Dr. Edward Bierstone to receive the 2026 David Borwein Award

 

Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Edward Bierstone (University of Toronto) has been awarded the 2026 David Borwein Distinguished Career Award, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to mathematics research, education, and service to the Canadian and international mathematical communities. Dr. Bierstone will receive his award at the 2026 CMS Winter Meeting in Montréal (QC).

Dr. Edward Bierstone received his B.Sc. from the University of Toronto in 1969 and his Ph.D. from Brandeis University in 1973 under the supervision of Dr. Richard S. Palais. Following postdoctoral appointments at the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, NJ) and the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (France), he joined the University of Toronto in 1973, where he has spent his entire academic career, serving as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and, since 1982, Professor of Mathematics. In addition to visiting and research appointments at leading institutions in Europe and the Americas, he served as Director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences from 2009 to 2013.

Dr. Bierstone is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in singularity theory and algebraic geometry. Over the course of his career, his work, particularly in collaboration with Dr. Pierre Milman, has led to groundbreaking advances in the resolution of singularities. Their development of a constructive and algorithmic approach to Hironaka’s celebrated theorem has had a profound and lasting impact across multiple areas of mathematics, making deep theoretical results more accessible and widely applicable.

His research spans several areas of mathematics, including real and complex analysis, subanalytic geometry, and algebraic geometry. His contributions have influenced a wide range of mathematical disciplines and inspired subsequent developments by researchers worldwide. His publications appear in leading journals such as Annals of Mathematics, Inventiones Mathematicae, and Publications Mathématiques de l’IHÉS, and have been cited extensively across the mathematical literature.

Beyond his early seminal work, Dr. Bierstone remains an active and influential researcher, and contributes to ongoing advances in areas such as quasianalytic geometry, Whitney extension problems, and the structure of analytic mappings.

In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Bierstone has played a pivotal role in strengthening Canada’s mathematical research ecosystem. When he served as Director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences from 2009 to 2013, his leadership significantly expanded the Institute’s international reach and influence. Furthermore, participation in Fields Institute programs grew substantially, and he launched several initiatives, including the highly successful Fields Medal Symposium, which has become a cornerstone of the global mathematical calendar.

Dr. Bierstone has also been deeply engaged in the Canadian mathematical community through service and leadership. He has held key roles with the Canadian Mathematical Society, including Chair of the Research Committee (2008-2009) and Chair of the International Affairs Committee (2020-2025). He has also contributed to the international mathematical community through leadership roles with the International Mathematical Union, including serving as Head of the Canadian Delegation to the IMU General Assembly. 

Additionally, Dr. Bierstone has had a profound impact as an educator and mentor. His former students and postdoctoral fellows have gone on to hold positions at leading institutions in Canada and internationally. He is known for his clarity of exposition, intellectual rigor, and commitment to fostering excellence in mathematical training.

Dr. Bierstone’s work has been recognized by many honours, including the CMS Jeffery-Williams Prize in 2005 and the CMS Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society, and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. He is also a Founding Fellow of the Fields Institute.

In recognition of his outstanding research contributions, dedicated service to the mathematical community, and lasting impact on mathematics in Canada and internationally, the CMS is proud to award Dr. Edward Bierstone the 2026 David Borwein Distinguished Career Award.

About the David Borwein Distinguished Career Award
The David Borwein Distinguished Career Award is named after David Borwein, a distinguished mathematician and former CMS President. Established in 2004, the award is presented every four years to recognize individuals who have made a sustained and outstanding contribution to the advancement of mathematics. The recipient receives a unique sculpture selected by the Borwein family.

About the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS)
The Canadian Mathematical Society (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 meetings, research publications, and the promotion of excellence in mathematics competitions that recognize outstanding student achievements. The CMS is a registered non-profit, charitable organization and depends on grants, funding, and generous donations from sponsors, benefactors and community members to be able to carry out its activities.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Ilia Binder (University of Toronto) President Canadian Mathematical Society president@cms.math.ca

or

Dr. Termeh Kousha Executive Director Canadian Mathematical Society tkousha@cms.math.ca