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Dr Poh Wah Hillock was naturally drawn to maths at a young age . Picture : Supplied .
Women are overlooked in mathematics and even STEM in general .
‘ I feel very lucky ’
Australia ’ s University Teacher of the Year on making maths meaningful .
By Eleanor Campbell
Dr Poh Wah Hillock likes to ask her students a lot of questions in class , even if they might find it a little irritating .
“ After so many years of teaching I still have to think about my lessons and refine my questions ,” the senior mathematics lecturer told Campus Review .
“ I ’ m also very conscious that many of my students are doing maths not because they are drawn to the subject , but because it ’ s a compulsory requirement .
“ That means I have to work extra hard to make it motivating and exciting .”
The former high school teacher and academic has taught maths to an estimated 20,000 first-year students at The University of Queensland over the past decade .
Most recently , she was named Australia ’ s 2023 University Teacher of the Year by federal Education Minister Jason Clare .
Poh describes her teaching style as interactive , taking real world details to help make complex mathematical concepts more relevant and engaging .
“ If I was trying to explain something , say , the geometry of a honeycomb cell - i would bring in a physical model of a honeycomb cell ,” she said .
“ In fact , just yesterday I showed my students how to model ‘ love ’ using differential equations . I call them Romeo and Juliet . It brought on some giggles .”
Fewer students in Australia are choosing to study higher level maths in Year 12 , and fewer people are studying maths in university .
According to the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute , just 9.2 per cent of school students studied higher maths in 2020 – down from 11.6 per cent in 2008 .
Women make up an estimated 37 per cent of enrolments in university STEM courses . Milla , a first-year medicine student , said when she started university she was nervous to get back into studying after taking a gap-year .
But as soon as she sat in one of Poh ’ s classes , she said , she felt comfortable .
“ Coming across a teacher like Poh is so rare , but when you do , its life changing ,” the 21-year-old told Campus Review .
“ I feel like women are overlooked in mathematics and even STEM in general .
“ To have this role model who is so approachable and brilliant at what she does , it really is very encouraging because it makes you feel less alone and it makes you know that things are possible when people like her exist .”
Currently , Australia is experiencing a significant shortage of qualified of maths teachers and researchers , according to a 2022 nationwide review .
Staff losses in mathematical sciences have been further exacerbated by the ongoing effects of Covid-19 , university restructures and staff cuts .
In 2018 , maths was taught by out-of-field teachers in Australian high schools 40 per cent of the time , according to the Australian Teacher Workforce Data National Teacher Workforce Characteristics Report .
Poh said she wishes to encourage more of her students to pursue teaching maths .
“ I think the teacher is paramount to getting kids interested in maths and to improving numeracy in schools ,” she said .
“ There is something really wonderful about teaching , about taking a concept , explaining it , asking questions .
“ I feel very lucky to be doing something I love .” ■
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