This is an archived article. For the latest news, go to the Advance Homepage . Wiegand said gender inequality in the field of mathematics is related to differences in the perception of success and failure by men and women.
Women are more sensitive to failure.
Wiegand recommended offering workshops, panels and support groups and developing educational and outreach programs to create awareness about the importance and rewards of studying mathematics in order to inspire, encourage, and retain women in the math arena. Wiegand's research on commutative ring theory explains the breaking up of algebraic structures into their smallest components. The field has applications in chemistry, physics, biology and other natural phenomena related to symmetry and is also useful in areas involving systems and coding theories. She urged the recruitment of women teachers and faculty at all levels to provide role models to women students who have a love of mathematics. Sarah Glaz, an associate professor of mathematics at the Torrington campus, said she is optimistic.