When
Monday 25th May 2026 @ 7:00 pm –
Monday 25th May 2026 @ 9:30 pm
Where
2A Barloa Rd, Mont Albert
What difference can mathematics make beyond the classroom or the page? Can it do any good in the world?
Join us for a conversation with Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger AC, one of Australia’s most distinguished mathematicians and a pioneering woman in her field, as she reflects on success, vocation, Christian faith, and how professional life can be directed toward the common good.
Fire in the Belly will take place at John and Jillian Quartel’s home (2A Barloa Rd, Mont Albert).
This event is free to attend. Please RSVP so the hosts can plan for numbers.
Format
- 7 p.m. — Shared dinner. Bring enough food and drink for yourself and a little extra to share.
- 8 p.m. — A brief update from ISCAST staff on new developments and some new faces.
- 8:15 p.m. — A conversation with Cheryl Praeger.
- 9:30 p.m. — Finish (although informal discussions may continue for some time after).
About Cheryl Praeger
Cheryl Praeger is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Senior Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. Appointed professor in 1983, she was only the second woman to hold a professorship in mathematics at an Australian university. In 2019, she became the first Western Australian and the first pure mathematician to receive the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.
Her research focuses on the mathematics of symmetry, with applications across science and computing, and she has published extensively and received honorary doctorates from universities around the world.
Throughout her career, Cheryl has been deeply committed to using her expertise in service of others. Raised in a Christian family, she speaks openly about how her faith has shaped her approach to collaboration, leadership, justice, and responsibility, including her service on international committees promoting human rights and academic freedom in science.