Inspirational ANU Women - Hanna Neumann

Hanna Neumann was an inspirational mathematics professor who made abstract ideas accessible.

The Hanna Neumann Building houses Schools and Centres of the College of Business and Economics. Professor Hanna Neumann (1914-1971) was Professor and Head of the Department of Pure Mathematics from 1964 to 1971 and Dean of Students from 1968 to 1969. She was the first woman to be appointed to a Chair at The Australian National University. 

Professor Neumann was a born teacher who made abstract ideas accessible through concrete examples and showed that mathematics could be applied to many human endeavours. In 1966 she was elected a foundation vice-president of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers and in 1970 she was made a fellow of the Australian College of Education.

Hanna Neumann found joy and beauty in the study of mathematics. She had a flair for languages and enjoyed cycling, botany and photography. She was also closely involved with her children, four of whom became mathematicians.

This week is International Women's Day so we are celebrating the women of ANU who have helped to 'build a better world'.

Do you know an ANU alumna who deserves a building named after her?

We would love to hear about inspirational ANU alumnae who are building a better world.

And while we can't promise that she will have a building named after her, we would love to share her story.