JEAN-MARIE DE KONINCK - RECIPIENT OF THE 2004 ADRIEN POULIOT AWARD

[Graham Wright]

For release: IMMEDIATE (October 7, 2004)

JEAN-MARIE DE KONINCK - RECIPIENT OF THE 2004 ADRIEN POULIOT AWARD

OTTAWA, Ontario The winner of the Canadian Mathematical Society's 2004
Adrien Pouliot Award for mathematics Education is Dr. Jean-Marie De
Koninck. He will be presented with the award at the CMS 2004 Winter
Meeting Banquet on December 12th at the Hilton Hotel Bonaventure,
Montréal, Québec.

The Adrien Pouliot Award is for individuals, or teams of individuals,
who have made significant and sustained contributions to mathematics
education in Canada.

The 2004 Adrien Pouliot Award is awarded to Jean-Marie De Koninck
(Laval) for his outstanding role as "Ambassador of Mathematics" in
Canada. Jean-Marie used his public profile - gained through his
leadership role in Operation Red Nose - to become a popular
commentator on scientific issues in the electronic media. In
particular, he used his opportunities to create a positive public
image for mathematics and mathematicians. An example is the 29 episode
television series "C'est mathématique!" teaching mathematical concepts
through their use in everyday situations. For these reasons, and many
others, Jean-Marie de Koninck is recognized by the Canadian
Mathematical Society as an exemplary contributor to Mathematics
Education.

Jean-Marie De Koninck has been a professor with the Department of
Mathematics and Statistics at the Université Laval since 1972. During
his career as a teacher and researcher, he has published more than 50
articles on number theory as well as five books, including two that
appeared just last year (1001 problèmes en théorie classique des
nombres, Éditions Ellipses, Paris, and Mathématiques de l'ingénieur,
Éditions Loze, Montréal, co-authored respectively by Armel Mercier and
Norbert Lacroix). It is in his role as mathematics ambassador to the
general public for more than 15 years, however, that Jean-Marie De
Koninck has left an indelible mark and has made an extraordinary
contribution to the promotion and development of mathematics in
Canada. His accomplishments are many and varied.

Dr. De Koninck's enviable reputation as a teacher has led to a
multitude of speaking engagements at universities, colleges and high
schools, as well as at seminars and mathematics camps. He has
frequently been invited to deliver keynote addresses at provincial and
Canadian conferences of mathematical associations.

Dr. De Koninck's exceptional dedication to community projects has
earned him a reputation among the media as an excellent communicator.
(Noteworthy in this regard is Operation Red Nose, an ambitious
undertaking he founded in 1984 to raise public awareness about the
dangers of drinking and driving; it now involves more than 45,000
volunteers across Canada.) He is regularly asked by the electronic
press to comment on new scientific and mathematical developments. His
scientific expertise, combined with the renown he has acquired in the
social arena (and even in sports: for several years he was an
accredited commentator on competitive swimming for Radio-Canada
television) have allowed Jean-Marie De Koninck to make an undeniable
contribution to fostering a positive public image of mathematics 
 and
of mathematicians, too!

In addition, his organizational talents have been behind a long list
of successful scientific meetings and conferences at the provincial,
national and international levels.

That Jean-Marie De Koninck has had a successful career as a
top-calibre mathematician while making such a significant contribution
to society is remarkable in itself. But the fact that he has used the
visibility and respect he has earned through his social commitment to
promote the field of mathematics enhances his stature as a
mathematician. The breadth of his academic and social achievements has
earned him numerous awards and distinctions, including the Order of
Canada in 1994 and the Ordre national du Québec in 1999.

For more information, contact:


Dr. Graham P. Wright
Executive Director
Canadian Mathematical Society
Tel: (613) 562-5702
Cel: (613) 290-3046
director at cms.math.ca


or

Dr. H.E.A. Campbell
President
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Tel: (709-737-8246)
president at cms.math.ca