Ghana’s “Maths Queen” Is The First African To Win The Big Internet Math Off Competition
Dr Angela Tabiri is the first African to win The Big Internet Math Off competition and wants other African girls to follow in her footsteps. Tabiri, also known as the ‘Maths queen’ in Ghana, “finds joy in solving puzzles and mathematical questions,” she told the BBC.
The Big Internet Math Off
A blog titled The Aperiodical created The Big Internet Math Off in 2018. They invite Sixteen mathematicians to compete for the title of “the world’s most interesting mathematician.” A public vote decides the winner, “Take a look at both pitches and vote for the bit of maths that made you do the loudest ‘Aha!’ the blog says.
All sixteen mathematicians compete against each other during the event. So two in each match, then the winners will go to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and finally, the finale where each contest will be voted on who explains their chosen mathematical concept in the most illuminating way, as per the BBC.
Dr Angela Tabiri’s passion for quantum
Tabiri’s passion is quantum, or non-commutative, algebra, and she conducts research at the Ghana branch of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (Aims).
Aims was founded in South Africa and eventually moved to Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, and Rwanda to offer graduate training and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Dr Tabiri is also the academic manager for the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Program, a mentoring and support scheme for high or secondary school girls in Ghana. Aims set up a Mathematical Sciences Program, a mentoring and support scheme for high or secondary school girls in Ghana, where Dr Tabiri is the academic manager.
Inspiring girls to achieve their math dreams
Dr. Tabiri told the BBC that the number of boys and girls studying math at high school is approximately the same until they reach university level. Math is still seen as a boy’s subject, and there’s an assumption that female students will only be able to land teaching roles.
This is why Dr Tabiri wants to help other African girls and women from low socio-economic backgrounds achieve their math dreams through her FemAfricMaths non-profit organization. She is very enthusiastic about the potential of quantum science and technology, where math plays a big role.
Ghana, with the help of Mexico, led the proposals that declared 2025 the UN International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. It’s the same year as the 100th anniversary of the discovery of modern quantum mechanics.
“There are lots of conversations now – the advantages and disadvantages – the jobs that will be created,” says Dr Tabiri. But she adds: “But that doesn’t mean that we will get the job.”
She wants to arrange “quantum road show” an an initial step into presenting school children to quantum science at a much younger age than she was.
Image: Dr Angela Tabiri
