Rowena Ball
@rowena-mathscieng.bsky.social
Professor in mathematical sciences, Indigenous and non-Western mathematics, Origin of life, Cross-disciplinary interests in all STEM, Railways, Country pub lunches
She/her, widowed, with 3 children and 3 grandchildren
She/her, widowed, with 3 children and 3 grandchildren
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Legend
I heard a story about a female academic giving a paper at the IHR who, after receiving a long and aggressive question from a senior male professor, simply leaned back with her hands behind her head and replied “Oh, do fuck off.”
One of my colleagues went to a seminar at Berkeley and when someone asked a question Derrida brushed it off saying ‘what you ask may be important but it is not interesting’.
November 27, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Legend
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November 26, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Order #8058753AU confirmed
Shipping Information Received #CP9BC0180008
Order #8058753AU shipping soon
We’ve got your parcel! #CP9BC0180008
Your delivery is on its way! #CP9BC0180008
Parcel Delivered! #CP9BC018008
How did we go? Fill out this short survey
Reminder: we value your feedback
Arrgh!
Shipping Information Received #CP9BC0180008
Order #8058753AU shipping soon
We’ve got your parcel! #CP9BC0180008
Your delivery is on its way! #CP9BC0180008
Parcel Delivered! #CP9BC018008
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Fantastic outcomes! Finally mathematically talented girls and young women are getting what boys and young men have had, and taken for granted, for centuries: multiple mentoring, role models, endless positive reinforcement, recognition, approval, and confidence-boosting, the list goes on and on
How can we flip the decline in girls and gender-diverse students doing mathematics at higher levels?
Zsuzsanna Dancso explains how her program of mentorship and encouragement piloted at
@sydney.edu.au increased enrolments from 22% to 30%📈 🧮
More here:
doi.org/10.64628/AA....
#MathSky
doi.
Zsuzsanna Dancso explains how her program of mentorship and encouragement piloted at
@sydney.edu.au increased enrolments from 22% to 30%📈 🧮
More here:
doi.org/10.64628/AA....
#MathSky
doi.
doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Fantastic outcomes! Finally mathematically talented girls and young women are getting what boys and young men have had, and taken for granted, for centuries: multiple mentoring, role models, endless positive reinforcement, recognition, approval, and confidence-boosting, the list goes on and on
Reposted by Rowena Ball
The lower of the interior streets of majestic Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont, with its dramatic toplights & open vistas to the harbour.
Built by the engineers of the #Sydneyharbourtrust c1920 under Chief Engineer #hdwalsh, it was the last of the great finger wharves they built. #publicsydney
Built by the engineers of the #Sydneyharbourtrust c1920 under Chief Engineer #hdwalsh, it was the last of the great finger wharves they built. #publicsydney
November 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The lower of the interior streets of majestic Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont, with its dramatic toplights & open vistas to the harbour.
Built by the engineers of the #Sydneyharbourtrust c1920 under Chief Engineer #hdwalsh, it was the last of the great finger wharves they built. #publicsydney
Built by the engineers of the #Sydneyharbourtrust c1920 under Chief Engineer #hdwalsh, it was the last of the great finger wharves they built. #publicsydney
Reposted by Rowena Ball
No filter just incredible views.
November 23, 2025 at 3:20 AM
No filter just incredible views.
November 23, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Parallelograms in the wild (paving in Bendigo).
November 22, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Parallelograms in the wild (paving in Bendigo).
Had a terrific Friday evening walk & shop! Bought a beautiful spotted shirt at Vinnies! Took it home, tried it on.
Erm... sometimes, there is a good reason why someone sends a clo to the charity shop bin. Oh well. It was fun browsing the bric-a-brac anyway.
#FashionFail
Erm... sometimes, there is a good reason why someone sends a clo to the charity shop bin. Oh well. It was fun browsing the bric-a-brac anyway.
#FashionFail
November 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Had a terrific Friday evening walk & shop! Bought a beautiful spotted shirt at Vinnies! Took it home, tried it on.
Erm... sometimes, there is a good reason why someone sends a clo to the charity shop bin. Oh well. It was fun browsing the bric-a-brac anyway.
#FashionFail
Erm... sometimes, there is a good reason why someone sends a clo to the charity shop bin. Oh well. It was fun browsing the bric-a-brac anyway.
#FashionFail
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Confession time: The main reason for my trip wasn't to visit Blackpool. It was a pilgrimage to Preston for a visit to the brutalist bus station. It didn't disappoint.
#architecture
#architecture
November 20, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Confession time: The main reason for my trip wasn't to visit Blackpool. It was a pilgrimage to Preston for a visit to the brutalist bus station. It didn't disappoint.
#architecture
#architecture
Isn't this absolutely marvellous! Congratulations Nalini! Fantastic to have a mathematician as recipient!
An article from @sydney.edu.au about today’s significant event #NSWPremiersPrizes news-opinion.sydney.edu.au/link/id/zzzz...
Nalini Joshi named 2025 NSW Scientist of the Year
Trailblazing mathematician Professor Nalini Joshi has been awarded the top scientific accolade in NSW for 2025.
news-opinion.sydney.edu.au
November 18, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Isn't this absolutely marvellous! Congratulations Nalini! Fantastic to have a mathematician as recipient!
Reposted by Rowena Ball
I enjoyed this thoughtful conversation with English professor Wesley Beal. Asking big questions doesn’t have to be limited to the humanities.
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
Liberal Arts Experience | A Pod-series
www.lyon.edu
November 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I enjoyed this thoughtful conversation with English professor Wesley Beal. Asking big questions doesn’t have to be limited to the humanities.
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
open.spotify.com/episode/1KV9...
November 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Prescient. When humans finally cause our own extinction, through warfare and climate destruction and stupidity, the Earth, if it could talk, will say: "Phew, thank god they're gone, they were really becoming a bloody nuisance, effing ruined the whole works. Time I gave the dinosaurs another whirl."
November 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Prescient. When humans finally cause our own extinction, through warfare and climate destruction and stupidity, the Earth, if it could talk, will say: "Phew, thank god they're gone, they were really becoming a bloody nuisance, effing ruined the whole works. Time I gave the dinosaurs another whirl."
Reposted by Rowena Ball
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Canberra peeps, come along!
It'll be a double whammy with Pat Anderson AO talking health justice and self-determination, followed by discussion with Fiona Cornforth, Lisa Whop and Ray Lovett
🗓️ 26 Nov
🕠 5:30pm - 7pm AEDT
📍 Kambri Cinema, Acton ACT
events.humanitix.com/yardhura-wal...
It'll be a double whammy with Pat Anderson AO talking health justice and self-determination, followed by discussion with Fiona Cornforth, Lisa Whop and Ray Lovett
🗓️ 26 Nov
🕠 5:30pm - 7pm AEDT
📍 Kambri Cinema, Acton ACT
events.humanitix.com/yardhura-wal...
Yardhura Walani Annual Oration
We invite you to the inaugural Yardhura Walani Annual Oration delivered by the esteemed Aunty Pat Anderson AO.
events.humanitix.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Canberra peeps, come along!
It'll be a double whammy with Pat Anderson AO talking health justice and self-determination, followed by discussion with Fiona Cornforth, Lisa Whop and Ray Lovett
🗓️ 26 Nov
🕠 5:30pm - 7pm AEDT
📍 Kambri Cinema, Acton ACT
events.humanitix.com/yardhura-wal...
It'll be a double whammy with Pat Anderson AO talking health justice and self-determination, followed by discussion with Fiona Cornforth, Lisa Whop and Ray Lovett
🗓️ 26 Nov
🕠 5:30pm - 7pm AEDT
📍 Kambri Cinema, Acton ACT
events.humanitix.com/yardhura-wal...
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Correction: Calculus was first developed in the 15th C by Madhava and the Kerala school in India and published in the Yuktibhāṣā, two centuries before Newton and Liebniz. The chain and timings of the transmission of Kerala calculus to Europe are gradually being fleshed out and verified
#MythBusting
#MythBusting
November 13, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Correction: Calculus was first developed in the 15th C by Madhava and the Kerala school in India and published in the Yuktibhāṣā, two centuries before Newton and Liebniz. The chain and timings of the transmission of Kerala calculus to Europe are gradually being fleshed out and verified
#MythBusting
#MythBusting
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Not Aurora Australis but the twilight sky is just as beautiful.
Hoping I can see the Aurora in a few minutes.
Hoping I can see the Aurora in a few minutes.
November 13, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Not Aurora Australis but the twilight sky is just as beautiful.
Hoping I can see the Aurora in a few minutes.
Hoping I can see the Aurora in a few minutes.
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Chennai metro trains to be fitted with anti-drag system to detect trapped saris and bags https://bit.ly/3LygeB1
Chennai metro trains to be fitted with anti-drag system to detect trapped saris and bags
Chennai metro trains to be fitted with anti-drag system to detect trapped saris and bags https://bit.ly/3LygeB1
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Chennai metro trains to be fitted with anti-drag system to detect trapped saris and bags https://bit.ly/3LygeB1
Reposted by Rowena Ball
Want to know why your mobile phone photos of the Moon look like crap?
I have a new @aunz.theconversation.com article explaining why, how you can take better(ish) photos, and what astronomical sights your phone can photograph well.
theconversation.com/why-is-it-so...
I have a new @aunz.theconversation.com article explaining why, how you can take better(ish) photos, and what astronomical sights your phone can photograph well.
theconversation.com/why-is-it-so...
Why is it so hard to take a good photo of the Moon with my phone?
Phones can often take great photos, but why photos of the Moon typically disappointing? The Moon itself and camera design are both part of the answer.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Want to know why your mobile phone photos of the Moon look like crap?
I have a new @aunz.theconversation.com article explaining why, how you can take better(ish) photos, and what astronomical sights your phone can photograph well.
theconversation.com/why-is-it-so...
I have a new @aunz.theconversation.com article explaining why, how you can take better(ish) photos, and what astronomical sights your phone can photograph well.
theconversation.com/why-is-it-so...
Reposted by Rowena Ball
50 years on …
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
50 years on …
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
It’s still time to fix the faults of the Constitution, abolish the Governor General, become a republic
…& have a progressive, reformist government…
Mildly amusing that Humanities & Social Sciences is having a sale on Maths and Statistics books
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Mildly amusing that Humanities & Social Sciences is having a sale on Maths and Statistics books
Reposted by Rowena Ball
No, that's not what the "1% to 5%" figure "in science" means.
Ffs.
Ffs.
November 9, 2025 at 12:15 PM
No, that's not what the "1% to 5%" figure "in science" means.
Ffs.
Ffs.
Reposted by Rowena Ball
It got more exciting as we got very close to the working steam engine. Not sure I have ever seen a centrifugal governor in operation before. Apparently it wasn't working quite correctly today, and small changes in piston speed affect the quality of the weave. Fascinating.
November 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
It got more exciting as we got very close to the working steam engine. Not sure I have ever seen a centrifugal governor in operation before. Apparently it wasn't working quite correctly today, and small changes in piston speed affect the quality of the weave. Fascinating.
Reposted by Rowena Ball
A large St Andrew's cross spider (Argiope keyserlingi), a type of orb-weaver spider native to eastern Australia
The University of Sydney
7 November 2025
The University of Sydney
7 November 2025
November 7, 2025 at 2:33 AM
A large St Andrew's cross spider (Argiope keyserlingi), a type of orb-weaver spider native to eastern Australia
The University of Sydney
7 November 2025
The University of Sydney
7 November 2025