Canadian
Mathematical
Society
Dr. Catherine Sulem
University of Toronto
Dr. Sulem received the degree Docteur ès Sciences in 1983 from the Université Paris-Nord. In France, she held positions with the CNRS at the University of Nice and the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Since 1990, Dr. Sulem has been a professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Toronto. Over the course of her career, Dr. Sulem has served as an editor of several journals, including the Canadian Journal of Mathematics, Proceedings of the AMS, SIAM Journal of Mathematical Analysis, Mathematische Zeitschrift and Annales Mathématiques du Québec.
Dr. Sulem's research focuses on nonlinear dynamics in various fields of physics, in particular, evolution equations that describe wave phenomena in fluids, nonlinear optics and plasma physics. She has significantly contributed to these fields, notably co-authoring with Pierre-Louis Sulem a monograph dedicated to the Nonlinear Schrödinger equation, a work that has been a source of inspiration for numerous mathematicians. Together with Vladimir Zakharov and Walter Craig, Dr. Sulem is credited with a formulation of the water-wave equations which is pivotal to current research in mathematical analysis, numerical simulations and in the derivation of asymptotic models.
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These results only scratch the surface of Dr. Sulem's extensive work. She has authored or co-authored over 100 publications, leaving a profound impact on various domains of physics and mathematics.
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In addition to her research endeavors, Dr. Sulem actively contributes to the cultivation and advancement of future mathematicians. She has played a pivotal role in mentoring numerous postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. Furthermore, her achievements are recognized through her fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada, the American Mathematical Society and the Canadian Mathematical Society. Dr. Sulem has been a featured speaker at many international conferences, including the 2019 ICIAM where she delivered the AWM-SIAM Sonia Kovalevsky Prize lecture.
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Dr. Sulem’s productive and prolific career has left (and continues to leave) a profound impact on multiple domains of mathematics. The CMS is proud to award her the 2024 Jeffery-Williams Prize for her many influential contributions to both her research field(s) and the broader realm of mathematics.