CMS MEMBER RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) is pleased to announce that Bernard Hodgson (Laval) is the recipient of the 2012 Graham Wright Award for Distinguished Service.

The Graham Wright Award for Distinguished Service recognizes individuals who have made sustained and significant contributions to the Canadian mathematical community and, in particular, to the Canadian Mathematical Society. The award is named in honour of Dr. Graham Wright of the University of Ottawa, who served as Executive Director and Secretary of the CMS for over 30 years.

“Bernard Hodgson has been a pioneer in opening new spheres of action and in bridging the education and mathematical communities, all the time keeping mathematics at the core,” said CMS President, Jacques Hurtubise. “The Society is therefore very happy to have him as the recipient of the Graham Wright Prize for 2012.”

Hodgson has been an active member in the Canadian mathematical community since 1977 when he became involved in the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group, a group whose mandate was to bridge the gap between education specialists and mathematicians. Through Hodgson’s dedication he has greatly contributed to increased collaboration between both these communities.

Hodgson’s involvement with the CMS began in 1983 when he first became a member.

“Bernard Hodgson has been an active participant in the life of the Society for the last thirty years, over the course of which he has contributed to almost all of the aspects of the functioning of the Society, in particular as Vice-President in 2001-2003,” said Hurtubise.

Aside from his role as Vice-President, Hodgson served as a member of the education committee from 1994-1996 and again from 2009-2011. Hodgson’s longest standing role with the CMS was from 1987-1991 when he served as a member of the CMS Board of Directors. He has since been re-elected in this position until 2013.

Bernard Hodgson was born in 1948 in Québec City. He completed his B.A. and B.Sc. at the University of Laval and went on to obtain his PhD from the University of Montreal in 1976. He currently holds a position in the department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Laval in Quebec City.

About the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS)

The CMS is the main national organization whose goal is to promote and advance the discovery, learning, and application of mathematics. The Society's activities cover the whole spectrum of mathematics including: scientific meetings, research publications, and the promotion of excellence in mathematics education at all levels. The CMS annually sponsors mathematics awards and prizes that recognize outstanding achievements.