St. Olaf Math 257 (Noether & Kovalevskaya: Algebra, Analysis, and Access in Europe) 

Oles doing math in Germany and Sweden

Emmy Noether and Sofia Kovalevskaya are two of the most famous mathematicians in the world. Each struggled to become educated because of restrictions on women entering university, but both persevered. Noether was an algebraist who essentially invented ring theory and Kovalevskaya was an analyst who was the first female mathematics professor in Europe at the University of Stockholm.  In this course, students will study the mathematics of the two women, culminating in the Lasker-Noether and Cauchy-Kovalevsky Theorems. We will also discuss modern day issues of equity and access to education.