Dr. Angela Tabiri, popularly known as the Maths Queen, is the first Ghanaian African to win The Big Internet Math Off competition, recognized as the world's most interesting mathematician by the Aperiodical blog.
The 35-year-old Ghanaian, who finds joy in solving puzzles and mathematical questions, triumphed over sixteen mathematicians from across the globe to achieve this remarkable feat.
This is quite an accomplishment for someone who had not initially planned to study mathematics.
During the event, participants compete against each other in pairs, progressing through quarter-finals and semi-finals until the final match, where they explain their chosen mathematical concept in the most illuminating way.
Dr. Tabiri's passion lies in quantum, or non-commutative, algebra, which she researches at the Ghana branch of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).
She also serves as the academic manager for the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Programme, a mentoring and support scheme for high school girls in Ghana.
Dr. Tabiri is dedicated to supporting other African girls and women from less privileged backgrounds to pursue their mathematical dreams through her non-profit organization, FemAfricMaths.
In collaboration with UNESCO, Dr. Tabiri will host a week-long "Quantum Hackathon" in July at AIMS-Ghana for about 40 post-graduate students from various African countries.
"We want them to use their quantum skills to solve some of the greatest challenges we face, real-life problems," It's very urgent that we position our youth for this next big revolution,” she said in an interview with BBC.
The first winner of the competition was Dr. Nira Chamberlain, the first black mathematician to be included in the British reference book Who's Who and a vice-president of the professional body, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
Ghana's Maths Queen @angela_tabiri is the first African to win The Big Internet Math Off competition.
— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) January 13, 2025
She's on a quantum mission to mentor girls and hopes her 2024 win will encourage more African women to take the subject.https://t.co/SmZTiVDg2P #BlackHeroesMaths pic.twitter.com/7iVzTr1jZV
AM/KA
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