Editor: Christina Christara
- 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI Election Results
- The 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI Research Prize – Ray Spiteri, University of Saskatchewan
- The 2026 CAIMS/PIMS Early Career Award – Wilten Nicola, University of Calgary
- The 2026 Cecil Graham Doctoral Dissertation Award – Melissa Stadt, University of Waterloo
- Other CAIMS*SCMAI awards
- Faculty position, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, review starting March 26, 2026
- 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI conference, abstract submission, registration, accommodations
- 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI Election Results
This year we had the following open positions:
– Secretary (duration 3 years)
There was one nomination for the Secretary position:
Jay Newby, University of Alberta,
and Jay Newby was elected by acclamation.
– Two Board Members-at-Large (duration 3 years each)
There were two nominations for the two Board Members-at-Large positions:
Wing Hong Felix Kwok, Laval University and
Zhichun Zhai, MacEwan University.
Wing Hong Felix Kwok and Zhichun Zhai were elected by acclamation.
All results need to be ratified at the AGM, Tue, June 16, 2026.
The elected members start their positions after the AGM.
We thank all candidates for volunteering their time for service to CAIMS*SCMAI.
2. The 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI Research Prize – Ray Spiteri, University of Saskatchewan
The 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI Research Prize is given to Ray Spiteri for his foundational contributions to the theory and practice of scientific computing, including development of novel algorithms and software for solving complex physical models. His work includes the development of efficient time-stepping methods for differential equations and their applications in real-world systems. He has collaborated with numerous scientists, including in areas of hydrology and electron–cyclotron development, enabling new understanding in these fields. He has co-authored over 170 peer-reviewed articles and 13 software libraries. He has contributed significantly to the training and education of a new generation of computational scientists at all levels, including 25 undergraduate, 43 graduate and 23 postdoctoral fellows. He created popular online graduate courses taken by students across multiple universities. His contributions to the Canadian mathematical community include serving as past president of CAIMS*SCMAI and chair of NSERC evaluation committees.
3. The 2026 CAIMS/PIMS Early Career Award – Wilten Nicola, University of Calgary
The 2026 CAIMS/PIMS Early Career Award is given to Wilten Nicola and recognizes his fundamental contributions to computational neuroscience, applied mathematics, and dynamical systems theory, as well as their translation into commercially relevant advances in computational neuroscience, with particular emphasis on the computational power of spiking neural networks. Wilten’s major contributions include the development of novel techniques for rapidly fitting single-neuron models to electrophysiological data using particle swarm optimization; the construction of the first computational model describing how stress circuits learn in vivo, by modeling longitudinal changes in hypothalamic neurons as a form of perceptron network; and the training of spiking and rate-based recurrent neural networks, with successful translation of this work into neuromorphic devices.
4. The 2026 Cecil Graham Doctoral Dissertation Award – Melissa Stadt, University of Waterloo
The 2026 Cecil Graham Doctoral Dissertation Award is awarded to Dr Melissa Stadt for her work on the mathematical modelling of electrolyte homeostasis in vertebrates.
Dr Stadt developed and studied detailed models of potassium and calcium homeostasis. Homeostatic mechanisms have long been central concepts in physiology and medicine. Dr Stadt’s work is an important contribution to our understanding of how multiple systems interact to achieve robustness and adaptability. In particular, her modelling efforts highlight the delicate balance of transfers of ions between organs including, in the case of calcium, into and out of bones. In addition to baseline physiological conditions, Dr Stadt considered the particular stresses associated with pregnancy and lactation, as well as various pathological conditions that affect electrolyte homeostasis, and therefore important parameters of health such as bone density.
Dr Stadt’s work is both a beautiful illustration of carefully validated modelling as a complement to experimental studies and a set of studies of direct biomedical applicability, in the finest tradition of applied mathematics.
5. Other CAIMS*SCMAI awards
There were no awardees for the other two CAIMS*SCMAI prizes, namely the
Arthur Beaumont Distinguished Service Award and the
CAIMS-Fields Industrial Mathematics Prize, in 2026.
6. Faculty position, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, review starting March 26, 2026
The Department of Applied Mathematics (AMA) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is part of the newly formed Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences established on 1 January 2025.
The Department of Applied Mathematics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) invites applications for several
Research Assistant Professor in Optimization and Operations Research / Statistics and Data Science / Financial Mathematics / Engineering and Computational Mathematics / Mathematical Science (several posts) (Ref. 260305001)
Applications are accepted through PolyU’s career website
https://jobs.polyu.edu.hk/rap
Consideration of applications will commence on 26 March 2026 until the position is filled.
For more information see
https://caims.ca/research-assistant-professor-in-optimization-and-operations-research-statistics-and-data-science-financial-mathematics-engineering-and-computational-mathematics-mathematical-science-several-p/
CAIMS*SCMAI maintains a page of paid job ads at
For information how to purchase a job ad on the CAIMS*SCMAI webpage, see
https://caims.ca/posting-advertisements/
7. 2026 CAIMS*SCMAI conference, abstract submission, registration, accommodations
The CAIMS*SCMAI annual meeting is taking place at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 15-19, 2026.
Registration is now open for CAIMS*SCMAI 2026. Early bird deadline May 1, 2026.
Recall that CAIMS*SCMAI members get reduced rates, so you may consider renewing your membership for 2026 at https://caims.ca/individual-membership/, if you have not done so already.
Abstracts for both contributed talks or talks for accepted Minisymposia can be submitted by April 30, 2026.
Information has been posted on hotels and on University accommodations.
For more information and for links to registration, abstract submission and accommodations, please go to https://caims2026.org/
CAIMS*SCMAI E–News Information
CAIMS*SCMAI E–News is distributed electronically several times a year by the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society * Société Canadienne de Mathématiques Appliquées et Industrielles (https://caims.ca).
Past issues are available on the web at https://caims.ca/e-news_archive
Submissions are welcome and should be sent in plain text format to:
Christina Christara, CAIMS*SCMAI Secretary Email: secretary@caims.ca
or
Iain Moyles, CAIMS*SCMAI Communications-Officer Email: communications-officer@caims.ca
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Board or Membership of CAIMS*SCMAI. The editorial policy of this publication is to encourage the discussion of issues and facilitate the dissemination of information relevant to Canadian applied and industrial mathematics.
If you wish to have your name removed from the e-mailing list for the CAIMS*SCMAI E–News, please send an email message to Christina Christara as above.