DR. PETER TAYLOR NAMED 2024 GRAHAM WRIGHT AWARD RECIPIENT

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Peter Taylor (Queen’s University) has been named the recipient of the 2024 Graham Wright Award for Distinguished Service. This award was inaugurated to recognize individuals who have made sustained and significant contributions to the Canadian mathematical community and, in particular, to the Canadian Mathematical Society.

Dr. Taylor obtained his B.A. and M.A. from Queen’s University, before completing his Ph.D. at Harvard in 1969. He has primarily worked at Queen’s University, holding diverse roles such as Professor, Teaching Fellow, and Department Head. He is currently a Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Queen’s University, where he also holds cross appointments in the Department of Biology and in the Faculty of Education. Beyond his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Taylor has mentored numerous graduate students and post-doctoral fellows and contributed to various university and professional committees. He has been an active member of the CMS since 1973 and has secured research grants from NSERC, KNAER, The Fields Institute, and SSHRC, among others. His commitment to research is evident through editorial roles held since 1990 and a prolific publication record in refereed journals.

As mentioned above, Dr. Taylor has made significant contributions to the CMS over the past five decades, participating in various committees and attending numerous meetings.  He also serves as a leader for Education Sessions at CMS Meetings, offering guidance and coordination. Beyond his involvement with the CMS, Dr. Taylor plays a pivotal role in math education across Canada. He helped establish the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG), the Canadian Math Ed Forum (CMEF), and the Ontario Association for Mathematics Education (OAME) and was instrumental in initiating math education initiatives at the Fields Institute. These organizations collectively address teaching from kindergarten to graduate studies, forging essential ties for the CMS. Dr. Taylor has done path-breaking work on the school mathematics curriculum, particularly at the high school level. Recognizing that the key to successful implementation of a curriculum is to have qualified teachers, he has developed highly effective professional development seminars and workshops for elementary and high school teachers. His approach to curriculum and teacher education is informed by innovative concepts such as structure, beauty, design, construction, algorithms, and coding, to mention a few.

A prevalent sentiment among Dr. Taylor’s nominators is his pioneering influence evident in all his endeavours:

“There is not a person working in Mathematics Education in Canada whose work does not know of Peter Taylor and his contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics. […] We would not be where we are if it were not for Peter Taylor.”

“I have been to a number of Peter’s presentations at meetings and conferences. His contributions are original, inspirational, offering beautiful, creative, and surprising ideas. He provokes a discussion, and invites for a dialogue. What I found quite impressive is that I have never left any of his talks without something new: a new idea, a creative suggestion or an exciting thought.”

“[…] his relatively new RabbitMath program has provided a rich collection of investigative problems for teachers at the secondary school level, and it has also started to change the way people think about the structure of mathematics education.”

In summary, Dr. Taylor’s illustrious career, spanning from his leadership within the CMS, to his instrumental role in shaping math education initiatives nationwide, underscores his enduring commitment to fostering excellence in all mathematical aspects. The CMS is proud to acknowledge Dr. Taylor’s remarkable achievements, thanks him for all his years of service thus far, and looks forward to continuing collaboration with him.

About the Graham Wright Award for Distinguished Service
The Graham Wright Award for Distinguished Service is presented annually to an individual who has made sustained and significant contributions to the Canadian mathematics community, particularly through their involvement with the CMS. This award is named in honour of Dr. Graham Wright (Ottawa) who served as the CMS Executive Director and Secretary from 1979 to 2009.

About the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS)
Founded in 1945, the Canadian Mathematical Society 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, publications, grants, math camps and national and international mathematics competitions, as well as awards and prizes that recognize outstanding achievements.

For more information, please contact:

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

or

Dr. David Pike President Canadian Mathematical Society president@cms.math.ca