PRESS RELEASE
Barbara Lee Keyfitz appointed next Director of The Fields Institute
March, 2004. TORONTO, ONTARIO - Barbara Lee Keyfitz, Professor of Mathematics,
of the University of Houston, has been appointed Director of the Fields
Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences, beginning July 1, 2004.
Barbara Keyfitz has made profound and original contributions to applied
mathematics, particularly in the study of nonlinear partial differential
equations such as those arising in the study of fluid flow or transonic
shock waves. She has a distinguished record of research, mentoring,
and service to her profession. Her undergraduate training took place
at the University of Toronto, and she obtained her PhD from New York
University's Courant Institute, prior to holding positions at Columbia
University, Princeton University, and Arizona State University. She
continues as the John and Rebecca Moores Professor at the University
of Houston. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science, and is chair elect of their Mathematics section. She is
an officer of the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics,
and has made numerous contributions as a reviewer and advisor to the
Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Council. She was recently
awarded the Canadian Mathematical Society's Krieger-Nelson Prize, has
served as a Vice President of the Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics, and is incoming President of the Association for Women
in Mathematics.
The Fields Institute is a centre for mathematical research activity
- a place where mathematicians from Canada and abroad, from universities,
industry and financial institutions, can come together to carry out
research and formulate problems of broad mutual interest. The institute's
mission is to provide a supportive and stimulating environment for mathematics
innovation and education. The Fields Institute promotes mathematical
activity in Canada and helps to expand the application of mathematics
in modern society.
Major funding is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges
and Universities (MTCU) and by the federal Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council (NSERC). The Fields Institute counts as corporate sponsors
Algorithmics, General Motors, Generation 5, the IFID Centre, Sigma Analysis
and Management, and TmBioscience. The institution is a collaboration
of six principal sponsoring universities - McMaster University, the
University of Ottawa, the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo,
the University of Western Ontario, and York University, and is located
on the campus of the University of Toronto. Other affiliated universities
are Carleton University, Iowa State University, Queen's University,
the University of Guelph, the University of Manitoba, the University
of Maryland, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Saskatchewan.
For more information, call or e-mail the Fields Institute at geninfo@fields.utoronto.ca
or 416-348-9710, or consult www.fields.utoronto.ca
