Sofia Kovalevskaya

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sofia kovalevskaya

Pablo de bartolomé, rayan ameziane, luna pérez, laura muñoz y sara rodrigo

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index

1. Biography
2. Education contributions
3. Education in Russia
4. Spanish VS Russia system
5. Impact in society
6. Relationship with other figures
7. Actual relevance
8. Bibliography

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BIOGRAPHY

• Remarkable writer and scientist. First woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics and became a university profesor.
• Moscow, 15 january, 1850. Belong to the Russian nobility.

• 1868: Sofia married Vladimir Kovalevsky to leave Russia and study mathematics.
• 1869: couple settled in Heidelberg. She obtained permission to attend classes.

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BIOGRAPHY

• 1870: Berlin. Study with Weierstrass ``the father of mathematical analysis´´. Thanks to Lazarus Fuchs from the University of Göttingen, Sofia achieved her doctorate from that university.

• 1875: she abandoned her mathematical work. She turned to literature.

• 1880: returned to mathematics and presented a paper on Abelian integrals.

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BIOGRAPHY

• Autobiographical novel: ``Memories of Childhood´´.

• 10 feburary, 1891, died due to pneumonia (41 years old).

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EDUCATION CONTRIBUTIONS

Participation on specific projects

She is one of the most representative figures of the 19th century in science.

• Problems related to mechanics: Rotation of a solid body
• Works: theory of dynamical systems or the Cauchy- Kovalevskaya equations.
• Contributions: problems related to mechanics, algebra and geometry.

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Reforms and innovations

• Significant impact in promoting women's access to higher education and their participation in science.
• First woman to hold a uniersity chair in Europe
• She influenced the curriculum development in Stockholm.

Methods promoted

• Equitable education and gender equality.
• She encouraged active and self-directed research, emphasizing on perseverance.

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EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

Strict gender restrictions

Characterized by:

Society in transition

Social class: - Upper classes: private tutors and elite schools. - Lower classes: restricted access, especially in rural areas.

Gender transitions: - Formal education for women: limited. - Universities didn´t admit women until 19th century.

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SPANISH VS RUSSIAN SYSTEMS IN 1850

Both educational systems shared certain similarities, such as their elitist nature and strong religious control, but they differed in their level of development and access. Spain showed signs of early modernization, while in Russia, the educational system was deeply subordinated to the tsarist regime and kept the majority of the population excluded from access to education.

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CURRENT RELEVANCE IN EDUCATION

• Inspiration for the inclusion of women in STEM

• Promotion of critical thinking

• Fighting against social barriers

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Examples of Her Legacy in Current Education

• Celebrations and awards in her honor

• Programs supporting women in science

• Integration of her ideas into teaching

• Inspiration for gender equality policies in education

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IMPACT IN SOCIETY

• Women in science
• Maths and Physics
• Cultural and social
• Activism and reforms

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RELATION WITH OTHER CHARACTERS

Comparisions with other thinkers and philosophers

Challenges

Influences

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bibliography

Arguedas T, V. (2020). Sophia Korvin (Sophia Kovalevsky) (1850-1891) a heroine of mathematics. https://revistas.tec.ac.cr/index.php/matematica/article/view/5042 Birchak, G. (2022). Sofya Kovalevskaya. https://mathsciencehistory.com/2022/01/18/sofya-kovalevskaya/ Cooke, R. (1984): The Mathematics of Sonya Kovalevskaya. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4612-5274-0 CSIC (s.f.). Sofia Vasílievna Kovalévskaya. https://www.csic.es/es/el-csic/ciencia-en-igualdad/comision-de-mujeres-y-ciencia/cientificas-pioneras/otras-cientificas-pioneras/sofia-vasilievna-kovalevskaya Johnson L, J. (2019). The life and career of mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya. https://www.thoughtco.com/sofia-kovalevskaya-biography-3530355 Salvador, A (s.f.). La historia como recurso: Biografías de mujeres matemáticas (148/214).https://www2.caminos.upm.es/Departamentos/matematicas/Fdistancia/MAIC/actividades/conferencias/conferencias/10.Biografias%20de%20mujeres%20matem%C3%A1ticas.pdf

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Inspiration for the inclusion of women in STEM

Kovalevskaya is a symbol of the fight for the inclusion of women in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as mathematics, physics, and engineering. Today, her example inspires global initiatives to promote the participation of girls and women in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Programs like Girls Who Code and Women in Science draw inspiration from figures like her.

Integration of her ideas into teaching:

In mathematics education, her works are taught as examples of innovation. Additionally, her interdisciplinary approach (which integrated literature and philosophy) has inspired educational models that promote a comprehensive and humanistic education.

Fighting against social barriers:

Her personal story, marked by perseverance in the face of prejudice and social restrictions, is used as an example in educational programs to teach resilience, equity, and the right to education for all.

Inspiration for gender equality policies in education:

Current educational reforms aim to balance gender access and representation in fields like mathematics, following the path opened by pioneers such as Kovalevskaya.

Celebrations and awards in her honor:

The Sofia Kovalevskaya Prize, awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, supports outstanding young researchers, recognizing the value of scientific and educational research.

Programs supporting women in science:

Many universities include stories like Kovalevskaya’s in science history courses and as part of inclusion strategies, promoting policies to ensure women's access to higher education and research.

Promotion of critical thinking:

Her mathematical contributions (such as the Kovalevskaya theorems) are foundational to fields like partial differential equations and mechanics. Her work fosters problem-solving skills and abstract thinking in students, which are essential in modern education.