COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO A group of mathematicians and mathematics educators from throughout the world will honor a University of Colorado at Colorado Springs professor for his role in promoting math.
Alexander Soifer, a professor in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, will receive the 2006 Paul Erdös Award from the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions at the group’s July 2006 meeting at the University of Cambridge. In addition to the award, Soifer will present a 60-minute lecture on the influence of set-theoretic foundations of mathematics on results in graph theory and combinatorial geometry. Soifer’s award selection was announced earlier this month.
Since 1992, one to three winners are selected every two years for the honor based on records of “sustained and distinguished contribution to the enrichment of mathematics education,” according to the WFNMC citation.
Erdös was a noted mathematician who died in 1996 at age 83, having written or co-written more than 1,500 articles and books on math. In addition to Soifer, a high school principal from the Philippines and an Iranian mathematician were also selected.
For more information about the organization or the award, visit www.amt.edu.au/wfnmcaw.html
The WFNMC recognized Soifer for his role in founding the Colorado Mathematical Olympiad in 1984 and organizing the annual spring competition that brings middle- and high-school students to UCCS to demonstrate academic skills and to compete for medals, scholarships and other prizes. More than 600 students participated last year. Since its inception, more than 14,000 students have participated and $170,000 in prizes awarded.
The Colorado Math Olympiad is the largest U.S. competition of its kind. Students write complete solutions to unique, highly complex problems. Previous competition questions can be viewed at http://www.uccs.edu/~asoifer/olympiad.html.
He was also recognized for past presentations at WFNMC meetings and for service to the organization. In addition to directing the local competition, Soifer was a member of the USA Mathematics Olympiad Subcommittee and the USSR National Mathematical Olympiad jury.
His publications include more than 100 articles and four books: Mathematics as Problem Solving (1987); How Does One Cut a Triangle? (1990); Geometric Etudes in Combinatorial Mathematics (1991, with V. G. Boltyanski); and Colorado Mathematical Olympiad: The First Ten Years and Further Explorations (1994). He is also editor of the research quarterly Geombinatorics (1991-present).
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 18 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,800 students annually.