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Recipients


The Coxeter-James Prize was inaugurated to recognize young mathematicians who have made outstanding contributions to mathematical research. The first award was presented in 1978.

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The Prize

The Coxeter-James Prize is an Inuit soapstone sculpture. Each sculpture is different, granting the recipient a unique Canadian piece of art. As well, the recipient of the Coxeter-James Prize presents a plenary lecture at a CMS meeting.

Featured sculpture: "Chanting Man" by Manasie Ikalukjuak.
Selected with the generous assistance of Ian Wright from The Snow Goose Ltd., Ottawa.

H.S.M. (Donald) Coxeter (1907-2003)

Donald Coxeter was the seventh president of the CMS from 1965-1967. Donald joined the Department of Mathematics at the University of Toronto in 1936 and he spent the next 67 years actively engaged at the University. Undoubtedly the world's most famous geometer, he is best known for his introduction of what are now referred to as Coxeter groups. His name is attached to a number of mathematical concepts including the Coxeter diagram, Coxeter complex, Coxeter element, Coxeter graph, Coxeter number, and Coxeter system.

Ralph Duncan James (1909-1979)

Ralph James was the fifth president of the Canadian Mathematical Society from 1961-1963. A member of the CMS virtually from its beginning, Ralph was one of its most ardent supporters. As the head of the University of British Columbia Mathematics Department from 1948-1974, he encouraged his colleagues to take a serious interest in applying their work and worked to develop the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Statistics at UBC. He also helped to found the British Columbia Association of Mathematics Teachers and played a significant role in provincial school curriculum development.