Barbara Lee Keyfitz to be next Fields Institute Director

[Anne Morrone]

PRESS RELEASE

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 at fields.utoronto.ca or 416-348-9710, or consult
www.fields.utoronto.ca