News

Alex Rutar has won the Pure Mathematics Undergraduate Research Prize for 2019/20. Alex worked with Pure Math professors Kathryn Hare and Kevin Hare on the study of self-similar sets and the associated self-similar measures supported on them, a fundamental problem in fractal geometry. This work has resulted in two papers, one currently in submission and the other -- solo-authored by Alex -- in the process of being written. Alex will be attending graduate school at St. Andrews University in Scotland in the fall. 

We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 2019/20 Pure Mathematics Silver Awards. Awarded for mathematical excellence to male and female students in Pure Math and Mathematical Finance, this year's recipients are:

• Jun Yan
• Spencer Whitehead
• Jose Avilez
• Wanchun Shen

Congratulations to the winners!

Early in his second year of medical school, Jose Luiz Avilez realized he wanted something different than medical school could offer. In his heart, he knew he wanted to study mathematics. It was a difficult decision, but by 2016 he was applying to universities.

“A friend of mine who studied at Waterloo told me about its program in Mathematical Finance and that it has a co-op program,” remembered Avilez. “I was sold.”

Learn more about Avilez's experience.

Zhenyuan Zhang, a pure mathematics major at the University of Waterloo, has received an honorary mention for the 2020 Jessie W.H. Zou Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.

Wanchun (Rosie) Shen, a pure mathematics major at the University of Waterloo, has been awarded a 2020 Jessie W.H. Zou Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research. Shen has focused much of her work on the multifractal analysis of self-similar measures of finite type.

We are sad to share the news that János Aczel passed away on January 1, 2020 following a brief illness only six days following his 95^th birthday. János became a professor in the Department of Pure Mathematics in 1965 after holding positions at the University of Cologne, Lajos Kossuth University, University of Miskolc, and University of Szeged.

Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1924, János completed his bachelor and master’s degrees at the University of Budapest, as well as his doctorate in mathematical analysis.

Henry Crapo, 2007. Credit: James Oxley, The Matroid Union

We are sad to share that Henry Crapo passed away on September 3, 2019. Henry was a professor in the Faculty of Mathematics between 1965-1977.

“He was a colourful member of the department, with a wide variety of interests outside mathematics,” remembered Professor Emeritus Stanley Burris.

At the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) Winter Meeting Banquet in Toronto on December 8, 2019, the CMS will recognize Cameron Stewart as part of the Second Inaugural Class of Fellows.

One of 11 of the 2019 fellows, Stewart has been a faculty member in the Department of Pure Mathematics since 1978. Since that time, he has received several honours and awards including:

Pure Mathematics PhD students Boyu Li and Ruizhang Jin won second and third places respectively in the inaugural Mathematics Doctoral Prize competition at the University of Waterloo. This new prize will be awarded annually to recognize the achievement of graduating doctoral students in the Faculty of Mathematics. Li will receive a $1,000 award and Jin will receive $500.

Associate Professor Benoit Charbonneau is one of three recipients of the Faculty Association’s Equity Committee Equity and Inclusivity Awards.

Charbonneau is committed to improving the lives of members of equity-seeking groups on campus, in particular through political, legal, and collective bargaining advancements, as well as organizational leadership.