Angela Tabiri: Meet the Ghanaian now holding the ‘World’s Most Interesting Mathematician’ title

Angela Tabiri, a young mathematician from Ghana, has been named the World’s Most Interesting Mathematician by The Big Internet Math-Off.

The contest, which ran from July 1 to July 24 in the United States, recognized Tabiri, affectionately known as the Maths Queen, for her groundbreaking work and innovative approach to solving complex mathematical problems.

Hailing from Ghana’s capital Accra, Tabiri was among 16 mathematicians from around the globe who competed by demonstrating the fun, interesting, and relevant aspects of math, according to Ghana’s Asaase Radio.

Her journey to becoming a renowned mathematician began in her youth with a passion for numbers and problem-solving. Despite challenges and stereotypes in the male-dominated field, she pursued her education with determination.

After graduating from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana in 2014, she enrolled in the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) postgraduate diploma program in mathematics.

In 2015, she received the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship to fund her PhD in mathematics at the University of Glasgow, UK. In June 2019, Tabiri graduated from the University of Glasgow with a PhD in Mathematics.

She is now a Research Associate focused on Quantum Algebra and the Academic Manager for the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Program (GMSP) at AIMS Ghana, which nurtures the talents of secondary school girls in the mathematical sciences.

She also organizes Science Slam Ghana, a science communication event for researchers to present their work to a lay audience in an engaging way.

She is also the founder of Femafricmaths, an NGO promoting female African mathematicians. Through Femafricmaths, she interviews inspiring female mathematicians and trains them for hands-on outreach activities for high school students in Ghana, including Science in Tents, National STEAM Day, and Y3p3maths.

In February 2024, the Maths Queen was selected by the Falling Walls Foundation for the 2024 Female Science Talents Intensive Track Program, a year-long mentoring initiative that promotes female leadership in science, business, and society. She was one of 20 exceptional scientists chosen from 15 countries.

Beyond her academic success, Tabiri is recognized for her commitment to diversity and inclusion, actively mentoring young students, particularly girls, to pursue STEM fields.

TWI NEWS