IDMS Summer School 2026

Increasing Diversity in Mathematical & Related Sciences 2026

May 17 – 22, 2026, UBC Okanagan

The Canadian Math Society Women in Math Committee will be organizing the 2026 Increasing Diversity in Mathematical & Related Sciences (IDMS) Summer School. This is a 5-day Summer School that will bring together a diverse group of undergraduate students who identify as women or other underrepresented gender identities studying math at a Canadian university.

Overview:

This will be an inspiring week of learning new math from influential women and gender-diverse mathematicians, and collaborating with peers from across the country!  You will connect professionally and socially, build networks among your academic peers and with the instructors. We will offer a challenging academic program, as well as professional development sessions and panel discussions with a focus on how to meet challenges faced by women and other underrepresented gender identities in the mathematical sciences.

Details:

Location: University of British Columbia—Okanagan, Kelowna, BC

Dates: May 17 – 22, 2026

Topics: Combinatorics and Graph Theory, highlighting algebraic methods

Eligibility:
This workshop is open to undergraduates in a math or related science program at a Canadian university who have completed at least two years of university-level math education at the time of application and identify as a woman or as another underrepresented gender identity.

Students must apply to participate in this workshop; we have space for approximately 35 students. Consideration will be given to students from multiple equity-seeking groups or with limited access to such programs. A reference letter from a professor or instructor is required.

Application:

Students are asked to complete this application form and have one letter of reference from a professor or instructor submitted to this reference form. We also ask that you submit transcripts (these are only used to understand the academic background of participants).

The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

Funding:

Accommodations and food will be provided to all workshop participants. We have some travel support available for participants, but we are asking participants to try to find matching funding. You can ask the head of your department or the undergraduate co-ordinator at your university if there is funding available for undergraduate students to attend conferences. You can also ask a professor (perhaps a professor that told you about this workshop) or a summer research supervisor, or your math club or student’s union if there is funding available.