Professor Mark Lewis (UAlberta) awarded 2012 Killam Fellowship

Former director of the PIMS International Graduate Training Centre in Mathematical Biology, Professor Mark Lewis (UAlberta) has been awarded a prestigious Killam Fellowship.

Professor Lewis’ research focuses on the ‘Mathematics Behind Biological Invasions’. This work will have an impact on Canada’s ability to proactively combat invasive species with early detection and rapid response. Professor Lewis plans to develop mathematical model structures to better detect and fight against harmful species such as weeds, insect pest and aquatic pest which threaten ecosystems. This is important to the protection of biodiversity. Professor Lewis was one of the leaders of the PIMS Collaborative Research Group in Mathematical Ecology and served two terms on the PIMS Board of Directors. He was also the 2011 recipient of the CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize.

"Mark is an outstanding researcher in mathematical biology and his scientific leadership at PIMS has been exceptional. On behalf of the entire PIMS community we are delighted to congratulate him for receiving a Killam Fellowship, one of the top honors for researchers in Canada,” commented PIMS Director Alejandro Adem.

The Fellowships, among Canada’s most distinguished research awards provide $70,000 a year for two years to each of the researchers. They enable researchers to be released from teaching and administrative duties so that they can pursue independent research.

The Canada Council for the Arts Killam Research Fellowships are made possible through the Killam Trusts, a bequest of Mrs. Dorothy J. Killam and a gift she made before her death in 1965 to honour the achievements of her late husband, Izaak Walton Killam. The awards support scholars engaged in research projects of outstanding merit in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering and interdisciplinary studies within these fields.

Read about the seven individuals who have received the award in 2012 here:

http://canadacouncil.ca/news/releases/2011/pd129743378015279928.htm

(Includes excerpts from the news release by the Canada Council for the Arts)