The Jeffery-Williams Prize is named after Ralph Jeffery and Lloyd Williams, two influential Canadian mathematicians. The American-born Dr. Williams founded the Canadian Mathematical Congress in 1945, which later became the Canadian Mathematical Society, and is known for overseeing the doctorate of Elbert Frank Cox, the first Black person to receive a PhD in mathematics. A Nova Scotia native, Dr. Jeffery made contributions to integration theory. Students at Queen’s University, where he taught, will also recognize his name from Jeffery Hall.

The award in their name has been handed out since 1968 to a notable Canadian mathematian. Winners join a formidable group of past recipients, which includes Cathleen Synge Morawetz, Robert Langlands, James Arthur, Donald Coxeter and founding Fields Institute Director, Jerrold E. Marsden.

"I am delighted and thankful to the Canadian Mathematics Society for this recognition. It's good to know that one's work is appreciated. At the same time, it is also humbling, given the list of distinguished past winners of the prize," Dr. Murty said.

Dr. Murty was singled out for the diversity of his mathematical interests in fundamental research, but also for his interest in applying this research outside of academic settings. Known primarily as a number theorist, he has contributed to arithmetic algebraic geometry, analytic number theory, algebraic number theory and information security. More recently, he has made forays into the world of “mathematics for a better world” through his work on integrative modelling related to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and Smart Villages – a particular passion project. 

At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Canada, Dr. Murty led a team that was consulted by the Ontario government to help inform policy decisions. Together with Fields Fellow and Scotiabank's leading data scientist, Taha Jaffer, he developed the Hurricane model and used it as an early predictor of pandemic dynamics. Hurricane models are part of the nonparametric family of models that are typically found in finance and apply well to the cyclical nature of case trend transitioning between quadrants of growth and change in growth. 

Thanks to the success of these results and Dr. Murty’s early initiative, Fields spearheaded the Mathematical Modelling of COVID-19 Task Force, which unified dozens of epidemiologists, math modellers and infectious disease experts across the country and has since expanded into Mathematics for Public Health (MfPH), a pan-Canadian network that can rapidly respond to public health emergencies.

Known as a “galaxy brain” around the Institute for his ability to envision large-scale and far-reaching projects, Dr. Murty has also established Fields Multiplier, an initiative that provides support for mathematics-based research and development with high potential for commercialization.

Dr. Murty was nominated by previous winner, George Elliott. “I am happy to see my colleague's work in number theory and arithmetic geometry recognized with this prestigious award. He has made important contributions over many years, both scientifically, and in general to the discipline," he said.

Read the CMS media release here.