National maths wins add up

13 October 2010

 

Professor Kate Smith-Miles from the Faculty of Science has been awarded the 2010 Australian Mathematical Society Medal.

The medal is awarded each year to recognise distinguished research by an Australian mathematician under the age of 40.

Professor Smith-Miles won the award for her international reputation as an applied mathematician with a focus on interdisciplinary applications of mathematics.

Since arriving at Monash 13 years ago, Professor Smith-Miles has collaborated with researchers from the faculties of Engineering, IT, Science, Business and Economics, and Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

"Mathematics is known as the queen of the sciences. However, it also provides the language and tools to tackle many significant problems beyond the sciences," Professor Smith-Miles said.

She has developed mathematical techniques to tackle problems as diverse as identity fraud detection, hospital resource allocation, telecommunication network design, and is also a member of the University's Bionic Eye team.

"While I have received recognition in the past for the contributions I have made to other disciplines, receiving the Australian Mathematical Society medal is such an honour for me because it provides recognition from my home discipline that I have made contributions to the mathematical sciences as well," Professor Smith-Miles said.

This is the second year running that a Monash University mathematician has been awarded this prize. In 2009, Dr Ian Wanless received the prize.

"The School of Mathematical Sciences is going from strength to strength," Professor Smith-Miles said.

"Last year in ARC Discovery grants we had a 42 per cent success rate against a national average of 22 per cent. As Head of the School, I am very proud of what we are all achieving."

Meanwhile, Professor Smith-Miles will be participating in the Mathematics Education Colloquium Series 2010 to be held from 5 pm to 6.30 pm on 19 October in Room G23 at Clayton campus.

Enquiries and RSVPs to Convenor, Venkata Aluri venkata.aluri@monash.edu