Filipino math expert wins BH Neumann Award in Australia
By JONATHAN M. HICAP
July 3, 2011
Dr. Simon Chua receives the BH Neumann Award from Australian Mathematics Trust officials Dr. Peter Taylor (left), executive director, and Warren Atkins (right), chairman of the Australian Mathematics Competition Problems Committee. (Photo by the AMT)
MANILA, Philippines -- A Filipino math expert received the prestigious BH Neumann Award in Australia for his pioneering efforts in training and honing the talent of young Filipino mathematicians for the last 15 years.
The Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) bestowed the BH Neumann Award to Dr. Simon Chua, president and co-founder of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, during a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Alice Springs, Australia, on Saturday (July 2) night.
As such, Dr. Chua, 58, became the first Filipino and Asian to receive the award, which was named in honor of the late Professor Bernhard H. Neumann, the father of Australian mathematics who “provided outstanding leadership, support and encouragement for mathematics and the teaching of mathematics at all levels”.
“This award represents the hard work of the Mathematics Trainers Guild in the last 15 years in honing Filipino students and uplifting the quality of math education in the country,” Dr. Chua said.
The BH Neumann Awards “are presented each year for important contributions over many years to the enrichment of mathematics learning in Australia and its region”, according to the AMT.
Chua cofounded the MTG in 1995 to promote mathematics education and training in the Philippines.
“Fifteen years ago (Dr. Chua) founded the Mathematics Trainers Guild (in the Philippines). This is an organization similar to AMT and it has flourished,” the AMT said.
The Philippines, through the MTG, participates yearly in the Australian Mathematics Competition, which is organized by the AMT.
The BH Neumann Award is Dr. Chua’s second international major recognition.
In 2006, Dr. Chua became the first Filipino to win the Paul Erdos Award in mathematics bestowed by the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions (WFNMC).
Through the MTG, Filipino students have won numerous medals in math competitions abroad including in China, United States, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Besides Chua, other BH Neumann awardees this year are Jane Breidahl and Gary Carter, both Australians.
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