Spectra

JMM is next week! We're happy to introduce our Lavender Lecturer Matthew Voigt from Michigan State University!

Find out more and register by next Tuesday 9 December at jointmathematicsmeetings.org/meetings/nat....

Join us for the 2026 JMM Capitol Hill Day!

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, Spectra is partnering with other societies and associations to meet with the offices of their Senators and Representatives to advocate for legislation affecting the mathematical sciences in the United States.

If you'll be at JMM in 2026, we look forward to seeing you there! We will have two days of research sessions, a workshop, a panel and our annual Lavender Lecture. Find programme details here: jointmathematicsmeetings.org/meetings/nat...

We have our own donation platform now! You can donate to Spectra at secure.givelively.org/donate/spect...

Rin Ray (they/them) is a postdoc at Universität Münster studying the interface of arithmetic and topology. What advice would you give your younger self? Self compassion is the most important trait of being a scientist - it keeps you alive and your channel to the universe open.

Maximilian (he/him) is a visiting assistant professor at Michigan State University, studying algebraic topology and algebraic K-theory. What advice would you give your younger self? Your authenticity is your strength: one day, others will thank you for living it.

C/Chris/Christina Sormani (any pronouns) CS is a Mathematician of Athiest-Catholic-Jewish-Socialist heritage who grew up in 1970’s NYC with older LGBTQ relatives. CS fights for the rights of all people to study mathematics, to live the life they choose with a family of any shape or form they desire wherever they wish. What advice would you give your younger self? Be who you are when you wish and let yourself change over time. Don’t let anyone restrict who you are with labels and especially with their interpretations of those labels. Be free to show one dimension of yourself at work, another dimension to your family, and another dimension to friends. Read Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman a thousand times.

PS If you would like to participate, it's not too late! Share your wisdom in the following form: forms.gle/Ch4mUL5d9dzi...

Happy Pride! This June we are shining a spotlight on our community members: Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing responses from various LGBTQ+ mathematicians to the following prompt:

'What advice would you give your former self?'