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JPBM Communications Award JPBM Communications Award The 2012 Communications Award of the Joint umes showcase the importance and applicability of Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM) was presented up-to-the-moment developments in mathematics at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Boston, Mas- in fields ranging from the geometry of surfaces to sachusetts, in January 2012. signal processing to the history of mathematics The JPBM Communications Award is presented in antiquity. When Science recognized annually to reward and encourage journalists Grigory Perelman’s proof of the Poin- and other communicators who, on a sustained caré conjecture as “Breakthrough of basis, bring mathematical ideas and information the Year” in 2006, Mackenzie was to nonmathematical audiences. JPBM represents chosen to write the cover article. In the American Mathematical Society, the American these and other works, Mackenzie Statistical Association, the Mathematical Associa- reveals, celebrates, and illustrates tion of America, and the Society for Industrial and the excitement and vitality of learn- Applied Mathematics. The award carries a cash ing, using, and discovering excellent prize of US$1,000. mathematics. Previous recipients of the JPBM Communica- tions Award are: James Gleick (1988), Hugh White- Biographical Sketch more (1990), Ivars Peterson (1991), Joel Schneider Dana Mackenzie was born in 1958 (1993), Martin Gardner (1994), Gina Kolata (1996), and wrote his first book at the age of Philip J. Davis (1997), Constance Reid (1998), five. While The Littlest Inchwarm [sic] Dana Mackenzie Ian Stewart (1999), John Lynch and Simon Singh never got past its original limited edi- (special award, 1999), Sylvia Nasar (2000), Keith J. tion of one copy, it did foreshadow a lifetime love Devlin (2001), Claire and Helaman Ferguson (2002), of writing. Mackenzie’s love of mathematics also Robert Osserman (2003), Barry Cipra (2005), Roger surfaced at an early age. He eagerly read every Penrose (2006), Steven H. Strogatz (2007), Carl book by Martin Gardner, discovered the formula Bialik (2008), George Csicsery (2009), Marcus du for triangular numbers in sixth grade, and in the Sautoy (2010), and Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl ninth grade discovered that i has a square root. Heuton (2011). Fortunately, his teachers didn’t tell him that these things were already known. Citation After majoring in mathematics at Swarthmore The 2012 JPBM Communications Award is pre- College, Mackenzie earned his Ph.D. from Princeton sented to Dana Mackenzie. University in 1983. He taught for six years at Duke Over the last fifteen years Mackenzie has pro- University and seven years at Kenyon College. duced a remarkably broad and deep body of During that time, he received the 1993 George writing for experts and nonexperts alike. The Pólya Award from the Mathematical Association work focuses largely on mathematics itself but of America. also touches geology, climate change, astronomy, In 1996, while surfing the newfangled World academic mathematics as a profession, and even Wide Web, Mackenzie found out about the Sci- the game of chess—at which Mackenzie competes ence Communication Program at the University of at the USCF National Master level. California at Santa Cruz. It was another “eureka” Mackenzie’s authorship of Volumes 6–8 of moment, as he saw for the first time how to com- What’s Happening in the Mathematical Sciences, bine his passions for mathematics and writing. published by the American Mathematical Society, The program taught him the ropes of journalism illustrates his knowledge, versatility, and exposi- and launched him on a new career as a freelance tory skill. These lucid, informative, and witty vol- mathematics and science writer. Since 1997 Mackenzie has written for such magazines as Science, New Scientist, American Elaine Kehoe is contributing writer for the Notices. Her Scientist, and Smithsonian. His first trade book, The email address is [email protected]. Big Splat, or How Our Moon Came to Be, appeared DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1090/noti842 on Booklist magazine’s best-of list for 2003 and MAY 2012 NOTICES OF THE AMS 679 was one of Audible.com’s audiobooks of the year names of people who inspired me, such as Martin for 2010. While he enjoyed writing about other Gardner, Constance Reid, Ian Stewart, and Sylvia sciences, he still felt his portfolio was incomplete Nasar. I also see people like last year’s winners, without a book about the subject he knew best. Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, who have done Princeton University Press will publish his first much more than I ever could to bring mathematics full-length popular book about mathematics, titled to the masses. The Universe in Zero Words, in 2012. Mackenzie The second sincere emotion is gratitude. I would still lives in Santa Cruz with his wife, Kay, and an like to thank several people, some well known and ever-changing array of foster animals. others not, without whom this journey would never have happened. Barry Cipra helped me get started Response from Dana Mackenzie in the writing business. Editors like Robert Coontz I like to tell people that my job gives me the op- at Science and Brian Hayes and Rosalind Reid at portunity to get free lessons from the smartest American Scientist taught me the craft. John Wilkes people in the country every week. For someone had the vision to start the Science Communica- who likes learning new things, journalism— espe- tion Program at UCSC and gave me the last slot cially science journalism—is like a never-ending in the class of 1997, when I barely applied before trip to the candy store. I never know what I’m going the deadline. Ed Dunne and Jim Maxwell at the to turn up next. American Mathematical Society entrusted me with Winning the JPBM Communications Award the What’s Happening in the Mathematical Sciences evokes two predictable emotions, which are both series, so well begun by Barry Cipra. And Martin sincere in spite of their predictability. First, I am Gardner and George Pólya, neither of whom I ever humbled by the list of previous winners. I see met, were my greatest inspirations. — Elaine Kehoe MAA Prizes Presented in Boston At the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Boston, worked to improve the department, the campus, Massachusetts, in January 2012, the Mathematical and the field of mathematics. At Indiana, he began Association of America (MAA) presented several his administrative career as director of under- prizes. graduate studies (1978–1980) and later served as chair of the mathematics department (1986–1989 Gung and Hu Award for Distinguished and 1992–1995). During this period, while serv- Service ing as the editor of the Monthly and the editor of The Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award Graduate Texts at Springer-Verlag, he played a for Distinguished Service to Mathematics is the key role in the expansion of the department, the most prestigious award made by the MAA. It hon- renovation of two department buildings, and the ors distinguished contributions to mathematics strengthening of the department in both teach- and mathematical education, in one particular ing and research. Also, while at Indiana, he pub- aspect or many, whether in a short period or over lished approximately thirty-five research papers in a career. algebraic topology and related areas, supervised The 2012 Gung and Hu Award was presented three Ph.D. students, and held visiting positions to John Ewing, president of Math for America. at the University of Virginia, Newcastle University, John Ewing received his Ph.D. in mathematics and the University of Göttingen. from Brown University in 1971 and, after a two- Outside of Indiana University, Ewing first turned year postdoctoral appointment at Dartmouth, he his considerable administrative skills to publica- joined the mathematics department faculty at tion. In addition to work on editorial boards too Indiana University. He quickly became known on numerous to list, he served as editor of the Ameri- campus not only as a very good teacher and re- can Mathematical Monthly (1992–1996) and of the searcher but also as a team player and leader who Mathematical Intelligencer (1980–1986). While he was editor, these journals were distinguished by articles containing engaging, accessible, and Elaine Kehoe is contributing writer for the Notices. Her important mathematics. In 1994 Ewing edited email address is [email protected]. the MAA publication A Century of Mathematics: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1090/noti843 Through the Eyes of the Monthly. Underwood 680 NOTICES OF THE AMS VOLUME 59, NUMBER 5 Dudley’s review in the Intelligencer captures Ew- totally free access, which he finds unsustainable, ing’s editorial style: “This is a rich and fascinating he has worked tirelessly to improve access to the book. It has everything, and everything that it has mathematical literature. He has been committed is delightful, curious, enlightening, engrossing, to low-cost, high-quality electronic publishing, interesting, informative, funny, stirring, poignant, with author-friendly copyright policies, and to da- or some combination of the preceding.” tabases that make an exhaustive literature search Between 1995 and 2009 Ewing served as execu- possible. The Digital Mathematics Registry, which tive director of the American Mathematical Society. went online in 2006, is a complete list of digitized His decisions within the AMS were always guided publications in the mathematical sciences. The by a commitment to serve not only the specific AMS maintains this registry as a public service, interests of the AMS but also those of the broader which is, itself, in the public domain. Mathematical mathematical sciences community. He is very Reviews, online through MathSciNet since 1996, much a “big tent” mathematician, always maintain- is one of the indispensable tools of the work- ing strong and cordial working relationships with ing mathematician. Ewing’s contributions to the his professional society colleagues, especially at growth and enhancement of Mathematical Reviews the MAA and SIAM.
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