Supporting the next generation of female mathematicians
Donor support is opening up new opportunities for talented female mathematicians to continue their studies at Oxford.
A scholarship scheme named in honour of the Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani has been endowed at Oxford thanks to a £2.48 million gift from founding and principal donor XTX Markets. The scholarships support talented female graduates to pursue doctoral studies in mathematics, paving the way for the next generation of female Fields Medallists.
The Fields Medal is one of the highest global honours in mathematics, awarded every four years to exceptional mathematicians under the age of 40. In 2014 Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017) became the first female mathematician to win the medal.
The Oxford–Maryam Mirzakhani Scholarships have been established to help address the disproportionately low levels of women completing postgraduate degrees in the mathematical sciences. Nationally, only 29% of postgraduate research students in the mathematical sciences are women, according to the latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
XTX Markets’ founding donation has enabled the creation of two fully funded scholarships for women of any nationality completing a standard four-year DPhil in mathematics. Their donation also led to further giving from other sources, which has enabled the creation of one further scholarship.
The first Oxford–Maryam Mirzakhani Scholar, Marta Bucca, joined the Mathematical Institute in October 2023. Marta is researching string theory under the supervision of Professor Mark Mezei.
Simon Coyle, Head of Philanthropy at XTX Markets, said: ‘XTX Markets is proud to be the founding and principal donor of the Oxford–Maryam Mirzakhani Scholarships at the University of Oxford. We hope that this prestigious opportunity will inspire more women to pursue mathematics at the highest level and support them to follow in Maryam Mirzakhani’s footsteps.’
James Sparks, Head of the Mathematical Institute, said: ‘Our first Oxford–Maryam Mirzakhani Scholar marks an important step in our commitment to widening female participation at postgraduate level at the Mathematical Institute. I would like to express my thanks to XTX Markets and our other supporters for so generously funding the scholarship scheme.’
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