NAS Women: I am inspired by people working together to bring positive change

Women's Month: Focus on Dr Eder Kikianty

A: Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

Q: What has been the highlight of your career?

A: Mentoring new generations of mathematicians. I work closely with a group of talented undergraduate students in our department and expose them to various extra-curricular opportunities such as competitions, problem-solving seminars, reading seminars, research seminars, and community engagements. 

Q: What inspires you?

A: People who pour their heart and soul into their work. I have been influenced and inspired by passionate people about their work, who find joy in what they do. I am also inspired by collaboration. I feel very inspired when people work together to bring positive changes and want to be a part of it. 

Q: What challenges have you experienced in your career?

A: I found that sometimes female lecturers are held to a different standard than their male counterparts. Students tend to find that it is normal for a male lecturer to be strict, but female lectures are expected to be nurturing. I think discipline is crucial in academia. Students tend to do nothing when a male lecturer denies their request, but they expect female lecturers to be accommodating and not deny their request. There is a time and a place to practice compassion, but there are times when a situation calls for so-called "tough love". I also find that I am often perceived negatively by people who think that women should not be outspoken. For them, outspoken females are seen as pushy, loud, arrogant, and opinionated. I have been in situations where I raised my opinion in a forum but was not heard. Only to be followed by a male colleague raising a similar, if not the same, argument, which was attended, accepted, and even applauded. Indeed, mathematics is still a male-dominated field. Although the situation is much better than it used to be, some of these expectations on women to follow traditional gender roles still lingers.

Q: What message do you have for the youth of South Africa?

A: I received the same message from my parents and mentors: never give up and keep pushing forward. I grew up in Indonesia, in a small town where things were not so well-developed, and when Chinese Indonesians, like myself, were discriminated against. I was denied scholarship opportunities because of my racial identity. However, my parents and supportive teachers kept telling me to study hard and keep pushing forward. Because of their support and constant encouragement, I passed the highly competitive university entrance exam and was accepted to study in one of the best universities in the country. As a student from a developing area, I did not receive the same level of education as some of my classmates from schools in well-developed cities. But nothing beats hard work and determination. I soon caught up with my classmates and became one of the best students in my year. Upon graduation, I was the best mathematics student and was the second-best student in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. As a result, I received a scholarship to study in Australia and was awarded the University Medal (best PhD student prize) on my graduation. These opportunities have enabled me to realise my childhood dream of becoming a mathematician. To quote Li Cunxin, a peasant boy from rural China who became one of the best ballet dancers in the world: "Seize the opportunities life has to offer you. Embrace the changes, and have the courage to travel on less travelled roads. Even though what is in front of you could be tough, make it successful. Have determination and courage to kick down the brick walls in front of you and to go on and achieve bigger success than you ever thought possible."