UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 04 | Feb. 22, 2001

Math researchers take top national math prizes

Faculty score three out of three in awards program

UBC mathematicians swept the Canadian Mathematical Society's (CMS) research prizes gaining recognition for the researcher making outstanding contributions to mathematics in Canada as well as the top female and young researchers in the nation.

The recently announced prizes recognized Math Prof. Edwin Perkins for his outstanding contributions to mathematical research, Math Prof. Emerita Priscilla Greenwood as the outstanding female mathematics researcher, and Math Asst. Prof. Kai Behrend as the outstanding young mathematical researcher in Canada.

"This is overwhelming that we won all three research prizes announced in the same year," says Math Head Prof. George Bluman. "This shows the strength of our faculty, that we are second to none in the country."

Perkins received the 2002 Jeffery-Williams Prize for his outstanding contributions to probability theory research.

Greenwood was awarded the 2002 Krieger-Nelson Prize for outstanding research by a female mathematician.

Her research career spans more than 35 years and includes work in topics ranging from probability to statistics.

Behrend received the 2001 Coxeter-James Prize as the outstanding young mathematician for his work in the field of algebraic geometry.

The CMS research prize lectureships are awarded annually to three outstanding Canadian math researchers. As part of the award, the winners will give lectures at selected upcoming CMS meetings across Canada.

Originally established in 1945, the CMS seeks to promote the discovery, learning and application of mathematics in businesses, governments and schools across the country.

For more information on the prizes and the CMS, visit www.cms.math.ca.