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Encouraging American Girls to Embrace Math

Actress and mathematician Danica McKellar is the author of <em>Math Doesn't Suck.</em> She proved her own theorem in 2006.
Carlo Allegri
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Actress and mathematician Danica McKellar is the author of Math Doesn't Suck. She proved her own theorem in 2006.

In a new book for middle-school girls, actress and mathematician Danica McKellar argues that being good at math can be cool. McKellar's book is called Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail.

Also, a team of U.S. girls recently held their own in the China Girls Mathematical Olympiad. A coach and a competitor on the U.S. girls team discuss the competition.

Maria Klawe, a mathematician and president of Harvey Mudd College, talks about the best ways to boost the number of girls and women who succeed in mathematics.

Guests:

Danica McKellar, mathematician and actress; author of Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail

Jennifer Iglesias, member of the 2007 U.S. Girls Team International Mathematics Olympiad; senior at Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Melanie Matchett Wood, coach of the 2007 U.S. Girls Team, International Mathematics Olympiad; graduate student in mathematics, Princeton University

Maria Klawe, mathematician and president of Harvey Mudd College

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