A winning formula

For the third consecutive year a Monash academic has been awarded the Australian Mathematical Society Medal. Dating back to 1981, the medal is awarded in recognition of distinguished research by an Australian mathematician under the age of 40.

The 2011 medal was awarded to Dr Todd Oliynyk from the School of Mathematical Sciences, for his research centred on  mathematical relativity and related areas of mathematical physics.

Dr Oliynyk has worked at Monash since 2007 and has made numerous groundbreaking contributions across various areas of mathematics, most notably his work placing the Newtonian limit and post-Newtonian corrections of general relativity on a rigorous foundation. These findings have many applications including to GPS systems, where they provide corrections to measurements on the order of several kilometres per day.

In accepting the award Dr Oliynyk highlighted the value of such an achievement.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive the award. Mathematics is often a solitary pursuit, so it’s nice to have your work recognised by your colleagues,” Dr Oliynyk said.

In 2010, the award was presented to Professor Kate Smith-Miles and in 2009, to Associate Professor Ian Wanless. Dr Oliynyk said this was a testament to the depth and breadth of the mathematical research being conducted in the School of Mathematical Sciences.

“The School has been very successful in recruiting good people. If you hire the right people and support their development, you will be rewarded. In our case, the pay-off has been increased grants and three medals,” Dr Oliynyk said.

This is a sentiment shared by Professor Kate Smith-Miles, Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences.

“This hat-trick shows that mathematics at Monash is on the rise. We have a great depth of talent and this is being recognised by our peers in the Australian Mathematical Society,” Professor Smith-Miles said.

Monash mathematicians have increasingly become integral members in interdisciplinary research endeavours across the University.

“Monash’s bionic eye project, climate modelling and cancer cell motility projects are just a few of the interdisciplinary collaborations underpinned by mathematical challenges in which we are involved,” Professor Smith- Miles said.

Most recently, the School of Mathematical Sciences was recognised by the Australian Research Council, who awarded it nine new discovery and linkage grants totalling more than $3.4 million, with an impressive 56 per cent success rate. Additionally, Associate Professor Wanless was awarded a Future Fellowship.