James Arthur ’62
Old Boy of Distinction Award (2020)
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onsidered one of the top mathematicians in Canada and the only Canadian to serve as head of the American Mathematical Society, James is the Ted Mossman Chair in Mathematics at the University of Toronto, and has been a professor at U of T since 1978.
As one of the world’s leading academics in the field of mathematics, James is a highly sought-after lecturer internationally. His work is centred on the trace formula, and he has made fundamental contributions to the theory of automorphic forms.
James has demonstrated a lifetime of significant achievement and leadership in his field. A dedicated mentor to young faculty and graduate students, he has brought Canada to greater prominence on the world mathematical stage. His commitment to learning and excellence inspires future generations of academics working in the field of mathematics.
In 2015, James was awarded the Wolf Prize in Mathematics from the Wolf Foundation. This prize is considered by many to be the precursor to the Nobel Prize, and marks only the second time it has been won by a Canadian.
James was Head Boy at the College in 1962, and went on to study at the University of Toronto and Yale University. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1981, a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1992, and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003. In 2012, he became a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. James was appointed Companion of the Order of Canada in 2018, and elected a Fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society in 2019.
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