“But what sets Sania Ejaz apart to a special degree goes far beyond her academic achievements - she is a passionate advocate for education, inclusion, and social responsibility,” states Anusch Taraz, Head of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master InterMaths at TUHH and the person who nominated the mathematician for the DAAD Prize.
Living with only one leg and managing life on crutches, Sania Ejaz organized mentoring programs in Pakistan for women with disabilities, opening paths toward independence and societal participation - for which she has already been honored with a Leadership Award.
As a teacher for "Teach for Pakistan," she founded the editorial project "The Digital Scientists – Youth Research Journal" to introduce students aged 14 to 15 from underserved schools to scientific writing, digital skills, and research methodology. She guided the youth in developing their own research questions and writing short texts on self-chosen topics. All these texts were finally published in the 184-page book "The Digital Scientists: A Journal of Curiosity and Research by Young Minds." This initiative was personally very meaningful to her, “because it shows how equal access to mentoring and digital tools can empower young learners to participate in science and confidently express their curiosity,” describes the mathematician.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sania Ejaz initiated donation campaigns and relief efforts for those in need - and continues to be committed to educational opportunities and social cohesion in her home country.
Finally, she is active in the international scientific community: by founding the first SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) Student Chapter in Pakistan, she created a platform for exchange that even gained international recognition.
Sania Ejaz is very pleased about this special recognition at the conclusion of her studies at TU Hamburg. She says she had already greatly enjoyed the university: “especially the supportive and inspiring academic environment and the opportunity to work closely with passionate professors and researchers.” The InterMaths program was a truly international and interdisciplinary experience that gave her the chance to study in various European countries, meet amazing people, and strengthen both her mathematical and research skills.
And who knows, she might stay in the Hanseatic city, which she found pleasantly calm and culturally diverse. She plans to continue her academic career in Germany by pursuing a doctorate or embarking on another research path here.
