place emphasis on background over capability. The evidence suggests that, when well designed, programs intended to widen participation tend to increase the pool of capable researchers without sacrificing standards.